Ml 320 Cdi ?
 

Has anyone driven one yet? Impressions? What EPA mileage estimates are shown on the window sticker?

Strong off the line. Very quiet for CDI. Moroney label says 21city and
27hwy. I would trade my 350 for one in a heartbeat.
Maybe next year.
Has more torque than Old ML55 and current ML500.
Never feels taxed. redlines at 3800rpm.

First easy drives show highway mileage of 30mpg.

Check it out!:deal2:

DR.D

If you can get past the issues of the Alabama built quality issues that have plagued the ML cars since 1998, and you like the ML, it could be a good deal for you. The quality has improved somewhat since 1998, but isn't anywhere near to Toyota or Honda standards, unfortunately.

With the diesels, you will have great torque, they are surprisingly quick, and the common rail diesels are much quieter than the old diesels, and they are a big hit in the MLs that are sold to European customers, where diesels are widely sold. I think that MLs for the euro market are actually assembled in Austria, many or most of them with diesel engines.

No more. 1999-2002 only. All are now assembled in Alabama.

Two or three years ago, I saw a truckload of ML270's pass through West Memphis, AR on I-55 - I figure they were headed north to Canada. No privacy-tinted rear quarter windows was the first clue I saw from a distance to know that they weren't American market ML's.

I was in Alabama a few months ago and saw all kinds of export models.
GL420 CDI V-8's. Very cool.
Short wheel base R320 CDI and R63's. Cool but kinda funny looking.
Lots of right hand drive and stripped option trucks.
Some looked like taxi setups for European Union.

There was over 6000 finished cars in the holding lot.
(which is Soverien German Soil.) Hmmm,,, I went to Bama to go to Germany.
Go figure.

P.s. The build quality the Bama Benzes is better than the German ones.
Lots of quality snibbles with the boys back home in Germany.

DR.D

Interesting. Maybe that explains why they are apparently having big problems with the 7G-Tronic transmissions across the model line in Europe.

I picked up rumors of problems with this transmission, including one from a pretty good inside source; so I asked another friend in Germany, who has his finger pretty well on the pulse of MB happening. Here is his resppnse:

Since that transmission is made in Germany, it sounds like I need to wait a bit on my possible purchase of the ML320 CDI to give them time to sort the problems out.

The biggest issues with the 722.9xx 7-gtronic have been the software.
We had lots of BS like germany installing AWD valvebodys in RWD cars and
V8 valvebodys in 6cyl cars. There were some issues with pick-up tubes
being installed upsidedown and a snap-ring popping out.

That has all died off months ago and all in all the trannys have been less trouble than the old .6 5spd.

The software is always the trouble. I just put new software in my 06 ML
and now it shifts flawlessly. Finaly!

AMG is also now using the .9 behind all the new m156 6.2 V-8's.
Seems to be holding up well.

The only cars that don't use it are 4-matic cars, SLR, Maybach, SL55, G55K, and all V-12 cars.
Even the venerable 463 gets the 7spd this year.

I wouldn't be affraid of owning a 07 ML CDI. They may be a few bumps
in the road with software upgrades, but it should be fine.

DR.D

Thanks for the detailed response and I'm going to hope that you're right about everything being good today with the possible exception of needing to reflash software.

FWIW, as of right now in Germany, all G320CDI's are embargoed ("Gesperrt") from delivery to customers who ordered them; and are sitting on dealers' lots waiting for a fix (software) for the 7G-Tronic and ESP issues.

I drove a ML 320 CDI today. Damn, there are a bunch of whistles and bells on that thing! Going back tomorrow for my wife to see it; and probably to order one built.

Thanks again for your post!

Happy Trails!

PS - I will be replacing a minivan as my daily driver with what a friend of mine calls the ML - "a minivan on steroids". :rolleyes:

PPS - I just hope that ULSD is not too hard to find.:book:

So do they have an alabama delivery program? :) Now I have a plan for the next several years. Which CDI SUV do I want to pick up in a couple of years a Grand Cherokee, ML or R. The seven speed tranny in the Benzes and I am sure the Grand cherokee will be expensive should make a Mercedes a no brainer. I was pretty excited when I heard an RBM of Atlanta commercial mention CDI suvs. Sounds like I need to take a long lunch to Atlanta Classic Cars sometime soon! Right now my plan probably gets me into a the nicest new or Used CDI I can get in two years!

RBM is a lot closer to you and, in my experience, a whole lot more customer friendly. Mercedes-Benz of South Atlanta (formerly Carriage House) is even more so.

I live about 2 miles from Atlanta Classic. I'll be ordering a new one from MB of South Atlanta tomorrow. Of the four Atlanta dealers, it's the farthest from where I live and work. Need I say more?

back in Germany the only ML CDI u see on the streets most of the time is the 270 CDI

I know RBM is closer. My office is in sight of ACC. Thanks for the heads up though!

They used to. The Museum was being re-done when I was there a couple months back. The manager said the factory delivery was being "restructured"
since there are no Plant tours after 9/11. The Off road course was redone
to handle the new GL's. Maybe we can go fo-weelin!! ye haw!

DR.D

Ordered one today. Build date should be mid to late December.