What is the earliest ML I should consider?
 

My wife just bought a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer brand new; gotta love the 0% financing with no money down :)

Whilst shopping, I spotted a 2001 ML320 at the local MBZ dealer lot. It was open, so I sat in it. Very comparable to our Mountaineer in size... so my question is, what is the best value year for the ML, where they worked the bugs out, yet not too expensive?

Any thoughts appreciated, thanks, Bob

Truthfully, the 2000 on up models were pretty bug-free. But as Lebenz stated, they did well with all of the model years, and those flaws that were detected in the 98-99 models were found early in their lives and fixed under warranty.

I could confirm with other ML owners of some of the things that they had experienced with their MLs, but the problems were relatively minor and few and far between.

I usually waited until a scheduled A/B service came up, then had the anomaly(ies) tended to at that time. So really, I have been pretty happy with my ML, and despite pressure from the local dealership to "trade up", I'm keeping this one. :)

If "I" were to buy one I'd try finding a 98 or 99 in need of lots of work ;) that I could pick up cheap.
OTOH, the 2000's were alot more refined, and came with the maintenance commitment plan, which means they should have had the sythetic oil virtually since day 1.
The 98-99's have a normal looking radio, starting n 2000 they have the large "MCS" radio. I find the 2000-2001 MCS a little annoying at night, so be aware of this if you drive in darkness alot, may want to see what it's like first. In 2002 they went to a gray screen, alot nicer at night than the blue screen. But if you buy a ML320 you can add the nav system to the MCS unit, the V8's I believe may have all came with Nav from the factory.
I also like the look of the 2000 and newer with the body colored bumpers and mirrors.

Gilly

Also remember most of the bugs in the earlier models should be all work out under warranty by now. As a matter of fact, it is almost better to buy an earlier model now that MB has extended their warranty for '98 and '99 models to 150,000 miles on the engine because of the law suite on the FSS. The warranty period starts on the date you purchase the vehicle. I have a '98 and I have never encountered any problem with it, except to replace the window switch.

Wow, lots of good advice. I'm still in the preliminary stages of looking, right now, and I'm weighing my options: sell our Subaru and/or the SD, get something brand new at 0% financing, find a nice used ML/300TD/300TE, possibly a 4matic, or a new Dodge Ram pickup. Also the upcoming Chevy Silverado SS interests me... 500 hp?

The ML is the first Mercedes I've considered that doesn't have a hood ornament. This may sound silly, but I kinda rely on the hood star to align myself with the side of the road. I love the ballsy V8 in the wife's Mountaineer, leading me towards the V8 ML.

Also, I am trying to get the best handling car I can find. I have fond memories of my '72 280SE. Our Subaru is pretty tossable, but lacks on-center feel. The SD is a nice highway cruiser, but lacks tossablility and it's pretty much of a tank. Also, I have had occasion to really need the carrying room of a wagon/SUV/pickup truck.

Ditto!

I had picked out a "skyview" packaged 1999 ML320. Kept it for a couple of days but turned it back in because the rest of my family didn't care for the roof. :(

I then replaced it with a similarly-optioned ML320 sans the skyview (moonroof instead).

There was some money left over, so I had the dealership paint the grey cladding and mouldings to match the body color. Should have had them paint the mirrors too, but they have since taken some abuse that would have destroyed the paint by now!

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