High mileage ML owner, what have you replaced so far
 

I have an 1999 ML 320 with 130000km(78000mile).
This is the list of things that have been replaced in mine:
Trip computer
Transfer case
Front shocks
Front ball joints
Inner tie rods
Transmission oil coolant line
Center drive shaft bearing
3 sets of front and rear brake pads
2 sets of front and back rotors
Fuel sender
HVAC blower
Catalytic convertor
and various small stuff.
What's your list?

I have 71K on the clock and the list of components are:
Rear shocks (under warranty)
Driver window switch
Sunroof gasket (under warranty)
Rear seat latch (under warranty)

Maint items:
2 sets of front brake pads
Battery

you guys are bad luck =)
 

my car is at 85K now, I had problems with the
air mass sensor
window switch
blower motor
wiper motor
some minor bulbs
front and rear brakes
front and rear rotors
front linkage...
transfer case (TSB) wasn't necessary

thats about it.. I think I put more money on mods than the problems themselves! all of them were under warranty =P

OUCH... Stop... you'll scare away potential ML owners
 

Ok, yes, you had repairs,
yes, you have put miles on your car,
yes, the ML's are made in Alabama,
yes, the quality is questionable... for a MB,

but why scare the rest of us that are enjoying our trucks!!!

If the quality was of a true Mercedes, we'd be paying twice as much for the vehicle and probably would not be driving a Benz.

So enjoy pals!!!

Not beiing scary just beiing informative
 

This is not to scare anybody. The reason for this post is to alert people to common problems and the fix. A lot of the dealer do not recognize the problems and don't know the fix. Some of the problems were left undetected for a long time and it was spoted later by a seperate dealer and in multiple case my trusted ford technician friend who comb thru the truck for me. I don't mind fixing the vehicle but it is the incompetence of multiple mercedes dealer which I have dealt with that really turns me off. Remember it is a forum like this that first alerted ML owner of the power steering clamp problem. Did mercedes ask you to have your clamp checked? No they did not. So if you suddenly loose all your power steering, remember this post. I love the truck dearly and not an ML basher but I am sick and tired of more than a few mercedes dealer because of their incompetence and arrogance. This post is useful for people like me who is goiing to keep the ML for a long time. If you lease it for 3 year and return it with 30000miles on it this post is of no interest to you.

No harm intended !!!
 

The forums are great, and the help we give each other is even better.

Unfortunately dealer mechanics are seldom as good as one would expect. There are exceptions of course, but they have to work within the policies and guidelines of the dealerships.

I have owned MB's in Europe and here, and have always found independent shops with dedicated mechanics not only to be cheaper, but also more dedicated, honest and knowledgeable.

There are good and bad independent shops, one just needs to take the time to find the rights one.

Dealer shops have proven to me to be unreliable at best. I have owned and taken to dealers Audi's, Chryslers, Fords, Mercedes and VW's. And believe me I was always disappointed.

My favorite story is when I took my 230 CE to the local German owned MB shop in Tenerife (Canary Islands), because the window did not seal. They first replaced and charged me for the seal, then the window mechanism, then the window and ultimately wanted to change the door. After $100's of dollars into this issue, I took my car to a small local shop owned by a German. He fixed the issue by simply adjusting the window.

How come Mercedes could not figure that out and wanted to sell me everything to include a new door. A mystery!!!

It is a shame that when we have difficulties that include electronic codes that must be analyzed by a computer, that we cannot go outside the Benz network. Hopefully that will change soon when our government passes the law that manufacturers have to disclose these codes to keep America competitive.

Regards,



:cool:

Sounds like you need to leave Cal. and find a dealer with some class. We are cheaper than most independent shops and tend to have the parts and info all the time. Some independant shops tend to charge you by the hour while they learn how to repair your car. Our info isn't a secret either, you can diagnose and
repair lots of problems with a 300 dollar scan tool if you so desire.
maybe you shouldn't bash factory techs until you meet us all.
Since I have invested as much in education and tools , as doctors
and scientists, It chaps my rear when I get classified as less knowledgeable, honest, and dedicated.

end of rant

I of course would have to side with Dr Diesel on this. Too often I hear this type of slam on dealer techs, and if I happen to point out that not all dealer techs are bad, i just get handed the "Oh, your an exception Gilly, you're a good one". Well, I happen to think that the poor ones are the exception and it's a case of the few rotten apples spoiling the bushel.
I do take exception to Dr Diesel's statement that "mechanics" are parts replacers and technicians are not. Maybe I'm "old school", but I rather prefer the title of "mechanic" over "technician", not that I really dislike being called a tech, I just prefer "mechanic". To me "auto technician" is a newer type of label for the same person, just like how they call just about anybody a "technician" these days. If your a lousy mechanic, that's just what you are, although I do see a genre of lousy technicians who are referred to as "parts replacers", which I acknowledge the presence of.
I do know another "old school" kind of guy who insists that they started calling us "auto technicians" just so they could pay us less;)

Gilly

Sorry, did not mean to offend anyone
 

I was just sharing my experience.

By all means, there are good tech/mechanics and there are less knowledgeable ones, just like in all professions and walks of life.

No need to get defensive. I never said that any of you are not excellent at your trade. To the contrary, you have taken it upon yourself to help people like me and share the secrets of your trade, and that is very much appreciated.

Maybe I have just had bad luck with dealers. I am sure there are good dealer shops out there that are reasonably priced.

And by the way, I have two good local shops, a small Benz dealer in La Jolla and a general mechanic on Miramar that do a terrific job.

The SD Benz dealer recently left the lock box on the car and forgot to fix 2 out of 5 items. That shop looks astonishing, their service very friendly, but were they thorough???

Don't shoot the messenger!!!

PS: If any of you ever come visit San Diego, email me. I run two smaller hotels and can help with accomodations.

Thanks

My experience at dealers was both good and bad. I think it's the same as independents - there are good ones and bad ones.

I had a bad customer service experience at the largest volume Mercedes dealer in the world - Fletcher Jones Mercedes Benz in Newport Beach, California. They treated me poorly from a customer service perspective, and their costly initial attempt at a repair turned out to be wrong, and they were reluctant to work with me on the price.

I have had great experiences at two small to medium size dealerships. My car was serviced exclusively at Shelley Mercedes Benz in Long Beach from day one up to the 120,000 mile service and they were great. From the 127,500 mile service to the 135,000 mile service, Penske Mercedes in Covina, California performed the work and some diagnostic repairs, and they were courteous and prompt. They even gave me a 10% discount on one bill when they found out that my wife and I just had some enormous medical bills.