ML's in Europe
 

Does anyone know if the ML's in Europe are actucally built there (Germany) or are they shipped over from the U.S. If they are built in Germany, do they have the same reliability problems as the U.S. versions? I belive that the AMG engines are assembled in Germany and shipped to the U.S.

My understanding is that they are all "assembled" in Vance, AL, but many components are shipped over from Germany and other European nations, not just AMG engines, but ALL engines, transmissions, tranfer cases, differentials, etc. I believe the bodies are all US made, not sure of the frame. Certainly some of the problems occur at the plant itself, but the Germans are just as much to blame for some of the gripes about the ML's quality, such as oil consumption and leaks and mistrust of the transmission..

Gilly

Gratz also makes Jeep Grand Cherokees for the folks over there
who really want one. You can get a Jeep GC with the ML270CDI
diesel engine installed in it. I drove one and it was the hot set-up! Same power as the 4.7L V-8 and 29 MPG.

G's, ML's, and Jeeps OH MY!!!
DIESEL

Gilly, what do you mean by "mistrust of the transmission"? My wife's ML began acting up recently. It seems like the transmission gets stuck in 5th gear and won't shift down, even with the gas pedal fully depressed. That happened for a day and has since gone away... :confused:

Well, what I mean is, for one, people don't seem to trust the "filled for life" transmission fluid.
There has been a certain failure rate of the transmission, no idea exactly what the rate is, but it's not unheard of for the transmission to fail. It was a fairly new design when the ML came out, so it's not unusual to see some failures while the bugs are worked out. You'd think MB would be a little better and proving these new designs before introducing them, but such is not always the case. I for one don't believe the "filled for life" fluid is the root cause for these failures. They seem to have a much better transmission now than they did initially. I still wouldn't hesitate to buy an older one just based on the fear the transmission may fail; it's uncommon now. It seems like if the transmission had a problem ex-factory, you'd find out about it in short order, within a few 10k miles.
OTOH, the "real" oil consumption problems with the 112 engine seem to be more related to the FSS system combined with the initial failure of MB to insist that synthetic oil be used.
It's unusual the transmission would be stuck in 5th though. MOST failures of the transmission would involve the transmission being "stuck" in 2nd or 3rd, which would be the "limp home mode" depending on if the failure were electrical or hydraulic in nature.

Gilly

Thanks for the info Gilly :)