ML Forum

[Bill Wood]

We're seeing more and more interest in having an ML forum. Posts regarding the ML continue to increase as the population of ML's increases.

Before we can establish an ML forum, we will need someone to volunteer to moderate the forum. What does a moderator do?

The moderator is responsible for making sure things don't get out of hand. I cannot possibly read all of the posts on the Shop Forum so I look to the moderators to let me know when inappropriate posts are found. The idea is to try to minimize flaming or other activities that would make the Shop Forum an unpleasant experience.

Secondly, the moderator doesn't have to be an "expert" but, they should be knowledgeable of their subject. They should try and make sure questions get responded to and that posts are in the proper forum.

Most importantly, the moderator has to have a REAL PASSION for the subject. Owning an ML is a minimum qualification to be the ML moderator. You have to really be excited about ML's so that you can help others and bring out their ideas, etc.

OK...with all that said, if you would like to be the moderator of the ML forum, please post a message below or e-mail me directly.

Thanks!

[G-Benz]

I love my ML (and apparently have fewer problems than most ML owners in this forum do).

However, it is fairly new, lots of miles left on the warranty, and trouble-free.

Unlike my well-aged 300E, I rarely have problems to post or issues to discuss with the ML. Conversely, I have no expertise, nor experience in tackling problems related to the ML.

Ask me again about an ML forum, when we get more of those models getting long on the tooth...

[Lebenz]

I am in favor of it! The ML has many accessories that are unique to the MB line. There are few sites devoted to the ML and the ones I know of have a comparatively limited agenda verses the take all comers agenda of MB shop. A ML forum would add an asset to MB shop. If the FastLane and PartsShop would carry some of the growing list of ML accessories, there would be at least a double benefit. For example, if I could get a good buy on the Nav system, I’d likely buy it, even though the Garmin system on my desk is “better”I’d rather have an integrated one. Same for the MB phone. What stops me are the exorbitant prices charged by the dealers and even Clair.

So there you have it. An opportunity for increased exchange of information, and an opportunity for MercedesShop to add value in the form of ML accessories, tech tips, and to provide a communication site for ML users.

Here is a reprint of an article I posted under general feedback some time ago. It dates back to 9-2000 and speaks directly to the future of the ML:


DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG said on Monday it will invest $600 million in its Alabama vehicle assembly plant to double production of the next-generation M-Class sport utility vehicle. The plant expansion is expected to create up to 2,000 new jobs and could double production capacity to roughly 160,000 units from 80,000 M-Class SUVs currently, the German-American automaker said. The plant currently employs about 1,900 workers. The plant expansion could add an additional 1.5 million square feet to the existing 1.2 million square foot plant. U.S. sales of the M-Class during the first seven months this year are up 24.3 percent to 28,976 vehicles from 23,312 last year. The SUVs are also exported to more than 135 countries. DaimlerChrysler also builds up to 25,000 M-Class SUVs at its Steyr-Daimler-Puch factory in Graz, Austria plant to meet growing demand in Europe.

Regards

[Ashman]

Bill why not instead of an ML only forum, how about a Mercedes SUV Forum instead. To cover the ML, G-Wagen, and the Unimog..

Alon

[ymsin]

Alon has a good idea. The SUV would indeed be ideal.

As for the Mods, I think tracy and Kuan would make great mods.

Gbenz - why not volunteer yerself?

[Bill Wood]

Originally posted by Ashman
Bill why not instead of an ML only forum, how about a Mercedes SUV Forum instead. To cover the ML, G-Wagen, and the Unimog.

We considered that when we first created the G-Wagen forum. At the time there was little interest in the ML on the forums and the G-Wagen guys were looking for a place they could call home. Maybe we should revisit the idea. The G, Unimog and ML are TOTALLY different vehicles but, they are all off-road vehicles.

[Ashman]

That was my idea. I think it would be better to start out with them all grouped, and maybe expand out later if needed.

Maybe we should run this by the G-wagen forum section and see what they say....

In the same respect, we could start a forum for each model, like E class, S class, etc etc, it would take away clutter, but I so far have no problems with the amount of posting on the site for any given forum...

Alon

[Lebenz]

Yo Kerry, I never thought of myself as the mod before

But I agree, a MB passenger truck section or what ever you’ll call it, would do well, without overly fragmenting the site into platform specific groups. But really, I just want MercedesShop to offer some cool accessories such as GPS, NAV systems, phones, HO lights, burshguards, and yes, maybe even a mild lowering and anti roll system for the MLs.

But while I’d go either way (or no way, dude), I’d also like to point out that the site might be a better “sell” to some other ML devoted sights if it were exclusive to the ML.

And since he isn’t looking, I’d also like to nominate Kuan as the group Moderator

Any seconds?

Cheerios

[David C Klasse]

Regarding the split forums due to models, I think this has been discussed and been sought against only because it would disperse similar topics. IE, the M104 motor was in all model Mercedes' a number of years back. And even though that applied to 4 different models in, say 1995, the engines were the same.
But then again, this would still all be relevent and available when doing a search. So I don't know. I would like a W202 forum, but I do understand the reason if we will not get one!
Anyway, I suppose that's it for now.

[ymsin]

... seconded.

[Kuan]

Thank you for the nomination my Mercedesshop brothers, and in keeping with the same spirit, I would like to return the favor and second Tracy as moderator.

The M-Class deserves its own forum by simply being a different beast altogether from the rest of the Mercedes lineup. There are enough M-Class owners lurking around, let's do it!

Kuan

Like I said in the G-wagon forum, I think a SUV forum would work. There is very little action in that forum so combining the SUV's might add some life. I do not think we need a seperate forum just for ML's just like we do need one for seperate classes(c,e,&s, etc). We have SL, Diesel, G-wagon and general. Replacing G with suv SHOULD BE GREAT. I do NOT want to be a moderator.

[G-Benz]

I would agree to combining the SUVs in one forum.

I sometimes post in the SL forum, and it's interesting to note that the month of August postings only occupied a single page! Obviously not much activity, given the SL models spanned as far back as the mid 70's! Conversely, you now have to traverse through two pages in the Tech forum just to get a single day's worth of posts!!!

I see maybe one or two ML posts every other day on the Tech forum, so I still don't think we need a dedicated forum. The ML has only been around since 98, so it will be a long while before the flurry of ML posts start taxing the server. Will the G-wagen folks share their space? Don't know.

How about it G-Wagen afficiandos?

[Tom Hock]

I would also like to see a dedicated ML forum, but, absent that, would be happy if each thread on this forum would identify the model, or models, pertaining to the thread. Since my interest is almost exclusively M class, I could find the interesting threads without looking at many that do not pertain to the M class. This could be done by having a column (replace the "Rating" column), that shows the models the thread initiator feels are appropriate.

[Bill Wood]

Ok, after hearing all the feedback and discussing this with J.R. over in the G-Wagen forum, we have decided to EXPAND the existing G-Wagen forum into an SUV forum. We will bring on another moderator to co-moderate the forum with J.R. and the new moderator will focus on the ML's.

We have a new moderator picked but, still need to tie some loose ends before making the forum change.

Stay tuned...