54/04 Ml

[maldon]

Made a mistake and took the Mrs along to a stealership. The long and short is the C230K will be collected and a shiny 4800 mile one Owner (not demo) Dec 04 270 auto is being delivered tomorrow.

What niggles should I look and listen out for in the first couple of weeks that may need attention by MB?

 

[jberks]

My Nov 04 E270 hasn't missed a beat yet.
Only had it a week though so maybe a bit premature!

 

[maldon]

Took delivery on Friday have done 4 trips of about 65 miles each about 50 dual carriageway, 15 miles town driving am now just a touch over half way through full tank of diesel.

 

[jberks]

Had mine a couple of weeks now. Best MPG - 52 at 50mph, average (neck to neck and do the maths) of 36mpg with a fair bit of stop-start / town driving. Interestingly, the computer average is showing 34 so appears a bit pessemistic. Did the run to work this morning and it's showing 41 which I think is brilliant.
Only problem is the air filter box which needs a new mounting kit. The vibration sounds like a B52 on take-off. Stuffed a rag down the side to dampen it and shut it up until the parts come in.

 

[Dieter R]

Hi JB,

Do you only drive downhill?

I've had my 270 CDi since 2002 and have averaged a tad under 28 mpg (over 38,000 miles). The best I've got is 31 mpg touring Scotland etc.

You sure it's not running on two cylinders?

 

[jberks]

Hi JB,

Do you only drive downhill?

I've had my 270 CDi since 2002 and have averaged a tad under 28 mpg (over 38,000 miles). The best I've got is 31 mpg touring Scotland etc.

You sure it's not running on two cylinders?

If it is, it must be frighteningly fast on 5!
No, infact, my daily commute is from Leeds to Manchester and back, and that has the slight inconvenience of having to climb over the pennines each way, so 15 miles up steep inclines - though admittedly, followed by another 15 going down again. By the time I reach the top, she's showing 36-37 and when I get to the bottom again, that's crept up to 39-40. Round town - stop-start she sits in the high 20's, but as soon as I get an open bit of road the computer climbs into the mid to high 30's. It was reading 41 when I got out this morning, and that does include 12 miles in heavy, though admittedly steadily moving traffic. The average on the computer is around 34.8 but as I say, that's a tad pessemistic compared to what I worked out.

Ah - just noticed, yours is an ML, mine is an E. The figures you quote are possibly reasonable for an ML. Its heavier, bigger and has the 4wd system to cart around. I have a 2.5CDI jeep and see similar figures to what you quote in that.

 

[PABBY]

I took delivery of my ML 270CDi Inspiration (automatic) in March 2004 and it has not missed a beat since, though it was a tad thirsty for the first 16,000 miles and needs topping up with oil every 6,000 miles or so. I would say I drive with quite a heavy right foot, so I only recently managed to wring 400 miles from a very full tank of fuel.

Watch out for the service interval indicator. Due to the topping up of the oil (which adds more miles onto the service interval), mine didn't approach zero until over 21,000 miles. After I'd dropped it off at the dealer, I was advised that it would require a 'B' service and that it would have been wiser to have had its first 'A' service at around the 13,000 mile point. Therefore, I would check with your regular service guys as to what *their* advice is on this matter!

Enjoy your ML, and don't take any notice of the Top Gear 2005 survey!

 

[jberks]

After I'd dropped it off at the dealer, I was advised that it would require a 'B' service and that it would have been wiser to have had its first 'A' service at around the 13,000 mile point. Therefore, I would check with your regular service guys as to what *their* advice is on this matter!

Enjoy your ML, and don't take any notice of the Top Gear 2005 survey!

On the first bit, it is interesting. I topped up the oil in the 240 and got 17k before it finally wanted a service, but like you it had switched from an A to a B in the process. However, I would still have needed both over 18k normally, so in my view it saved me an unnecessary A. For a first service then perhaps its prudent to have the service, but I can't really see why as all they do is an oil change and they no longer put running in oil in them.
Interestingly my E270 has just had it's first service at 17k and that was a demonstrator in its previous life so the dealer clearly didn't feel that way when it was their own money! So I wonder whether it was just a 'bugger we missed out on £250' comment.

As regards all the surveys, I think most people feel the same way these days. Sure the cars aren't built like W123/4's any more (they also don't cost as much or use so much fuel), but most of us a fairly happy with our purchases. It's the dealers are where the real problems with customer satisfaction start. Small insignificant problems frequently become major battles - hence if the ML has a couple more minor issues than say a C, then as ML owners will see more of the dealer, his problems are amplified. MB are putting quality at the top of their list allegedly, hence both yours and mine are pretty good. However, quite how a manufacturer can get dozens of independant dealers to all provide apalling service at the same time, is astounding. To be honest I think its time Dermot Kelly (MD MBUK), who has presided over this mess, was fired.
Perhaps we should start a campaign! "The MB owners club demand the immediate resignation of Dermot Kelly" - Top Gear, newspapers etc would love such a story!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I've had my 270 CDi since 2002 and have averaged a tad under 28 mpg (over 38,000 miles). The best I've got is 31 mpg touring Scotland etc.

Typical 27-29mpg mixed driving for me.

 

[maldon]

Apart from the PiD nightmare, everything is OK, I've managed five trips trips from home to London prob 50 miles dual carriageway and 15 ton driving - 70-75 mph on the dual and relatively light right foot at all times. FRom a full tank I couldonly squeeze fifty quid in (well 48 of diesel and a couple quid of petrol).

Someone 'tested' the 3rd row of seats an managed to snap off thegrab handle so the car will go back in for that to be fixed...

Other than that am pleased - seems to take a long time to get up to 80c from a cold morning start though. I do tend to treat the car very gently from cold and only exceed 2500rpm when at 80c