M-Class Advice Please!

[MercAl]

I'm toying with the idea of changing my C220 CDI for a ML270 CDI. It's not that I'm not happy with my C...I actually love it, and it's running sweet as a nut, (touch wood!), but I've always liked the ML. Been looking about, and seen a couple that have caught my eye. What should I look for? Anything specific to this model? Also, can anyone advise me how it is for towing? I tow a caravan and my C Class is a superb towcar. I'm assuming the ML is equal, (if not better). The current favourite is an 02 ML270 auto with all the toys. One owner, full MBSH, black with grey leather for £16,500. I think I would prefer manual though, purely for towing purposes. What's best?
One last question...is the fuel consumption as bad as I'm led to believe?
All advice greatly appreciated.

 

[hawk20]

Well, well. I made that switch some years back but from a petrol C class. Fuel economy:- you can get 30 mpg on a run from the ML270cdi and 27 mpg in all around use was easy I found. For towing I prefer an auto every time. Hill starts with a manual are nowhere near as easy -even ignoring the foot operated parking brake. So easy to move slowly when you want to with auto e.g manoeuvring in gateways and so on. And manual are rare so you will get far more choice in Auto. Far easier to resell too. Seats are remarkably comfortable on a long run on the ML.

 

[MercAl]

Thanks for that. Yep...think you may be right re auto. Still not convinced I'm gonna make the change...depends on the trade in price. Tomorrow will tell a story! Thanks again.

 

[panason1c]

I'm very happy with my 02 ML 270 auto in nearly every aspect............except that.... if i could go back in time......i would have bought a manual!..........better mpg (i currently get about 28 average) and less to go wrong compared to the complex electronic auto box (i had to buy a replacement transmission).

 

[MercAl]

That's frightened me! Think I'll put a bit more thought into the auto/manual choice. Years ago, I had an auto Rover 820, which gave me no end of problems. It's the only auto car I've ever had, but because of that I've always shyed away from autos. I know there is no comparison....but it seems to me that manual could be a lot less hassle!
Thanks again.

 

[hawk20]

That's frightened me! Think I'll put a bit more thought into the auto/manual choice. Years ago, I had an auto Rover 820, which gave me no end of problems. It's the only auto car I've ever had, but because of that I've always shyed away from autos. I know there is no comparison....but it seems to me that manual could be a lot less hassle!
Thanks again.

Check with a Merc service dept first. I'll bet problems with the auto box are rare. I've had auto Mercs since the early 80's. The boxes are first rate. Anyway if you buy one with full merc service history (I would anyway) you can have service plus which covers all things going wrong and servicing costs all for a set fee per month. See other threads.

By the way,you could search for ML gearbox problems to put your mind at rest.

 

[MercAl]

Good point Hawk. I'll do some research tomorrow. The one I'm looking at has full MBSH, and one owner. Had a drive in it today, and was well impressed. Just haggling over the usual: mats, tax etc. Dealer was desperate to sign and seal it today, but I'm not gonna be rushed. I managed to lift the previous owners name from the service book, so I'm going to try and make contact with him.
Thanks again.

 

[Blobcat]

You should keep an eye on this thread; http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=20295

 

[psmart]

There's one humongous problem with the manual box, and thats torque! The 6 speed manual isnt able to handle the torque kicked out by the 270cdi in standard form, so Merc have to de-tune the 270 which comes with a manual. The downside is that you dont get the 10-20% economy and performance benefit you would do in a similar setup (ie. manual and auto having equal engine tuning). Another big problem is that you can never tune the car, which may be an issue if you thought the power was lacking, as to do so, you'd certainly wreck the manual box.

As per Panasonic, less to go wrong with the manual, a bit better economy and a bit better performance, but only marginal.

Damn shame really, as a manual would make so much less CO2 and therefore keep the greens happy, if such a thing were possible!

I had my caravan when I chose my ML, a 1700kg Swift Spectrum, and its a great tow car, although, I only really towed once with the ML, then decided that it was better for the caravan to tow the car

 

[Blobcat]

I drove alongside an 'X' reg ML270 on the M74 for quite a few miles yesterday. I don't think the driver was aware but the wheels were bouncing for ages after going over the smallest bumps. I hate to think what his stopping distance from 70mph would be with knackered dampers.

 

[maldon]

MercAl

Very pleased with mine.

I never thought I would say this... Have just come back from hols in Italy - hired a new shape Focus Est TDI man for a week.

A) It did shift
B) Massively eco
C) Torque unreal - from about 40kph in third it just pulls and pulls and pulls..

But it did feel good to get back in the ML at Gatwick - the driving position is excellent.

Make sure you get parktronic.

 

[psmart]

But it did feel good to get back in the ML at Gatwick - the driving position is excellent.

Completely agree. Im tall and the ride position of the ML is such that I can drive from Rotterdam to Austria, non-stop except for fuel. Its great that way. The car in general is great allrounder, it has its niggles (mines a little noisy due to the soft-top, but no more than the cabrio I drove this weekend).

If you can afford it, go for it, but after seeing the fault on my car, Id seriously recommend you get a good warranty. I am my own warranty, a calculated financial choice, so far Im winning, just!

 

[Alfie]

I'm toying with the idea of changing my C220 CDI for a ML270 CDI. It's not that I'm not happy with my C...I actually love it, and it's running sweet as a nut, (touch wood!), but I've always liked the ML. Been looking about, and seen a couple that have caught my eye. What should I look for? Anything specific to this model? Also, can anyone advise me how it is for towing? I tow a caravan and my C Class is a superb towcar. I'm assuming the ML is equal, (if not better). The current favourite is an 02 ML270 auto with all the toys. One owner, full MBSH, black with grey leather for £16,500. I think I would prefer manual though, purely for towing purposes. What's best?
One last question...is the fuel consumption as bad as I'm led to believe?
All advice greatly appreciated.

I had am ML320 with everything on it including full AMG kit and wheels. Awesome car which transported the family to south of france and back in comfort and safety at ludicrously high speeds! The only downside to owning a W163 ML is the rate at which they eat typres, disks and pads. The rest is great including the auto box.

If I were buying another, it would be the diesel auto with family pack, xenons, parktronic, COMAND etc...

 

[hawk20]

Good point Hawk. I'll do some research tomorrow. The one I'm looking at has full MBSH, and one owner. Had a drive in it today, and was well impressed. Just haggling over the usual: mats, tax etc. Dealer was desperate to sign and seal it today, but I'm not gonna be rushed. I managed to lift the previous owners name from the service book, so I'm going to try and make contact with him.
Thanks again.

Any news. How's the search going?

 

[blassberg]

was very pleased with my Y red 270 Manual family / lux pack. 106,000 miles. My first diesel. Didn't know about the detuned manual versus auto on this model although I am aware on my currnet car vs the manual version (which is not on sale in the UK)

 

[Argenjagd]

I have an ML 270cdi, 2001, 130.000km
It is not a reliable car, I would not recomend it to my friends.
In two years of use it has more problems than my 300TD in his 25 years of use (410.000 Km).
Germans are good for weapons, chemical and machinery but in electronics are definetely bad.

 

[hawk20]

I have an ML 270cdi, 2001, 130.000km
It is not a reliable car, I would not recomend it to my friends.
In two years of use it has more problems than my 300TD in his 25 years of use (410.000 Km).
Germans are good for weapons, chemical and machinery but in electronics are definetely bad.

You are up late said the pot! I agree, problems in early years but getting much better -see latest JD Power results. Try this link:-
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=20188

 

[EvilEd]

I just bought a 2002 270CDI auto. So far (<3 months) it's done what it said on the tin.... it'll get a good workout the second weekend in Sept when it tugs the offroader up to Bewdley. Started okay after two weeks sitting at Gatwick too.....

 

[Argenjagd]

Hi Hawk20 ! Thanks for your mail, but JDPower will publish his rewiev according to who pay the bill.
The windows switch of the 300TD/80 are working like the first day, meanwhile in the ML270cdi the switches are falling apart, and this is not a problem of ¨early years¨, this is poor quality of the components.
Every single piece of plastic that you remove two or three times get broken (under seats covers).
The SRS light is on from one year now and the stealer can not find the reason, and so on and on .
It is unbelivable that such a car is allowed to use the star of MB-

 

[5imon]

My ML is ok..... its a 2000/W model and now has 99k on the clock. In the last year and 20k I have replaced the from brake pads and bushes. I have alos had a major an minor service. This has all come to about £1000 which for a years running cost plus estimated depreciation of £2000 is getting a bit high.

Remember ML's will eat brakes every 20k. Oh and I also changed two tires at £150 each...

On the plus side I have done 20k comfy miles, albeit wollowey ones.

Good luck...