ML 270cDi - Keep it, sell it?

[WayneB]

Hi everyone,

My wife's just had a horrible & expensive experience with an exploding transfer case on her ML 270cDi. To be frank its scared the hell out of me, and got me thinking maybe I sell my wife's beloved ML while things are going good and find a replacement.
And to make this awful decision I really would appreciate some advice.

I surfed the net briefly and found an article that's made me even more daxed and confused. The article is from Canadian Drive, December 15, 2005 and the conclusion is:-

If you love all that the three-pointed-star stands for and you have an incredibly high tolerance for frustration, then maybe the ML's propensity for problems would be an acceptable compromise, but the truth is that the ML is simply best avoided.
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/cc/98-05ml.htm

What on earth should I do? I want above everything to enjoy this car some more, but I can't have my wife & little kids driving in a car that has reached its sell-by date???

 

[truthfindergeneral]

I'm hoping mine bursts in to flames one night when I'm asleep. You can't give the things away let alone trade them in for anything like the figure they should stand at. They are the motoring equivalent of the black death. The bloke who sold his on to me should be awarded a prize for finding another mug .

 

[WayneB]

Oh boy, not what I want to hear. Why do you hate yours, mate?

 

[GseRacing]

whats a transfer case? sorry!

 

[WayneB]

Don't apologise, I had no clue whatsoever until mine exploded. I see you have the smart ML and your ignorance about what this thing is actually makes me feel good - if you dodn't know what it is, then it hasn't given you problems ...
But if you're interested to find out more, have a look under the section "Engine Drive Chain Fuel Exhaust" and see the thread "transfer box exploded - what did I do wrong? ( 1 2 3)" - there are some very interesting comments.

 

[truthfindergeneral]

Wayne... We have owned several Merc Saloons these last few years but non have been as flimsy , as temperamental, as badly put together than the ML. There are more noises coming from behind the dash than you get in a light aircraft on take off.
The rear brake light bulbs constantly wriggle loose in their holders. The steering makes strange noises. Then you google ML270 CDI ( version W163) and all you find is people on the edge of suicide. God only knows which of the many reported faults are lurking around the next journey.

 

[Mark A]

Keep it.

The wife has had her ML-270 for +/- 3yrs, and it can be a bit of a pain occasionally, but nothing has cost much to fix. It has proved invaluable for towing, a bit of work off-road, and in the snow. In fact today, the wife insisted that she needed it, and low and behold I was sitting in the middle of the road facing the wrong way in my Jag this morning thinking how much I missed using the ML as my daily commute.

Mark