Should I buy a ML270?

[tony jr]

Hi,

Over the past 15 years I have owned a 230TE (250K miles), E230 (w124 190K miles), A170 (90K miles) all 100% reliable no rust only minor issues. Then I bought an E240 (w210, 145K miles) and covered in rust after only 3 years. I told myself I would never buy another Merc again! However, I have just been to look at a ML270 and it looks ok. Should I buy it or get an Audi A6 estate?

Your thoughts?

Tony Jr

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

Hi,

Over the past 15 years I have owned a 230TE (250K miles), E230 (w124 190K miles), A170 (90K miles) all 100% reliable no rust only minor issues. Then I bought an E240 (w210, 145K miles) and covered in rust after only 3 years. I told myself I would never buy another Merc again! However, I have just been to look at a ML270 and it looks ok. Should I buy it or get an Audi A6 estate?

Your thoughts?

Tony Jr

depending on age but for a later model w163 the only rust you might get is around the rear tailgate release handle.

W163 is a nice motor dispite being built by fat no-brained yanks and i had no problems with mine.

as ever your question is pretty vague without a budget but rather than go for a vw a6 you would be better with a w211 estate.

 

[tony jr]

thanks for your thoughts.

My average mileage is around 20K per year

I have been looking at a few ml270 with family pack (around 80K on the clock) for around £10K

tony jr

 

[MarkF]

I love mine, had it for just over two years and is fantastic to drive.
It has a few very minor rust issues that I can sort out in the summer but there again my 10 month old Freelander was rusting so its not just Mercs.

Go for it they are a fantastic car and can pull the side off a house.

Mine may be replaced next year with the new ML320CDi SE model.

 

[tony jr]

I didn't know what rust was until I bought my 210 - every panel affected!

Are they electrics reliable?

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

thanks for your thoughts.

My average mileage is around 20K per year

I have been looking at a few ml270 with family pack (around 80K on the clock) for around £10K

tony jr

Take it your looking for seven seats then?

the boot is huge so the two extra seats give it a purpose.

If your doing those miles you wont be dissapointed in the ML as it is very comfortable for everyone inside and i miss the high driving position on motorway journeys.

As i said the only rust problenm you might get from a 2004 on is around the tailgate release as its a known fault with a few different mercs from the mid 90s design but i got mine done under the merc rust warranty.

 

[tony jr]

seven seats would be good but would like to take them out most of the time. I take it the engine and gearbox are reliable for over 250K miles if treated well.

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

seven seats would be good but would like to take them out most of the time. I take it the engine and gearbox are reliable for over 250K miles if treated well.

270cdi with the five speed gearbox is reliable and well tested and makes a lovely sound and you will like the way everyone clears a path for you on the motorway.

the inpiration model is the one to get with the upgraded alloys and crome grille.

 

[tony jr]

Does that seam a reasonable price for that mileage?

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

Does that seam a reasonable price for that mileage?

for that sort of money you should be able to get a 2004 with 20k less on the clock and plenty of kit depending on how far you will travel, i dont mind doing a 1000k round trip for a good deal.

 

[psmart]

I bought mine new and had it for 8.5 years before passing it on in the family.

Generally, the cars are fine, very comfortable and economical for its size. If the car has been chipped, walk away. The gearboxes are troublesome, Ive had particular bad luck, but from the info the specialist has given, the earlier models are susceptible to failures.

The suspension is also troublesome, they regularly break the Hydroponic coils in the rear and they eat brake disks and pads quite quickly (15-20k), especially in the rear, ALBEIT, if you dont replace with Merc original (I sourced the OEM manufacturer) they last a lot longer.

Read up on this forum, there are quite a lot of failures reported on the ML270, but put it in perspective, people come here with faults, so all your going to see are faults.

Sum up, great car.

 

[tony jr]

Anyone know any good site to buy from other than autotrader?

 

[tony jr]

Thanks for all your comments. I decided to trade in my E240 estate for a ml270. Had it 3 weeks now no problems great drive.

 

[hawk20]

Thanks for all your comments. I decided to trade in my E240 estate for a ml270. Had it 3 weeks now no problems great drive.

Well done. Give us some details. I had one for 15k miles in 2004 and liked it very much indeed.

 

[giuseppe]

try the GUM TREE web site or ad trader site, a lot more to choose from. giuseppe