RE: Shed Of The Week: Mercedes ML430
Discussion
LasseV said:
Willy Nilly said:
How knackered would a Toyota 4wd need to be to only make £1000?
Well, i don't know. I have never seen really cheap 4wd toyota....
I remember seeing a good looking FJ Landcruiser for sale on the corner of my street in Australia.
The guy wanted $7000 for it and it was almost 20 years old. I tried making him an offer but he wouldn't budge. My Aussie pals told me it was a deal, but I hesitated. I think that car would be worth $15,000 today.
They're not actually "unbreakable" but they are amazingly robust. Landies don't cut it in comparison (although they do have their own virtues).
KTF said:
andybu said:
Shed would be better off looking for an early Mercedes Sprinter van. Simpler mechanicals, better build quality and remarkably rapid. Especially when piloted by young courier drivers working on a commission-only basis...
Have you seen the state of the early ones? The bean counters had their way with them as well.
t spouted on this thread from people who 'know someone that owned one'. 
I bought one back in 2003, an ML280 Inspiration, I will be honest and say that at the time I was comparing it to the X5 and I just didn't get it. So much so I only kept it a few months and then bought another 5 series touring.
But it was wrong to compare them, the X5 was a jacked up E39 and designed to handle like a car, the ML was a proper 4x4 which was meant to feel luxurious compared with the other things out there at the time, and was also aimed at the US market where they wanted wallowy comfortable trucks, and to be fair it did that well.
It is a shame they had so many issues on the prefacelift cars as that is all anyone remembers them for, but drive a 2002 ML and a 2002 X5 and I think many will be surprised which one feels tired and which one feels OK still. I think the fact they are so softly damped has helped them as they get older.
I think of them as a luxurious van more than anything else and they do that so well.
But it was wrong to compare them, the X5 was a jacked up E39 and designed to handle like a car, the ML was a proper 4x4 which was meant to feel luxurious compared with the other things out there at the time, and was also aimed at the US market where they wanted wallowy comfortable trucks, and to be fair it did that well.
It is a shame they had so many issues on the prefacelift cars as that is all anyone remembers them for, but drive a 2002 ML and a 2002 X5 and I think many will be surprised which one feels tired and which one feels OK still. I think the fact they are so softly damped has helped them as they get older.
I think of them as a luxurious van more than anything else and they do that so well.
Had a ride in an ML270CDI once when my E30 318iT's immobiliser packed in on me in the car-park of Waitrose in Cobham, a fellow shopper took pity on me and took me home. It did seem a bit cramped, and build quality on that relatively early example wasn't great - it looks like the facelift cars were better. Rode nicely enough, and for a diesel it was reasonably refined. Didn't realise it was a separate chassis, though! Thought they looked like a cross between a Ford Explorer and a giant VW Polo. Wouldn't mind a late ML430 as a general runabout/dog wagon...
A friend of mine has a 2001 ML270, which he bought in 2002. It is a slow old thing, but quite pleasant to run round in. He hasn't had any trouble with it and the trim has lasted fairly well, though it must be said he does look after the car.
I'm quite surprised with the depth of the negativity felt here for the ML. Sure, his ML isn't the best quality car I have ever been in, but it isn't dire either. The quality really is not far off the late 1990s Mercedes W140 my brother had many years back - though it must be said the quality of the W140 is nothing like as good as PH-lore maintains, at least in my experience.
To my mind, a Mercedes ML430 is a decent Shed of the week.
I'm quite surprised with the depth of the negativity felt here for the ML. Sure, his ML isn't the best quality car I have ever been in, but it isn't dire either. The quality really is not far off the late 1990s Mercedes W140 my brother had many years back - though it must be said the quality of the W140 is nothing like as good as PH-lore maintains, at least in my experience.
To my mind, a Mercedes ML430 is a decent Shed of the week.
gizlaroc said:
Because with your garage...
Honda Civic Type R (EP3)
Aprilia RSV1000R
Suzuki SV650S
You really seem to be the sort of person who would even consider a big wallowy 4x4.
Why would I possibly want a car that fails in almost every aspect? I much prefer cars that handle, have reasonable performance and that don't look like an over-inflated barrel. Reliability is also a big plus.Honda Civic Type R (EP3)
Aprilia RSV1000R
Suzuki SV650S
You really seem to be the sort of person who would even consider a big wallowy 4x4.
Edited by Mr2Mike on Tuesday 25th August 10:24
gizlaroc said:
I don't get why every says the interior is poor?
These were the pics I took a few weeks back, 13 years old with 120k miles on it, the leather and carpets are excellent quality imho and stayed looking good in a way far newer cars, even from Mercedes, just don't manage.....
Such as? The interior looks no better or worse for the wear than anything I've seen from Merc in the past 15 years. Including cabs here in DE.These were the pics I took a few weeks back, 13 years old with 120k miles on it, the leather and carpets are excellent quality imho and stayed looking good in a way far newer cars, even from Mercedes, just don't manage.....
The interior style however is another issue entirely.
leedsutd1 said:
can people stop saying every week , buy it, use it till it goes wrong, sell parts ,scrap it and be in profit, your wrong. pay a grand , then the parts are going to be have to be VERY cheap ie alternator /starter motor £15, plus delivery costs, ,be lucky to sell any body parts,or interior parts. and who wants a car in bits at there house, or be arsed taking it apart. also china is the biggest buyer of scrap metal and its very low now , might get £100 SCRAP. This Merc only has 12 weeks mot , that would put me off
I agree. It's the same 'tards that just copy what someone else just said and have never done anything like what they suggest. It's as tiresome as the polish it out with t-cut crap.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff