ML Facelift 09 Buying Advice?
Discussion
Morning
In the market for an ML and although only subtle differences I am specifically looking at the the 08/09> facelift models. Considered other options including X5, Range Rover, Touareg but think the ML ticks the most boxes for us.
Can't seem to find any major horror stories about these, but looking for any advice you can impart?? Do they handle mileage well, I won't be adding huge amounts to it so taking that into account I am looking at slightly higher mileage examples in order to save a bit of cash on the purchase outlay and then spend some of that having a thorough service etc.
One thing that confuses me slightly is the engine choice - 280, 300, 320 which all seem very similar are there any stand out advantages over choosing one over the other??
The Blue Efficiency seems to be standard on all the facelifts which I understand is a urea additive - is this something that requires topping up and does it mean there is no DPF??
Any help, advice or ownership experience would be most welcome.
Thanks
SI
In the market for an ML and although only subtle differences I am specifically looking at the the 08/09> facelift models. Considered other options including X5, Range Rover, Touareg but think the ML ticks the most boxes for us.
Can't seem to find any major horror stories about these, but looking for any advice you can impart?? Do they handle mileage well, I won't be adding huge amounts to it so taking that into account I am looking at slightly higher mileage examples in order to save a bit of cash on the purchase outlay and then spend some of that having a thorough service etc.
One thing that confuses me slightly is the engine choice - 280, 300, 320 which all seem very similar are there any stand out advantages over choosing one over the other??
The Blue Efficiency seems to be standard on all the facelifts which I understand is a urea additive - is this something that requires topping up and does it mean there is no DPF??
Any help, advice or ownership experience would be most welcome.
Thanks
SI
Wow that's a great reply thank you, compared to a similar aged Range Rover Sport that list is positively minute!!!
I love that headunit - one of the cars I have seen has very basic head unit so that could be the ideal solution, and it's plug and play you say??
It would be an '09 on car as I prefer some aspects of the facelift particularly the wheels which I note you say were quite crashy, do you think this was wheels or suspension? One of the examples I have seen has the airmatic which I imagine is plush bud possibly problematic as it gets older??
Really useful post thanks.
Si
I love that headunit - one of the cars I have seen has very basic head unit so that could be the ideal solution, and it's plug and play you say??
It would be an '09 on car as I prefer some aspects of the facelift particularly the wheels which I note you say were quite crashy, do you think this was wheels or suspension? One of the examples I have seen has the airmatic which I imagine is plush bud possibly problematic as it gets older??
Really useful post thanks.
Si
Looks a lovely example you had there! The different profile tyres obviously made a huge difference might try not and see how they compare perhaps.
The ones I have seen are around £11-£12k with 85-100k on the clock.
Funny you should mention the FFRR as I was looking at those too but people say TD6 is underpowered and TDV8 too much of a gamble in my budget sadly.
Considered a nice VW Touareg so going to take a look at a 3.0 V6 TDi Altitude model on Mon.
Si
The ones I have seen are around £11-£12k with 85-100k on the clock.
Funny you should mention the FFRR as I was looking at those too but people say TD6 is underpowered and TDV8 too much of a gamble in my budget sadly.
Considered a nice VW Touareg so going to take a look at a 3.0 V6 TDi Altitude model on Mon.
Si
Thanks for the super informative post, some really encouraging ownership experience there which is good as I should have updated this thread really - I bought one!
Not a facelift as I set out to buy but really pleased all the same. It's a 2008 ML320 Edition 10 which I understand were produced to celebrate 10yrs of the ML. It was a private purchase and an absolute pleasure too, no unexpected surprises, complete honesty from the outset and a really genuine cares for car.
It's got some nice little extras being an Edition 10 but not the powered tailgate which sounds like a good thing reading your experiences!?!
I took it into Avantgarde Mercedes Specialists in Clevedon, North Somerset who were also brilliant. They completed a full health check of the vehicle paying particular attention to some items I asked them to look out. The verdict - a straight genuine car with only a couple of items needing attention. Those included glow plug command unit (seems to be a common failure) perished fuel pipe and air trap seals on turbo. These little things have all been done now and I am so pleased with the car its spacious, quiet, smooth and a real pleasure to travel in.
I suspect in time it will be bolstered by the purchase of an S2000 or similar so all bases are covered, but for now, at this time of year it's spot on!
Here's some pics -
Thanks for the super informative post, some really encouraging ownership experience there which is good as I should have updated this thread really - I bought one!
Not a facelift as I set out to buy but really pleased all the same. It's a 2008 ML320 Edition 10 which I understand were produced to celebrate 10yrs of the ML. It was a private purchase and an absolute pleasure too, no unexpected surprises, complete honesty from the outset and a really genuine cares for car.
It's got some nice little extras being an Edition 10 but not the powered tailgate which sounds like a good thing reading your experiences!?!
I took it into Avantgarde Mercedes Specialists in Clevedon, North Somerset who were also brilliant. They completed a full health check of the vehicle paying particular attention to some items I asked them to look out. The verdict - a straight genuine car with only a couple of items needing attention. Those included glow plug command unit (seems to be a common failure) perished fuel pipe and air trap seals on turbo. These little things have all been done now and I am so pleased with the car its spacious, quiet, smooth and a real pleasure to travel in.
I suspect in time it will be bolstered by the purchase of an S2000 or similar so all bases are covered, but for now, at this time of year it's spot on!
Here's some pics -
Not a facelift as I set out to buy but really pleased all the same. It's a 2008 ML320 Edition 10 which I understand were produced to celebrate 10yrs of the ML. It was a private purchase and an absolute pleasure too, no unexpected surprises, complete honesty from the outset and a really genuine cares for car.
It's got some nice little extras being an Edition 10 but not the powered tailgate which sounds like a good thing reading your experiences!?!
I took it into Avantgarde Mercedes Specialists in Clevedon, North Somerset who were also brilliant. They completed a full health check of the vehicle paying particular attention to some items I asked them to look out. The verdict - a straight genuine car with only a couple of items needing attention. Those included glow plug command unit (seems to be a common failure) perished fuel pipe and air trap seals on turbo. These little things have all been done now and I am so pleased with the car its spacious, quiet, smooth and a real pleasure to travel in.
I suspect in time it will be bolstered by the purchase of an S2000 or similar so all bases are covered, but for now, at this time of year it's spot on!
Here's some pics -
Thanks for the super informative post, some really encouraging ownership experience there which is good as I should have updated this thread really - I bought one!
Not a facelift as I set out to buy but really pleased all the same. It's a 2008 ML320 Edition 10 which I understand were produced to celebrate 10yrs of the ML. It was a private purchase and an absolute pleasure too, no unexpected surprises, complete honesty from the outset and a really genuine cares for car.
It's got some nice little extras being an Edition 10 but not the powered tailgate which sounds like a good thing reading your experiences!?!
I took it into Avantgarde Mercedes Specialists in Clevedon, North Somerset who were also brilliant. They completed a full health check of the vehicle paying particular attention to some items I asked them to look out. The verdict - a straight genuine car with only a couple of items needing attention. Those included glow plug command unit (seems to be a common failure) perished fuel pipe and air trap seals on turbo. These little things have all been done now and I am so pleased with the car its spacious, quiet, smooth and a real pleasure to travel in.
I suspect in time it will be bolstered by the purchase of an S2000 or similar so all bases are covered, but for now, at this time of year it's spot on!
Here's some pics -
Thank you for the pointers, I didn't realise that Grabbers would go up to 20" in size, how did you find them noisewise? Beginning to wonder about running them permanently like you did if they are acceptable on a daily basis, did you source yours on one of the tyre websites (Black Circles, Tyreshopper etc) or locally?
Memory seats are fantastic like you say but sadly the original owner for some reason didn't spec heated leather?!? Not having the alcantara centres makes a big difference in this weather, been looking into having them retro fitted which seems to be around £400?
Really pleased with it so far, not the little jobs have been sorted it's peace of mind motoring which I don't think I would of got from a similarly priced LR product.
Si
Memory seats are fantastic like you say but sadly the original owner for some reason didn't spec heated leather?!? Not having the alcantara centres makes a big difference in this weather, been looking into having them retro fitted which seems to be around £400?
Really pleased with it so far, not the little jobs have been sorted it's peace of mind motoring which I don't think I would of got from a similarly priced LR product.
Si
Thanks watchman thats really helpful, although having looked my tyres are 265/45/20 and the Coopers only list 275/45/20 which I am guessing won't work??
Shame as they are great value and look perfect for the rural lanes around my parts! Might have to continue my quest to find something similar as I think running them all year round with my limited mileage will make the ML unstoppable which is what we need really.
Thought about getting a second set of wheels and fitting winter tyres but to be honest I would rather not have to store a set of wheels and faff around swapping them over, if I could run something like the Cooper or the Grabber permanently thats the ideal solution, also had a look at Nokian which you mentioned but not available in my size - who said bigger was better!
Si
Shame as they are great value and look perfect for the rural lanes around my parts! Might have to continue my quest to find something similar as I think running them all year round with my limited mileage will make the ML unstoppable which is what we need really.
Thought about getting a second set of wheels and fitting winter tyres but to be honest I would rather not have to store a set of wheels and faff around swapping them over, if I could run something like the Cooper or the Grabber permanently thats the ideal solution, also had a look at Nokian which you mentioned but not available in my size - who said bigger was better!
Si
Ah ok, so not or of the question then - that's encouraging! Will have a look, I think from memory there is a load of room in behind there but will double check. Can't believe the price of the Cooper Zeon LTZ! In relation to a higher sidewall profile, I am guessing this benefits in terms of protection against kerbs etc?
Si
Si
Well after all this talk of tyres on Friday I set off for work as normal at 4pm a short 15min drive from home. Halfway there the tyre pressure monitoring light came on - weird I thought? Put my window down and heard that suspicious 'tick tick tick' sound and when I got to work found a massive chunk of metal stuck in the rear offside tyre!!!!
Don't know what it was or where it came from but it ruined my Pirelli P Zero Rosso! Being that I would have had to change both rear tyres to avoid wear differences and damaging the diff the replacement cost for two of these was near on £500!!!!
Got on the net scoured eBay etc. and found myself a brand new set of 4 still wrapped Cooper Zeon LTZ 275/45/20 tyres - snapped up for £275 + £25 p&p. so hopefully by Weds it should be sporting a set of 4 brand new tyres just in time for winter!!! Want to find myself some tricky wet field or similar to give them a good test!!!
Si
Don't know what it was or where it came from but it ruined my Pirelli P Zero Rosso! Being that I would have had to change both rear tyres to avoid wear differences and damaging the diff the replacement cost for two of these was near on £500!!!!
Got on the net scoured eBay etc. and found myself a brand new set of 4 still wrapped Cooper Zeon LTZ 275/45/20 tyres - snapped up for £275 + £25 p&p. so hopefully by Weds it should be sporting a set of 4 brand new tyres just in time for winter!!! Want to find myself some tricky wet field or similar to give them a good test!!!
Si
I will do, it's almost like fate that we were talking about them on Fri then by Sat I have 4 on there way to me!!!
Found a few reviews on them, mostly from the U.S, but still everyone is very positive about them.
I am intrigued how you find the GL compared to the ML, I assume there was a requirement for 7 seats or did you just want the biggest one!?!
Si
Found a few reviews on them, mostly from the U.S, but still everyone is very positive about them.
I am intrigued how you find the GL compared to the ML, I assume there was a requirement for 7 seats or did you just want the biggest one!?!
Si
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