Bargain basement workhorse - Mercedes ML270 CDI (W163)
Discussion
The story goes that last summer, I was looking for a cheap 4x4 for this 'n' that. A bit of towing, carrying my tat around and so on. Cosmetics and interior beauty were unimportant to me - I just wanted no structural rot or serious electrical/drivetrain issues. Automatic gearbox preferred but not crucial.
I looked around a bit at a few things - Grand Cherokees, Fronteras, Ford Rangers & Explorers. I didn't even think about MLs because I remember them new and thought they were just fragile soft roaders (I'd heard of a lot of electrical problems with earlier ones). I then got busy with work and didn't really think about it again, although it did stay somewhere at the back of my mind.
In December, I was tasked with getting rid of my grandad's ML which he had had from new, because he had replaced it with a Range Rover Sport. I vaguely remembered that he had an ML, but I had never paid attention to it. I thought it would be utterly worn out and basically fit to scrap, but looking it over and driving it, I realised that there was simply nothing functionally wrong with it. And the more I read, I realised the more I could respect it. It's rated to tow 3500 kilogrammes and has a separate chassis. It's more suitable for what I wanted than any of the cars I had considered. Anyway, here are the pictures:
As I first saw it:
It was by no means perfect:
And the more I drove it, the more I liked it! I've done over 2000 miles in it now and it seems good on fuel, although I haven't calculated mpg yet. I'm not going to treat the rust - I like the car but it doesn't need to be pretty and none of it looks likely to cause a functional/MOT problem.
It has a fantastic service history. Mercedes-Benz main dealer for half its life (serviced every 12 months although it wasn't doing enough miles to need it) and a good (known to me) Mercedes specialist thereafter. My uncle spent a day with me helping me give it a good clean and where there is paint, it has come up well.
It has been useful for carrying firewood already:
Here you see the boot mat that my uncle made for me from his carpet offcuts
My next plans (in no particular order):
1.All-terrain tyres. I haven't chosen any yet as the (pure road) tyres on it have plenty of tread (they're only a few months old). I looked at putting 16" wheels on it to get BFGoodrich A/Ts, but it looks like the brakes are too big to fit them, although some MLs had 16"
2.Tow bar. I'll fit this myself, I think. It looks to be a crazy easy job
3.New bonnet struts. I've ordered these already. They don't do a perfect job of holding up that heavy bonnet
And just keep using it. I have a Kenwood DAB head unit with Bluetooth and aux in, but I don't think I'll install it. Having just CD and AM/FM has got me to rediscover my Beastie Boys and Blur CDs and my love for Radio 4
Thanks for reading my thread! If you get this far.....
I looked around a bit at a few things - Grand Cherokees, Fronteras, Ford Rangers & Explorers. I didn't even think about MLs because I remember them new and thought they were just fragile soft roaders (I'd heard of a lot of electrical problems with earlier ones). I then got busy with work and didn't really think about it again, although it did stay somewhere at the back of my mind.
In December, I was tasked with getting rid of my grandad's ML which he had had from new, because he had replaced it with a Range Rover Sport. I vaguely remembered that he had an ML, but I had never paid attention to it. I thought it would be utterly worn out and basically fit to scrap, but looking it over and driving it, I realised that there was simply nothing functionally wrong with it. And the more I read, I realised the more I could respect it. It's rated to tow 3500 kilogrammes and has a separate chassis. It's more suitable for what I wanted than any of the cars I had considered. Anyway, here are the pictures:
As I first saw it:
It was by no means perfect:
And the more I drove it, the more I liked it! I've done over 2000 miles in it now and it seems good on fuel, although I haven't calculated mpg yet. I'm not going to treat the rust - I like the car but it doesn't need to be pretty and none of it looks likely to cause a functional/MOT problem.
It has a fantastic service history. Mercedes-Benz main dealer for half its life (serviced every 12 months although it wasn't doing enough miles to need it) and a good (known to me) Mercedes specialist thereafter. My uncle spent a day with me helping me give it a good clean and where there is paint, it has come up well.
It has been useful for carrying firewood already:
Here you see the boot mat that my uncle made for me from his carpet offcuts
My next plans (in no particular order):
1.All-terrain tyres. I haven't chosen any yet as the (pure road) tyres on it have plenty of tread (they're only a few months old). I looked at putting 16" wheels on it to get BFGoodrich A/Ts, but it looks like the brakes are too big to fit them, although some MLs had 16"
2.Tow bar. I'll fit this myself, I think. It looks to be a crazy easy job
3.New bonnet struts. I've ordered these already. They don't do a perfect job of holding up that heavy bonnet
And just keep using it. I have a Kenwood DAB head unit with Bluetooth and aux in, but I don't think I'll install it. Having just CD and AM/FM has got me to rediscover my Beastie Boys and Blur CDs and my love for Radio 4
Thanks for reading my thread! If you get this far.....
I had one for two or three years. Good car to be fair and it did what I needed it for at the time. I sold it on and it's stayed in the same family for a few years now.
It popped two of its injectors I was told and it is an inherent fault with those engines apparently.
Cheap cars now and worth owning a good un.
It popped two of its injectors I was told and it is an inherent fault with those engines apparently.
Cheap cars now and worth owning a good un.
magooagain said:
I had one for two or three years. Good car to be fair and it did what I needed it for at the time. I sold it on and it's stayed in the same family for a few years now.
It popped two of its injectors I was told and it is an inherent fault with those engines apparently.
Cheap cars now and worth owning a good un.
The first thing I did was check for that injector fault and it is spotless around the injectors It popped two of its injectors I was told and it is an inherent fault with those engines apparently.
Cheap cars now and worth owning a good un.
My grandad said he thinks it was done a few years ago by the Mercedes specialist he uses. It rang a bell. He's not interested in cars and doesn't keep paperwork for that sort of thing - like we wouldn't keep receipts for supermarket shopping for years
Obviously the bodywork on this isn't pretty, but it does seem like a goodun. I'm happy with it the way it is really
I have brought my partner one of these, I love it and wanted it for the similar reasons to you, she said she wanted a bigger car and wanted an auto, I wanted something to tow a car trailer and something with a proper 4x4 system as I had just moved to a house down country roads that will never see a grittier and I work for a Mercedes independent so I can look after it relatively cheaply, I wanted a limited/special/final edition so it would have some toys on it. Mine needs a new master cylinder as it has a slight leak on the seal round the pedal rod and three of the front parking sensors aren’t working but I love it and her in doors as well so I think I choose right. The engines are typical old school Merc in that as long as they are serviced regularly they will keep going and going
In regards to the stereo, don’t bother. Your car is later than mine( mines an 03 plate) and after 52/03 they all have a Bose amplifier so it won’t work. I brought a dab radio and you don’t get any sound out of it because the speakers are fibre optic not normal copper cable.
In regards to the stereo, don’t bother. Your car is later than mine( mines an 03 plate) and after 52/03 they all have a Bose amplifier so it won’t work. I brought a dab radio and you don’t get any sound out of it because the speakers are fibre optic not normal copper cable.
Edited by Joshsl on Sunday 27th January 18:11
Joshsl said:
I have brought my partner one of these, I love it and wanted it for the similar reasons to you, she said she wanted a bigger car and wanted an auto, I wanted something to tow a car trailer and something with a proper 4x4 system as I had just moved to a house down country roads that will never see a grittier and I work for a Mercedes independent so I can look after it relatively cheaply, I wanted a limited/special/final edition so it would have some toys on it. Mine needs a new master cylinder as it has a slight leak on the seal round the pedal rod and three of the front parking sensors aren’t working but I love it and her in doors as well so I think I choose right. The engines are typical old school Merc in that as long as they are serviced regularly they will keep going and going
In regards to the stereo, don’t bother. Your car is later than mine( mines an 03 plate) and after 52/03 they all have a Bose amplifier so it won’t work. I brought a dab radio and you don’t get any sound out of it because the speakers are fibre optic not normal copper cable.
Thank you, that settles it! I'm happy with my CDs and AM/FMIn regards to the stereo, don’t bother. Your car is later than mine( mines an 03 plate) and after 52/03 they all have a Bose amplifier so it won’t work. I brought a dab radio and you don’t get any sound out of it because the speakers are fibre optic not normal copper cable.
Edited by Joshsl on Sunday 27th January 18:11
Parking sensors? You've got a posh one
I think the only options on mine are leather and automatic gearbox, though I'm not sure.
With your Mercedes knowledge, you seem like a useful person to know, especially since you're in the same area as me
Just kidding!magooagain said:
Jimmy I've just realised I have the tow bar and the plug in electric kit for one of these.
I'm in France,so that maybe a problem though .I will dig it out tomorrow after work and stick a photo up on here.
That would be really great. Location is a barrier that can be worked out later! I'm in France,so that maybe a problem though .I will dig it out tomorrow after work and stick a photo up on here.
Always had a soft spot for these. Looked at buying one about 10 years ago, but I have honestly never encountered such a neglected stock of cars as the ML. Every single one I looked at was either mechanically knackered or was some kind of diesel engined dustbin/pram hybrid. Ended up buying a Shogun instead which was very nice, but I always wondered how much more very nice an ML would have been.
Jimmy Recard said:
Thank you, that settles it! I'm happy with my CDs and AM/FM
Parking sensors? You've got a posh one
I think the only options on mine are leather and automatic gearbox, though I'm not sure.
With your Mercedes knowledge, you seem like a useful person to know, especially since you're in the same area as me Just kidding!
No problem, any issues and give me a shout, I’m happy to help where I can Parking sensors? You've got a posh one
I think the only options on mine are leather and automatic gearbox, though I'm not sure.
With your Mercedes knowledge, you seem like a useful person to know, especially since you're in the same area as me
Just kidding!Mine really posh, it’s got heated seats the white stitching on the black leather seats, only thing it is missing is xenon lights
Horsey McHorseface said:
I see the 265's are about £15 cheaper from that retailer. Or there's always eBay. <click
I've got a saved search out for some BF Goodrich A/Ts in the correct size. Pretty rare though!Otherwise I'll probably just go for brand new. I think it's safer for a permanent 4x4 drivetrain to have even tyres. I've found the following options:
Cooper Discoverer A/T3 in 245/70R17 for £127
Kumho Road Venture MT51 in 245/70R17 for £133
Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 in 255/70R17 for £140
Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure in 245/70R17 for £143
Current tyres are 255/60R17, so I think these are all close enough to fit, although I'm no tyre expert. I'm sure someone will tell me if I'm wrong. I'm favouring the Goodyears at the moment, but there's no rush as I'll use up the tyres that are on it first. Plenty of time to decide!
If anyone has any thoughts/experience/feedback regarding any of these tyres, I'll very gladly hear it
Edited by Jimmy Recard on Wednesday 30th January 18:46
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