M class - bad news

M class - bad news

Author
Discussion

bill bob

Original Poster:

133 posts

209 months

Friday 21st August 2009
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I'm getting rid of my ML270; it's been a disaster from day one.
Bits falling off, computer problems, gearbox problems, headlights filling up with water, air con problems, brakes and tyres like they're going out of fashion, suspension bushes, the list goes on and on. It's cost me thousands.
I had it from new in 02 and it got nearly 60K on the clock, I don't see me getting another Merc.
Has any one else had any similar problems?

Regards
Bill Bob

eldar

21,614 posts

195 months

Friday 21st August 2009
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About 50% of ML270 customers it appears. Newer ones are better.

marc.l

822 posts

224 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
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My old ml 270 cdi has been one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned, sorry to hear you have had so much trouble with yours.

eldar

21,614 posts

195 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
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The later the build date the better seems to be the recieved wisdom. My brother had one ( Y reg from 6 months old), and it broke down about every six months and had to be recovered to a dealer, plus routine servicing seldom was. His experience was not uncommon.

Mainly electrical, ecu/injection, suspension and random bits falling off. Being a sucker for punishment he replaced it with an ML320, which has so far proved faultlesssmile

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Saturday 22nd August 2009
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bill bob said:
I'm getting rid of my ML270; it's been a disaster from day one.

I had it from new in 02 and it got nearly 60K on the clock, I don't see me getting another Merc.
Has any one else had any similar problems?

Regards
Bill Bob
Let me get my head round this?? You bought an ML270 and from the moment you got it it has been a disaster?? You bought it new in 2002?? It is now 2009??

I bought mine in March 2003, had problems and sold it in June 2003, I gave it 3 months.

You have given yours 7 years??

I would give it another 2 - 3 years and see if things improve. biggrin




bill bob

Original Poster:

133 posts

209 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2009
quotequote all
Let me get my head round this?? You bought an ML270 and from the moment you got it it has been a disaster?? You bought it new in 2002?? It is now 2009??

I bought mine in March 2003, had problems and sold it in June 2003, I gave it 3 months.

You have given yours 7 years??

I would give it another 2 - 3 years and see if things improve. biggrin



Well that's me; forever the optimist. I just kept hoping that every problem would be the last, because it's a lovely motor when it's going OK. But even I have my limits and eventually reached the point where I stopped throwing money at it.

Anyway the question was "has anyone else had similar experiences?" not hands up eveyone who think I'm am mug.
regards
Bill bob

SLacKer

2,622 posts

206 months

Thursday 3rd September 2009
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The solution is the W164 ML.....a completely different car in terms of reliability and comfort.

jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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marc.l said:
My old ml 270 cdi has been one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned, sorry to hear you have had so much trouble with yours.
Mine too! 2004, only problem I ever had was power steering hose failure but trouble free before and ever since - except when I pranged a metal post last week and the quote is £4.5k.... yikes

Classy6

419 posts

176 months

Sunday 6th September 2009
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163 ML... Awful cars.

The 164 is in an absolute different league, class all together to previous 163s. 163 was manufactured in the US... so that's half the reason they're so unreliable, with poor build quality lol.

I wouldn't keep it much longer thou mate... not with the trouble as they get worse with age unfortunately. Next service it'll probably want 4 ball joints, set of rear STRUTS (broken spring, can't get them separately so need 2 struts £800?) & whatever else comes up.

Between the 163 ML and the even worse 168 A class... they single handedly put a huge dent in prestigious reputation Mercedes Benz have built up for so long. The justification is that there predecessors are much, much better in every aspect and have gained back some of the lost reputation.

IMO of course....

paoloh

8,617 posts

203 months

Tuesday 8th September 2009
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164's are still dreadful.

Interior is awful, cheap plastics that creak and rattle.

Gearbox is wk

Electrical gremlins

Engine is awesome is though.

kilarney

483 posts

222 months

Tuesday 8th September 2009
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Well my 2002 e class was pretty bad with rust, electrics, engine and on we go. It seems that 2000 to 2004 were the dark years for Merc and as said the ML and A were more Chrysler than Merc. My 2005 is much better but still no Toyota. So yeah they were dogs

Classy6

419 posts

176 months

Tuesday 8th September 2009
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paoloh said:
164's are still dreadful.

Interior is awful, cheap plastics that creak and rattle.

Gearbox is wk

Electrical gremlins

Engine is awesome is though.
Interior... Disagree.. can't really argue with a Merc interior, certainly better on 164 than 163.

Gearbox...LOL.. 7Gs have had their fair share of problems, however with all new concepts/designs there are A LOT of initial problems.. don't seem to be having to many now - compared to recent years any way.

Electrical... Kinda, Considering the sheer amount of control units electrics they will never go away.

280/320 is a fantastic engine, 63 ... even more so!!

JRM

2,043 posts

231 months

Monday 16th November 2009
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Interesting that they seem so chalk and cheese as was looking at a '03 270 over the weekend.

Rather like them, especially as a bit of bargain, but anyone willing to recommend I get one, or are they best steered clear of?

jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

Monday 16th November 2009
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JRM said:
Interesting that they seem so chalk and cheese as was looking at a '03 270 over the weekend.

Rather like them, especially as a bit of bargain, but anyone willing to recommend I get one, or are they best steered clear of?
A solid lot of car for the money, lugs an incredible amount of gear, feels pretty stable and mine has had few problems - see my previous post. Engine pulls well, not too noisy, gearbox is fine but they EAT rear brake pads due to stability control. Easy replaced though without removing calipers - pads insert from front of caliper. Check the paintwork, was water-based. Check for crack in front bumber above number plate and check ALL electrics work.

'03 is facelift model like mine so better QC methinks.

Whatty

598 posts

180 months

Monday 16th November 2009
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Mmmmm Merc ML's, my favorite love/hate car.

We bought a 2002 ML320 with 42K miles for Mrs Whatty in 2006, now done 56K - she has a very short commute.

The GOOD thing:

Within six months of getting it she was hit by a Ford cargo truck who ran a red light.



The Ford was a write off - I'm convinced that if my Mrs had been driving a smaller car/SUV then she wouldn't have walked away unharmed as she did. The Merc was repaired at no small expense and subsequently drives straight and true with no rattles/creaks. The 320 engine is smooth but a little underpowered given the car's bulk.

The BAD things:

Despite a recall on the power steering hose in 2002, ours started to leak fluid before the accident, had our local indy fix it only to get another official MB recall in February of THIS year for the same thing! Repaired again and MB even refunded the cost of repairs carried out by the local guy.

Subsequently in the last six months its had a new water pump, ABS pump thingy, brake light switch, 60K service with new back brakes and the tailgate lifters need replacing so its now reached the stage of becoming a liabilty. Buy another? Nope.

W19SEY

15 posts

158 months

Friday 21st January 2011
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My 2002 ML 270 AMG has been a great car to use until it goes wrong, then it costs thousands to repair everytime. Mainly ECU replacements, last big bill was ABS pump which was burnt out by the ECU telling it to run all the time. Not happy and will be selling now repaired.

rb5230

11,657 posts

171 months

Friday 21st January 2011
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they were rubbish when they were new and still rubbish now.

Chordiant

93 posts

159 months

Friday 21st January 2011
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I have a 2001 ML270 CDI which is now at 115K miles.

No problems whatsoever. No rust. 100% reliable.

Serviced when due.

Superb vehicle.

benzito

1,060 posts

158 months

Sunday 23rd January 2011
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I have a 2003 merc SL and can relate to a lot of the issues seen with the ML including pumps, sensors, ecu, etc. I only had to press the electric window switch a bit firmer once for it to fall right off! This seems to be a general merc issue in the so-called 'bad years' which ended in 2003 apparently. Merc were skimping on costs so build quality was poor before then. A lot of the independent merc specialists can confirm this.

However build quality has improved markedly since. JD Power Survey suggests merc were in bottom ten before 2002 but in 2005 (21st), 2007 (11th) and last year they were the fourth best performing manufacturer. I have a few friends with newer mercs (05 onwards) with no where near the same amount of issues as I had with the 03 car.

roko1990

1 posts

83 months

Wednesday 19th April 2017
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My parents own a Mercedes ML270 CDI 2005 we bought the car in 2012 now 2017 the car still runs like new
has 200K miles on it and the only problems we have had with it
-Fuel injectors (actually not the fault in them but the poor diesel quality in my country)
-Turbo (the turbo snapped out about 3-4 times but not that it broke it just went loose had to assemble it back to the manifold.) not a big issue it didn't even cost us money
-The low range sensor can have issues but thats not really common
-had to service the Auto gear box once it was about 200-300 Dollars with the work and the replacement part
thats it and had a little oil leak from the differencial (front one) just bushing 100 dollars each they were never replaced since 2005 so its pretty normal
once the prop shaft snaped but it didn't brake too just had to put it back to the car so yes they are reliable they're only fault is fuel economy and taxes
i get 10-12 liters per 100km when i drive in in the city