ML 420D

[custardtart]

Anyone know much about the ML 420 diesel engine ie. what's the power figs, economy like and general reliability/refinement etc.

Thanks in advance.

[mhhayes]

Can only tell you about a GL 420, same engine though in the longer/heavier car. Get about 25mpg on average, never less than 22, never more than 27. It goes very well, lots of quiet power, done 42000 miles in under 2 years, without any engine/gearbox problems at all. Brilliant, an S-Class on stilts. My only gripe is that the engine sump holds a lot of oil, so MB dealer servicing is not cheap (about £160 for the oil!!!) However, it does last 15000 miles.....

My wife has an ML 320 diesel, which while fine and a good car, in comparison is a gruff beast. I've ordered her a ML450CDi (September delivery)to get the V8 engine and the air suspension - which works very well on the GL. I'm expecting it to do about 26mpg, but to have a lot of grunt in the lighter body. Incidentally, the V8 diesel, and the V8 petrol engines, are now 'special order' on the ML for new builds, ie lead times are longer than for the 280/320 (now called 300 and 350) diesels.

Go for it.

[mercGLowner]

I save on service costs for my GL320 by supplying my own oil to the dealer. I get it from Opie oils and it probably saves me £70-£80. I have driven the GL420CDI awesome pulling power, and by the sounds of it very little difference in the real world economy bewteen the 320CDI and the 420CDI.