Tell me about the ML350cdi

[Nigel_O]

We’re looking for a decent 4x4 / SUV for the wife and whilst I would love a Discovery, the budget won’t run to a Disco 4 and I’m too nervous about a Disco 3

Our original searching led us to a Volvo XC90 - cavernous and seemingly reliable for the D5 lump and performance not too bad for only 2.4 litres.

However, a browse around a dealer earlier today threw us a curve ball - we’re really rather taken by a 2010 Merc ML350cdi - 98,000 miles and about £5k of options on it (off-road pack, sport mode and a couple of other things I can’t remember)

It drove nicely and whilst the price isn’t cheap, it’s a very clean dealer car with full Merc history and comes with a pretty substantial aftermarket warranty.

My only two worries are that there’s a service due and it will need tyres in the next six months (265/45 20, so not cheap - I reckon about £175 a corner)

Is there anything I should be looking out for? Any horror stories?

Thanks in advance

[Nigel_O]

The dealer just shot himself in the foot.....

The next service is due on the ML, and as the car has been serviced be Merc from new, I thought I'd check to see how much it would cost to keep up the dealer history.

So I called my local Merc dealer. They said that the 100,000 mile service is a biggy and costs £755. I called the dealer, expecting a bit of fun bartering, but they said nothing.

Even if I baled out to mid-range tyres, the car will still need close to £1200 spending on it in the next four to six months and it just isn't cheap enough to make sense.

However, we definitely like the car, so the search continues....

[Nigel_O]

Agreed - I think I'm going to widen the search to include Approved Used

[Nigel_O]

Steviesam said:

You could always buy a service plan (my E350 CDI Convertible 2011 is £28 a month and covers all items required in the service) Thats for 2 services over 2 years.

Merc want £82 a month over 12 months for a service plan to cover the next two services on the ML I was looking at....

[Nigel_O]

Dunit said:

Try for a Edition 10 version, Our ones came with Command,Full leather seats with memory pack,Low range,side steps, Privacy glass and special 20" wheels.

The ML I looked at on Saturday had Command, plus half-leather, plus the off-road pack, privacy glass, side steps and 20s. Lovely dark metallic blue as well

Is £12,500 too much for a 2011 with 98k miles?

[Nigel_O]

OGR4M said:

THIS one from a main dealer is ~6 months older, with similar stuff to the one you viewed, although less than 80k, and is a few shillings under £14k...

(And it’s in Dundee)

Yup - I've seen the Dundee car - spoke to your mother about it last night. It shows that the £12.5k car isn't horribly over-priced.

I'm considering going indy for the servicing, which might make it a viable proposition, but the indy I spoke to yesterday pointed out a couple of anomalies in the service history - first service was done at 32k and the second and 64k - this can't have been good for the car