98 Mercedes ML320 Big Time Money Pit .

[crazyoildude]

Friends son got a 98 Mercedes Benz ML-320 from a relative that took great care of it for free. It was always serviced at the Mercedes Stealer. It has about 130,000 miles on it and they put about $4000,00 into it before he got it..Now that he has it this thing needed an a/c compressor that worked great when he got it a couple of months ago and the alternator is making noise. His relatives were good enough to pay for the compressor. I told him to get rid of it because i know the 4Wheel Drive has problems at about that mileage and that costs thousands to fix. Everything on this vehicle is expensive.. It also makes a grinding sound when turning the wheel to the left or right while vehicle is in motion which is coming from the drive unit. Anyone have one of these?
My friends son drives like a little old lady..

 

[skyactiv]

Only people with lots of money in the bank should own such a car.

 

[loneryder]

My daughter has a 99 with 170k on it and it runs great. I bought it from the Indy MB mechanic who serviced it for the original owner. Owner had let the maintenance lapse because he was planning to get a new car. The mechanic changed all fluids and filters and had it detailed. Only problems have been small electrical, horn relay and window motor. Her ac even works well. Maybe you have a lemon or they worked the bugs out for 99. If you read the forums on the 99 you don't see a lot of major stuff going on. I know dealer maintenance does not change the diffs or transfer case oils and maybe the trans once if that.
Tough decision as to what to do.

 

[Gasbuggy]

Wouldn't be expensive if someone fixed it themselves.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
Wouldn't be expensive if someone fixed it themselves.

Yea fine but I'm sure parts are through the roof!

I'd dump it fast!

 

[JC1]

I couldn't call people like that Friends... They should have sold it to a stranger or donated it for a tax receipt.

Those ML's are some of the worst Mercedes ever produced. I would get rid of it as soon as possible. It will always be a money pit.

 

[simple_gifts]

The mechanic i used to use said 'hand me down cars' from parents to kids etc are the bane of his existence.

Quote:

My friends son drives like a little old lady..


Well, there is his problem; it was designed to be run @ 130 on the Autobahn.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: JC1
I couldn't call people like that Friends... They should have sold it to a stranger or donated it for a tax receipt.

Those ML's are some of the worst Mercedes ever produced. I would get rid of it as soon as possible. It will always be a money pit.

Those early ML's made in USA were problematic, the E-class of late 90's early 00's made in Germany were much more reliable, not as reliable as Lexus LS400 of the 90's but didn't need to repair every year or every 10-20k miles either.

My 16 years old 180+k miles didn't have many parts failed after 4 years warranty, on average I spent about $300-400 for repair a year, another $200-300 a year for maintenance and wear&tear items such as brake pads&rotors, tires ...

 

[The Critic]

If it has the air suspension, his troubles are only going to get worse.

 

[crazyoildude]

Oh sure when the drive system goes he should take it apart and rebuild it himself.. He is a college kid getting ready for medical school.. He may know how to check his oil.. When i had the shop we did a number of those engines they are very sludge prone.. They kept up on all the oil changes because i used to tell them if they did not change the oil with synthetic oil every 5000 miles there could be problems.

Also he only has 1 key and Mercedes near where he lives wants a couple of hundred dollars if they can even make the key they say sometimes the ecm has to be changed and that will run much more than this thing is worth..

 

[crazyoildude]

The 90's lexus 400 were great vehicles but the engines were troublesome we did many many of them unless the owners changed the oil all the time than they will run a long tie

 

[Dave Hess]

Yeah, sell the car ASAP

 

[sleddriver]

There is no more expensive car than an old, cheap Mercedes.

 

[crazyoildude]

I just told him that bt he says it was a gift...lol

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
The 90's lexus 400 were great vehicles but the engines were troublesome we did many many of them unless the owners changed the oil all the time than they will run a long tie

My 1994 LS400 had these OCI's: 8-10k/6mo with conventional, 15-20k/12mo with synthetic, oil filter once a year, oil grade: xW30. I sold the car few months ago with odometer showed 380+k miles and no engine work was ever done, it had original valve cover gaskets and no leak. The only problem was it consumed 1/2 quarts every 3-4k miles since new.

 

[Lolvoguy]

It's threads like this that keep used Mercedes' (and Euro cars in general), steeply depreciating.

...not necessarily a bad thing for those who know what to look for.

 

[DallasTexas]

I had a similar GL350 Bluetec that had DEF system and even the dealer had issues fixing. I got rid of it as it was a money pit.

I now have an 06 E320 CDI. It runs flawlessly.

I had a 96 E300 also diesel it had 300k miles when I gave to nephew and he is still driving it.

Never again will I have another vehicle with DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid).

 

[crazyoildude]

You got a good one they are known sludge monsters and Toyota was forced into fixing a lot of them.. Sometimes some people get great vehicles i had an 83 Oldsmobile Custom cruiser that logged over 400,000 miles and when we junked it the guy that took it drove it up on the flatbed.. The body was beat we used it for work engine parts and some blocks in the back that vehicle was a good car

 

[loneryder]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: JC1
I couldn't call people like that Friends... They should have sold it to a stranger or donated it for a tax receipt.

Those ML's are some of the worst Mercedes ever produced. I would get rid of it as soon as possible. It will always be a money pit.

Those early ML's made in USA were problematic, the E-class of late 90's early 00's made in Germany were much more reliable, not as reliable as Lexus LS400 of the 90's but didn't need to repair every year or every 10-20k miles either.

My 16 years old 180+k miles didn't have many parts failed after 4 years warranty, on average I spent about $300-400 for repair a year, another $200-300 a year for maintenance and wear&tear items such as brake pads&rotors, tires ...


These E classes had the same engine as the MLs and they will run hundreds of K's of miles. The engines that is. Of course they need to be properly maintained.

 

[Gasbuggy]

Originally Posted By: daman
Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
Wouldn't be expensive if someone fixed it themselves.

Yea fine but I'm sure parts are through the roof!

I'd dump it fast!


Bosch Alternator $153. Compressor and component kit. $211.