Salvage auction purchase, 2010 Mercedes ML 350

[Highlander 1459]

why does anyone buy their kid a used Mercedes? You said he was smart, and that doesn't sound smart to me. A Corolla, a Versa or a Cruz or something like that makes way more sense for a young person to drive..

 

[GON]

why does anyone buy their kid a used Mercedes? You said he was smart, and that doesn't sound smart to me. A Corolla, a Versa or a Cruz or something like that makes way more sense for a young person to drive..

The guy is brilliantly smart, a Rhodes Scholar. Why someone would by their 16 year old Daughter a certain vehicle is beyond me. The safety of a MB is often discussed as a reason to buy a MB. I would feel significantly better if my Daughter was in a accident in a ML350 over a Versa or Cruz.... but back to your question, I didn't ask.

 

[drtyler]

Update to this thread per @Nukeman7 suggestion.

Last summer I drove the ML350 about 2300 +/- miles to deliver to Arkansas. Car drove flawless, hit a massive rainstorm on I80 in the mountains between Laramie and Chyenne WY, car did wonderful. Completed the 2300 miles and was not fatigued. Hit a lot of humid 95 degree plus weather, no issues.

Arriving on a late Saturday afternoon, I went to an automatic car wash, then dropped off the car. The next morning, while at the Little Rock airport minutes from boarding a flight that would connect and then take me to Asia for work, I received a call from the new car owner. No air conditioning. I went over a few things and could not imagine what was wrong. I later discovered on the dash the outside temperature was displaying 188 degrees.

Doing research, the outside temperature sensors can fail. When they do, the failed sensor reports 188 degrees, which tells the ECU to shut down the air conditioning, as Mercedes thinks air conditioning should not be used at 188 degrees..... yes I know........ Also, the check engine light came on.

Talking to my friend, the next morning he replaced the sensor with OEM, very easy. Still same error. He took the car to the local MB dealer and only regional MB dealer, they refused to look at the car since the ML350 was over 10 years old. In Little Rock there are three independent MB mechanics, all with mixed on-line reviews. My buddy took the ML350 to the highest rated MB independent shop. He liked the guy and felt confident in the guy. The guy comes back and states the ML350 needs a new computer, and quotes over $3k USD, more than I sold the car for (I sold the car for only what I had into the car).

I told my buddy no way the computer is the issue. My buddy has an upset 16-year-old daughter and upset wife. My buddy has zero options. He is super smart and savvy but doesn't have time or reasonable options to deal with this. He has a very demanding job. I have no option but to send his money back, as I am in Asia working for the next month.

My buddy ends up buying a used MB for his daughter from a MB dealer in Dallas, TX for $18k USD. The new (used) MB also had issues and he had to return the car to the MB dealer for repairs the same day. He took out an extended warranty and bought a MB under ten years old so he could get local MB dealer service.

Upon returning to CONUS from Asia, I went to Little Rock to pick up the "broken ML350". I was going to drive the ML350 to Phoenix, and stage it in Phoenix until I figured out what to do. I landed in Little Rock, jumped in the ML350 and drove down the interstate for about 50 miles heading to Phoenix. I decided to stop at a Wal Mart off the interstate to get a hot dog and a 12 pack of diet Coke for the road trip.

During the 50-mile drive, the car had zero issues, except no air conditioning and displaying an outside temperature of 188 degrees. I checked the outside temperature sensor, and visual inspection looked well. I decided the problem was likely an electrical connection. While in Wal mart I picked up a 12vDC electrical tester (dummy light), and a box of mixed amp fuses. About $7 USD for the tool and fuses.

In the Wal-mart parking lot I tested the fuses, and on the passenger door dash side is an easily accessible fuse box. Found a blown 5-amp fuse. Took under 2 minutes to open the fuse box cover and find the blown fuse. Low and behold, this is the fuse that controls the outside temperature sensor. On my smartphone, I looked at the fuse chart, and discovered this fuse should be a 15 AMP, not a 5 AMP. Replaced the fuse, everything worked great. Drove from Arkansas to Arizona in the summer heat. Through Dallas, TX during rush hour. Zero issues. A wrongly sized fuse was the problem. Super easy fuse to access.

I parked the car in Phoenix and flew to Seattle. On a later work trip to Asia (NOV-DEC timeframe), my Wife decided to rent an Air BNB in Denver while I was working in Asia, so she could be near the grandsons. I flew to Phoenix and drove the ML350 to Denver and staged the car at my Daughter's for my Wifes use. Wife drove the ML350 for two months, zero issues. I would never ever have let my Wife use the ML350 if I thought there would be any risk of breakdown. And there was no breakdown.

Now I have the car and don't know what to do with it. It was a California MB, with full and regular MB dealer maintenance. The car was stolen, so it has a rebuilt title. Yet the car runs flawlessly and is very dependable. Do I sell a car for $3k that needs nothing, but has an "ugly" title?

My Wife and I are temporarily living in Arizona for five months. I am using the MB as a daily driver. It runs great, and with a white exterior and light interior, the car is more heat resistant than other vehicles I own. I want to keep the MB as a spare- but I retire from my current job in the coming weeks- how many spares can I keep when I don't yet have a home or location to hang my hat post-retirement.

So now you know the rest of the story.......... and you know why I no longer trust anyone to do anything- if I need it done, I will figure it out and do it myself.......

Shame the fuse wasn’t figured out by the “pro” at the shop, because it does sound like a nice vehicle. You did the right thing.

Do you prefer this over the Lexus GX or Navigator?

 

[GON]

Shame the fuse wasn’t figured out by the “pro” at the shop, because it does sound like a nice vehicle. You did the right thing.

Do you prefer this over the Lexus GX or Navigator?

The ML350, Lexus GX, and Navigator are all different vehicles with different purposes. The MB and Lexus are well designed vehicles. The Navigator is a great frame/ drivetrain, but everything else is low quality and just waiting to fail, and that is everything from the heater core, every plastic cosmetic part, etc. Ford can build a great frame and drivetrain but seems to cut corners on the rest of the parts on the Navigator. If I had to buy a new full-size SUV with a U.S. nameplate, it would be a Tahoe/ Suburban, not a Navigator.

 

[Nukeman7]

Update to this thread per @Nukeman7 suggestion.

Last summer I drove the ML350 about 2300 +/- miles to deliver to Arkansas. Car drove flawless, hit a massive rainstorm on I80 in the mountains between Laramie and Chyenne WY, car did wonderful. Completed the 2300 miles and was not fatigued. Hit a lot of humid 95 degree plus weather, no issues.

Arriving on a late Saturday afternoon, I went to an automatic car wash, then dropped off the car. The next morning, while at the Little Rock airport minutes from boarding a flight that would connect and then take me to Asia for work, I received a call from the new car owner. No air conditioning. I went over a few things and could not imagine what was wrong. I later discovered on the dash the outside temperature was displaying 188 degrees.

Doing research, the outside temperature sensors can fail. When they do, the failed sensor reports 188 degrees, which tells the ECU to shut down the air conditioning, as Mercedes thinks air conditioning should not be used at 188 degrees..... yes I know........ Also, the check engine light came on.

Talking to my friend, the next morning he replaced the sensor with OEM, very easy. Still same error. He took the car to the local MB dealer and only regional MB dealer, they refused to look at the car since the ML350 was over 10 years old. In Little Rock there are three independent MB mechanics, all with mixed on-line reviews. My buddy took the ML350 to the highest rated MB independent shop. He liked the guy and felt confident in the guy. The guy comes back and states the ML350 needs a new computer, and quotes over $3k USD, more than I sold the car for (I sold the car for only what I had into the car).

I told my buddy no way the computer is the issue. My buddy has an upset 16-year-old daughter and upset wife. My buddy has zero options. He is super smart and savvy but doesn't have time or reasonable options to deal with this. He has a very demanding job. I have no option but to send his money back, as I am in Asia working for the next month.

My buddy ends up buying a used MB for his daughter from a MB dealer in Dallas, TX for $18k USD. The new (used) MB also had issues and he had to return the car to the MB dealer for repairs the same day. He took out an extended warranty and bought a MB under ten years old so he could get local MB dealer service.

Upon returning to CONUS from Asia, I went to Little Rock to pick up the "broken ML350". I was going to drive the ML350 to Phoenix, and stage it in Phoenix until I figured out what to do. I landed in Little Rock, jumped in the ML350 and drove down the interstate for about 50 miles heading to Phoenix. I decided to stop at a Wal Mart off the interstate to get a hot dog and a 12 pack of diet Coke for the road trip.

During the 50-mile drive, the car had zero issues, except no air conditioning and displaying an outside temperature of 188 degrees. I checked the outside temperature sensor, and visual inspection looked well. I decided the problem was likely an electrical connection. While in Wal mart I picked up a 12vDC electrical tester (dummy light), and a box of mixed amp fuses. About $7 USD for the tool and fuses.

In the Wal-mart parking lot I tested the fuses, and on the passenger door dash side is an easily accessible fuse box. Found a blown 5-amp fuse. Took under 2 minutes to open the fuse box cover and find the blown fuse. Low and behold, this is the fuse that controls the outside temperature sensor. On my smartphone, I looked at the fuse chart, and discovered this fuse should be a 15 AMP, not a 5 AMP. Replaced the fuse, everything worked great. Drove from Arkansas to Arizona in the summer heat. Through Dallas, TX during rush hour. Zero issues. A wrongly sized fuse was the problem. Super easy fuse to access.

I parked the car in Phoenix and flew to Seattle. On a later work trip to Asia (NOV-DEC timeframe), my Wife decided to rent an Air BNB in Denver while I was working in Asia, so she could be near the grandsons. I flew to Phoenix and drove the ML350 to Denver and staged the car at my Daughter's for my Wifes use. Wife drove the ML350 for two months, zero issues. I would never ever have let my Wife use the ML350 if I thought there would be any risk of breakdown. And there was no breakdown.

Now I have the car and don't know what to do with it. It was a California MB, with full and regular MB dealer maintenance. The car was stolen, so it has a rebuilt title. Yet the car runs flawlessly and is very dependable. Do I sell a car for $3k that needs nothing, but has an "ugly" title?

My Wife and I are temporarily living in Arizona for five months. I am using the MB as a daily driver. It runs great, and with a white exterior and light interior, the car is more heat resistant than other vehicles I own. I want to keep the MB as a spare- but I retire from my current job in the coming weeks- how many spares can I keep when I don't yet have a home or location to hang my hat post-retirement.

So now you know the rest of the story.......... and you know why I no longer trust anyone to do anything- if I need it done, I will figure it out and do it myself.......

WOW! What a crazy turn of events in such a short timeframe. Your car/truck rebuild adventures seem to be full of twists and turns that would rival a Michael Crichton novel. The ML350 is such a nice SUV that you should not have any problems selling it, unless the rebuilt title will cause issues with getting it insured at a reasonable cost. Has insurability been a problem (or excessively pricey) with the other rebuilt vehicles in your fleet? Does the insurance situation vary contingent on the state the vehicle is registered in or is it primarily the underwriting company's posture on "unclean" titles?

Before I forget, I'm wishing you the best in your impending retirement and ongoing search for a retirement residence and post-retirement employment. Appreciate all of your contributions to the BITOG community and the willingness to share your adventures with us.

 

[loneryder]

Rhodes Scholar but can't check fuses!

 

[GON]

WOW! What a crazy turn of events in such a short timeframe. Your car/truck rebuild adventures seem to be full of twists and turns that would rival a Michael Crichton novel. The ML350 is such a nice SUV that you should not have any problems selling it, unless the rebuilt title will cause issues with getting it insured at a reasonable cost. Has insurability been a problem (or excessively pricey) with your other rebuilt vehicles in your fleet? Does the insurance situation vary contingent on the state the vehicle is registered in or is it primarily the underwriting company's posture on "unclean" titles?

Before I forget, I'm wishing you the best in your impending retirement and ongoing search for a retirement residence and post-retirement employment. Appreciate all of your contributions in the BITOG community and the willingness to share your adventures with us.

N7,

Thanks.... I use USAA and have never ever had a single issue insuring rebuilt title vehicles for insurance- full coverage to include comprehensive and collision. Never a question asked by USAA.

Thanks for the kind comments on retirement. It has been quite a challenge. I am nearing 400 applications for employment, a dozen interviews, only one "second interview" of which I was offered the job but declined. The job required me to commute 500 miles on a privately chartered aircraft each way- being married, and having grandsons I just could not find a way to make the job work. I tried to sell the job to my Wife, saying the Grandsons could spend eight weeks in the wilderness with me during the summer- Wife was having no part of my goofy plan....

 

[GR_CoB]

Rhodes Scholar but can't check fuses!

I work with tons of engineers who are very book smart. But very often have zero knowledge of basic troubleshooting, as they almost always jump into the most complex part of the puzzle, and inevitably hit a dead end. Until basic technicians come in and poke around just to find the issue was very simple and right in front of everyone's face.

 

[GON]

Rhodes Scholar but can't check fuses!

Only 0.7 percent of applicants to be a Rhodes Scholar are accepted. I suspect 99 percent of Rhodes scholars can't check a fuse. But they are still brilliantly book smart.

My Wife is a genius and works with people suffering the most tragic life events over a very long term. Yet, if you put my Wife in a big cardboard box, with a light, and a box cutter, she would never get out of the box.....

 

[GR_CoB]

@GON Thank you for the update. Wish I had some spare funds at the moment, I'd come and grab that ML350 at whatever price you're comfortable with. Unfortunately got a couple financial obligations to take care of first...

 

[GON]

@GON Thank you for the update. Wish I had some spare funds at the moment, I'd come and grab that ML350 at whatever price you're comfortable with. Unfortunately got a couple financial obligations to take care of first...

On Sunday night 30JUN2024, a missionary and his family stopped in for church service. The missionary's ministry is a prison ministry. He came from North Carolina to Arizona, as he discovered a need for Chaplains/ Pastors for the Arizona prisons.

During the cross-country drive at night with a convoy of his truck/ trailer and van with wife driving and eight children, he lost control of the truck trailer combo on the interstate in Alabama and rolled the truck and trailer off the interstate and down a hill. He survived. While his wife and kids were pulled over on the interstate in their van after this tragic event, their van was rear ended. They are all ok, but two vehicles totaled, along with all of their modest household goods.

My wife suggested I give the pastor the ML350, which I would have gladly done. But, with eight children, only a van does the job.

 

[thescreensavers]

So now you know the rest of the story.......... and you know why I no longer trust anyone to do anything- if I need it done, I will figure it out and do it myself.......

Entertainment update! Should get the diag fee spent at the dealer back what a joke they couldn't fix a simple fuse issue. I hate the stealerships...

 

[Hall]

The job required me to commute 500 miles on a privately chartered aircraft each way

Can you give any, even vague, details about this ?

 

[GON]

Can you give any, even vague, details about this ?

Providing security in a remote location in the Bearing Straits, accessible only by small plane or watercraft.

 

[Nick1994]

If you need someone in AZ to donate the car to

 

[GON]

If you need someone in AZ to donate the car to

Nick,

I would be happy to see you in this ML350. But @dishdude told me all the Greater Phoenix Area K-Pop groupies are always seeking you out to get a ride in your Genesis. The ML350 would cramp your style.....

 

[Nick1994]

Nick,

I would be happy to see you in this ML350. But @dishdude told me all the Greater Phoenix Area K-Pop groupies are always seeking you out to get a ride in your Genesis. The ML350 would cramp your style.....


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Hey now, I’ve got this C250 as a Turo rental in Bremerton this week. I actually like it! Needs some maintenance but good enough as a beater.

 

[GON]

I recognize that garage well, I will be picked up an Uber on level 3 in about two hours.... Enjoy your visit in Washington and keep your awareness high....