Things are looking lively where it counts tho . . .
I was on MSN's site recently and the consumer reviews for 2004 MLs are stellar. There's a higher percentage of 500s than in previous years and power is always an important factor in driving satisfaction. And, maybe the move to an additional 500cc helped to make just enough difference to bring more smiles to V6 owners: there were many 350 owners that gave their vehicles 10s.
What is most impressive is that all of these MSN buyers apparently didn't bother to listen to web-moaners and poster-groaners.
Malcontents who are so motivated, for whatever reasons (probably personality related where the targets of their antipathy probably are fungible, e.g., interchangeable with smokers, bad drivers, gas prices, poor restaurant service and probably everything else in their lives) enjoy the magnification that the net provides to their bashes and blasts.
It's a real thrill in sounding out like a screeching fire detector, hoping to see your rants their fanned like flames. Kind of like I'm doing bashing the bashers. For some of the MLs biggest detractors--I do not think it really would have mattered what they'd bought as far as finding something to be dissatisfied about. It's a kind of contrarian logic that some people are empowered by taking their whacks at whatever is ranked numero uno so that's where MB has to expect to be pegged on--especially MLs which are the best luxury SUVs. [}:)]
Thanks Drew..you are always's watching out for me and my "Mods".....l'd love to have those roof rails, it would be a nice contrast off the Black Opal....As for the gentlemen that says all our ML's look the same, l beg to differ....
__________________
1999 : Black Opal ML 430 : 125,000 KM (traded-in)
2002 : Bordeaux AMG ML 55 : 130,000 KM (traded-in)
2006 : Silver lridium ML 350 : 53,000 KM (stolen)
2006 : Cubanite Silver ML 350 : 24,000 KM
Paul, you're right, but I don't have a camera, the one I have is broke, and you know how hard it was to decide to buy that one, and the wife dropped it, and then the dog drug it around the house, and before we could catch him, he had bitten off the front lens, and cracked it, and then my neighbor came over, and before I could pick up the cracked lens, he stepped on it and crushed it.
You see, most of the people on this website enjoy just sharing information. I am going to load some pictures in the near future and show some of the the nice mod's I've done to my ML. Everything I've put on the outside has been silver, because the ML is black, and that added a little (as Andy calls it) Bling to the ML. When you get all those MOD's done, we'll have to get together and share, you tag's show you're in Virginia. I'm in Va Beach on the weekends, and DC during the week.
__________________
Dennis
If you don't know where you want to go....
"Then it doesn't much matter how you get there"
1999 ML430
1998 Toyota Tacoma
1996 BMW 318is
2006 Mazada 5
2006 Infinity FX35
Hey Mac, maybe we should have a meet just the two of us!
Like you, I live in Bizzaro land where the sky is blue all the time, the temperatures fluctuate betwwne 72 and 78 all year round, the women are gorgeous, and the ratio women/man is 10/1, and where everyone is satisfied with what they have and have no desire for more. Also, everyone drives a W163, but there are no dealers because the W163 never needs fixes and BW.org has publications on how to do you A and B services yourself.
Here is a picture of the location...
__________________
Seal Clubbing Champion '95 '97 '98 '01
Proud member of PETA, People for the Edible Treatment of Animals
Amateur Gynecologist & Cunning Linguist
I read recently, I think on this group, that the old canard about the big bird actually sticking its head in the sand is bogus.
Similarly, many ML gripers meerly repeat old canards, some of which were overblown to begin with. CR, for instance, years after ML's introduction, introduced each successive model year's review with an obligatory belittling notice of troubles experienced by all '98 owners.
CR was doing this years after all of its little bubbles were red. That's sticking your head in the sand. [}:)]
These days practically every new model year for any model gets rave reviews....
It's only after stuff starts to fall apart prematurely that reality sets in and the truth comes out. MB and ML's are no execption.
We all said what a great improvement the '00 was over the '99 and how much better the '02 was over the '01 etc. And I for one agree.
What we didn't realize at the time was that MB had failed to address a fairly large number of known issues - mostly related to component vendors QA.
Clearly MB has chosen suppliers based on the price rather than quality.
End result, 20-30,000 miles down the road stuff wears out before it should (and I'm not talking brake pads / rotors here).
Thus we can expect the rating of '04 ML's to drop just as rapdily as previous models because the under lying problems still exist.
Let's hope they fix the situation with the W164 - but based on past performance, I personally don't think they will.
Maybe I should get some rose tinted glasses - might work better than sticking my head in the sand and hoping for the best ;-)
__________________
Tim (Formerly a senior race engineer / designer at Cosworth Racing UK for Formula 1 and CART engines)
'00 ML430
Replaced with Lexus RX400h 4x4 (0 to 60MPH in 6.5 seconds and 30MPG city)
My other 4x4 '03 Colbalt Blue Porsche Stage III 996 Twin Turbo (60 to 130MPH in 8.7 seconds and 12 MPG)
2005 Mini Cooper S, a pocket rocket
2002 VW Beetle, daily hack
Past cars of note:
'02 Porsche 996
'99 Porsche Boxster
Because we are at opposite extremes about our opinions on MB and ML's generally.
None the less I standby what I've said before and been agreed on by many others - the ML is undoubtedly a brilliant design with many innovative features - which is the main reason we still have ours.
Sadly due to corporate decisons at MB this excellent design is being let down by poor QA - mostly in the supply chain of the components.
We all agree that subsequent years have gotten better, but in every model year many of the same poor quality parts are used - leading to premature problems (and I'm not talking squeeking brakes or whatever here).
Thus while new '04's get stella reviews now, just like other previous model years once they get 20-30,000 miles on them the same old bugs will likely come to the surface. Just look at reviews of '00's, 01's, 02's etc. they all start off good then gradually begin to have problems of one sort or another.
Having spent a good few years working in the motor industry what really counts is how a manufacturer deals with product problems.
All manufactures have problems - hey my '99 Boxster blew it's engine apart, but I didn't complain because Porsche new exactly what to do. My '02 996 had a leaky tranny (funnily enough it was made by MB), again they new what to do. In both cases having problems actually inspired my confidence in the brand because they were fixed so quickly and well.
Not so with MB :-(
MB waits till they're forced to do something (power steering clamp recall) and likely they'll do nothing about harmonic balancer failures unitl once again they're forced to.
Frankly I expect better of a brand like MB.
Rather than sticking my head in the sand - maybe I could borrow your rose tinted glasses ;-))
1) The 1.5 inch thick stack of MB Work Orders for my 02 ML500, all no cost warranted items
2) The n days I've had to drive a loaner
3) The admission by MB executives that they do have quality issues
4) An appreciation for those on this forum who acknowledge issues and have posted fixes that I have benefited from
5) Not considering fellow MLers in pain as "gripers meerly repeat old canards"
I cannot believe that I've had to suffer (and still have to suffer) from trivial issues already present in the '98 model year.
I am very happy that your ML is flawless, Kudos to MB, they built one right!
You mentioned htat you believed that it does not matter what these gripers buy, they'd be very disappointed with whatever. My wife wanted to dunmp the ML500 after a year of ownership. Turned out I inherited it and she got herself a Cayenne. Six months into the CTT experience, she has yet to complain, I have yet to take it to the dealer. In the same period, the ML had already been there 5 times and had spent 3 consecutive days at the dealer for one incident. I gripe about the ML, but it's the only one of our three vehicles I gripe about. It's not the most expensive we've bought, and it's not the cheapest we own either, but it really sucks in terms of reliability. When it runs, I still enjoy driving it though.
The ML, great vehicle, good design, poor quality, poor realization.
Because we are at opposite extremes about our opinions on MB and ML's generally.
None the less I standby what I've said before and been agreed on by many others - the ML is undoubtedly a brilliant design with many innovative features - which is the main reason we still have ours.
Sadly due to corporate decisons at MB this excellent design is being let down by poor QA - mostly in the supply chain of the components.
We all agree that subsequent years have gotten better, but in every model year many of the same poor quality parts are used - leading to premature problems (and I'm not talking squeeking brakes or whatever here).
Thus while new '04's get stella reviews now, just like other previous model years once they get 20-30,000 miles on them the same old bugs will likely come to the surface. Just look at reviews of '00's, 01's, 02's etc. they all start off good then gradually begin to have problems of one sort or another.
Having spent a good few years working in the motor industry what really counts is how a manufacturer deals with product problems.
All manufactures have problems - hey my '99 Boxster blew it's engine apart, but I didn't complain because Porsche new exactly what to do. My '02 996 had a leaky tranny (funnily enough it was made by MB), again they new what to do. In both cases having problems actually inspired my confidence in the brand because they were fixed so quickly and well.
Not so with MB :-(
MB waits till they're forced to do something (power steering clamp recall) and likely they'll do nothing about harmonic balancer failures unitl once again they're forced to.
Frankly I expect better of a brand like MB.
Rather than sticking my head in the sand - maybe I could borrow your rose tinted glasses ;-))
Linear Mode
