Is this site dead?

[timf]

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 stellar 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 until 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 ;-))

[timf]

on the same topic posted in quick succession - had a bit of internet trouble, or maybe it was the server.
Anyway it was not my intent to make multiple but similar posts !
Lets hope this post goes thru' ok !!

[tcp_ML500]

[:D]