While my ML is in sick bay getting things sorted out prior to delivery (hopefully, Tuesday, 7/6), I have been driving a dealer loaner, an ML350 with about 1,900 miles on it. It's a base model optioned up to $48k, but w/ 17" wheels, leather inserts, Comfort Pkg. but no lighting package. A few of my observations:
-The transmission is very good. Shifts are smooth and seamless. When manually downshifting it will go right into D4 if going downhill, but only to D6 if on the level. The shift stalk and manual shift buttons are both very easy to get used to.
-Power is quite adequate. There is no lag and acceleration is brisk. It doesn't have the kick of the V8, but plenty peppy for most. It is smooth and refined in feel.
-The steel sprung suspension feels okay at first, but on large bumps and fast curves it feels underdamped.
-The NAV system is only adequate. The screen is polarized which makes it dificult to see while wearing polarized sunglasses--I found I had to tilt my head about 20 degrees left to see it at full brightness. Many streets are not identified in map mode. I don't have enough experience with it to give a full evaluation.
-HIDs are a must-I can't believe anyone would spend that much on a vehicle and not get them. Should be standard, IMO, with maybe the steering feature optional.
-The rear wiper will come on automatically when reversing if the front ones are on.
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<B>Greg</B> Lake Oswego, Oregon, USA
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<B>2006 ML350</b> - Pewter/Charcoal Alcantara/Aluminum; Packages: Comfort, Lighting, Entertainment, Appearance, Airmatic, Sunroof; Options: Nav, Sirius, hitch, heated seats, power liftgate, roof rack; Mods: ML500 skid plates, ML63 20" wheels.
<B>2001 BMW M3 Coupe</B> (5/01 prod.) - Titanium/Cinnamon w/ many mods.
-The transmission is very good. Shifts are smooth and seamless. When manually downshifting it will go right into D4 if going downhill, but only to D6 if on the level.
Greg, this is the case with all Touchshift vehicles from 2004 onwards. A quick tap to the left (or downshift with the button in this case) jumps it down to the gear that would be best suited for engine braking or brisk acceleration. It's not so much the level ground but your speed and rpms that are the factors considered. In my 2000, I have to tap it down a few times to jump to the gear that I wish, whereas the new units select for you. Quite handy and faster! The 2003 units would do the same but only if you tapped and held to the left for a second.
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Power is quite adequate. There is no lag and acceleration is brisk. It doesn't have the kick of the V8, but plenty peppy for most. It is smooth and refined in feel.
Agreed, if you floor it though, such as in the M-Class Tour, the V6's engine note sounds better than the V8's!
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-The steel sprung suspension feels okay at first, but on large bumps and fast curves it feels underdamped.
I definitely agree here. I would say that it is adequate for 90% of the ML owners who are buying it though. Basically if you don't drive the Airmatic, you won't know what you would've missed!! What tires does your loaner have? I found that the Continentals (with the stock tire package) were quite underwhelming and that the Michelins were MUCH better.
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The NAV system is only adequate. The screen is polarized which makes it dificult to see while wearing polarized sunglasses--I found I had to tilt my head about 20 degrees left to see it at full brightness.
Is this not the case with most LCD screens though?
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Many streets are not identified in map mode. I don't have enough experience with it to give a full evaluation.
I think that the level of detail can be adjusted, assuming it is anything like the S-Class's COMAND
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-The rear wiper will come on automatically when reversing if the front ones are on.
I believe this should be the case with your '98 ML as well. It turns on for mine [:)]. MB has actually had this feature for a long time. Back in the day, I remember my dad's 1988 300TE 4matic wagon having this feature!
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Dear Greg, the car you are driving during the weekend does not have the manual shifing mode. With the steering buttons you can only restrict the gear in which the transmission will shift automatically. Full manual mode (as in Cayenne f. i.) is only available with the ORP (see http: // www.benzworld.org/news/news.asp?id=284 Quote: "When the new M-Class is equipped with the Offroad Pro technical package, 7G TRONIC features a manual "M" mode which likewise enables the gears to be selected using steering wheel paddles."
Linear Mode
