Maintenance Cost Concerns

[bigcreekdad]

I am close to ordering a ML350 BT. I had a ML320CDI several years ago, and was quite happy with it. I traded it for another brand at around 50k miles. Having looked on line for awhile during the excision making process, I am getting cold feet reading about very high maintenance costs. What has been your maintenance cost experience if you have an ML over 50k miles? Either diesel or gas.

Thanks

[fabbrisd1]

With a ML350BT you will have added cost for the AdBlue (which is Diesel Exhaust Fluid) - your refill at 10K intervals which will before the approz 12.5K mile "low AdBlue" warning.

You alos have added cost (and added labor) for the diesel fule filter every 20K

Under MB AdBlue brand that can be pricey, a couple $100 a refill. Under generic DEF (exact same stuff) your DIY refill cost will be like $40 each interval.

That said - for ML350BT your "best buy" under MB pre-paid maintenance is buying MSRP $1465 for 30K for the 1st 3 maintenance intervals, and for the 4th/5th interval after the 30K buy a 20K pack for MSRP $1129 = $3594 total. This includes all maintenance, including MB AdBlue, only DOES NOT include brakes, tires, wipers.

The Mercedes 40K and 50K single pack for the ML350BT is overpriced, since with the 7G+ tranny no longer requires 40K service, 1st tranny service is 70K miles.

Maintenance for the ML350 for total 50K would be 30K pack $769 + for 4th/5th a 20K pack for $619 = $1388. This does not include tires, brakes, wipers.

I hope this gives you a perspective - keep the beat !

[RChpmn]

If you DIY with the AdBlue refill, is there anything you have to reset to get rid of the low level warning? Or does it just know it's been refilled? It'd be nice if there was a way to see AdBlue levels on the display similar to tire pressures.