Sorry to bump such an old post but I thought this was worthy of an update.
* Rough 2-1 downshift, repeat issue, ECU already flashed last service visit
* Popping sound when accelerating into left/right turns coming from front of the car more so toward the side you are turning into, and you can feel it through the steering wheel.
* At highway speeds getting a noticeable vibration in the steering column/steering wheel shake
These were the three big issues that bothered me over and over. Lets start with this one:
*Rough 2-1 downshift, repeat issue, ECU already flashed last service visit.
After several complaints, in November of 2009 while my wife and 8 month old baby boy were in the car driving at 65mph, the trans quit shifting. Yup, she stepped on the gas, the RPM's went up and never shifted, the console indicated it was still in "D", not what you expect to happen. She pulled over to the side of the highway, stopped the car, turned it back on and slowly began to drive on the shoulder. Seemed like it was going ok until the RPM's kept going up and up and it wouldn't shift out of first. The car was towed to service and they replaced the valve body in the trans after about a week.
* Popping sound when accelerating into left/right turns coming from front of the car more so toward the side you are turning into, and you can feel it through the steering wheel.
This one resulted in the replacement of the left and right front axels, more time in the shop
* At highway speeds getting a noticeable vibration in the steering column/steering wheel shake
This one resulted in the replacement of the drive shaft and yet more time in the shop
So lets flash forward to Valentines Day 2010, about 1 year after purchase of the 2006 ML. The check engine light comes on, the car starts shaking and some kind of smoke was coming from the engine compartment, like the burning off of some sort of residue, not a plume of smoke as in a fire. Another tow trip to the shop and it turns out this is the balance shaft in the engine which turns the pistons, needs to be replaced (all under warranty still). :surrender: :surrender: :surrender:
No longer feeling that this car lives up to Mercedes reputation for safety, engineering, customer value, and overall service, I sent an email to my sales guy and his general manager expressing my concerns. Several discussions later, they took back the 2006 ML, paid our remaining balance (no negative equity carryover) and gave us an unbelievable deal on a 2010 ML350 with P1, 19in. wheels and a few other options. Palladium Silver with Ash leather and I couldn't be happier.
Having driven the 2006 ML for a year, the new 2010 ML is far superior in every category. The exceptional service I received from the dealer was over and above what I expected. Only in talking with my wife would we say "They need to just take this POS back and give us a new one" - well...that's exactly what they did.
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
