Faults:

I knew the original owner ans had the dealership give me the history since new from the computer.

- at 35,000 miles and again at 90,000 miles had the window switch plate replaced.

- a couple sensors and a power steering clamp replaced under warranty or recall.

- at 91,000 check engine light came on - I paid $76 to have them tell me it MIGHT be the EGR for $350 I can find out. Since new uses a qt of oil every 800 miles.

General Comments:

Excellent turning radius. Better than my Acura Legends. Great utility. seats fold down fast for cargo. Fun to drive. Lots of power. Have not had it in the snow yet. Roomy yet doesn't look big. Same cubic feet as a Ford Explorer. Interior still looks new after almost 100,000 miles.

Faults:

Tires, three sets at 75000 miles.

Brakes, three sets with rotors 75000 miles.

Fuel pump, 74000 miles. MB are installing a modified fuel pump.

Oxygen sensor at 74000 miles.

Sun roof rattles.

Back and side doors rattle.

Cup holders on both sides broke.

Drivers side window switch failed.

Parts of interior trim falling off.

Muffler rattles.

General Comments:

The ML 430 is a rattletrap.

I have contacted MB USA and they don't want to know about it.

Would never again purchase a Mercedes.

There should be a class action suit brought against MB for selling such a lemon.

Faults:

The weather stripping on one door kept falling down.

The door locks went into ghost mode frequently requiring 3 visits to the dealership to correct.

The drivers side power window failed in the lowered position. Good thing I had a garage.

I had a mysterious ear-splitting grinding noise from one of the wheels/brakes. It appeared to be something came loose and it would start when I made a left hand turn. I could make it go away with a right hand turn. So I travelled home making right turns only for 25 miles. I took it to the dealer immediately, who found no problem, but it mysteriously went away.

General Comments:

I purchased this car as a replacement for a mini-van (which my wife felt quite frumpy driving). I thought I was doing a good thing by buying her a "quality" Mercedes Benz. I've owned mostly Toyota vehicles. Very good quality, but sometimes missing in the personality aspect.

I also purchased the 3rd row seat. This was one of the reasons for purchasing the ML320. The dealer was not help in telling me that the 3rd row seat was a permanent fixture that could not be removed. I discovered after having it installed that the seats were removable.

I must comment on the dealership. Here in Phoenix, Arizona there were only two, now three. I hated the place, I spent the extra money to purchase an ML320 and felt like a leper waiting in the service line watching the Service Managers fawn over customers in 80K+ cars and leaving the "many" M-class customers waiting.

I happened to also own a Lexus RX300 at the same time. Which I can't say enough good things about, including the dealership/services.

The kicker is that when I finally got tired of the ML320 and I tried to sell it, I almost had to give it away. Comparing the Mercedes resell and Lexus, ML320 vs. RX300. Two years after purchase at similar prices, the ML320 was worth $10K less.

The only upside to the ML320, was the engine and transmission felt smooth and powerful. The ML320 also had a much better turning radius that the R300.