16th Sep 2006, 02:20

I have all the problems that most of the people listed here with my ml500, and is 65,000 miles. The ABS/ESP lights up & some noise is coming either from the tires; got them ck & was told the tires are o.k., now worry... the noise only appears when in driving very slow and the lights come up afterward... any ideas, or help anyone can give me? I saw on another website someone mentioned is the break light switch or the stop lamp switch???

Thanks.

27th Sep 2006, 21:28

After years of problems with a 98 and 2003 ML...

This is an open letter to MBUSA CEO...

Paul Halata, CEO

Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc.

P O Box 350

Montvale, NJ 07645-0350.

A HAPPY DAY FOR A ML500 OWNER!!

RE: 2003 ML500 4JGAB75E53AXXXX.

Dear Mr. Halata.

After picking up my ML500 after being serviced, I had the best day of my ML500 ownership!

See the enclosed letter that was basically ignored. (The response was about the wrong model ML.)

That aside, more about my GREAT day.

At about 44,000 miles, I was informed that I was going to need my fourth set of rear brakes and rotors. (last set of OEM pads installed outside MB service) There were other problems, I’d tried to have fixed many times.

When my wife and I picked up the ML, we again had that wonderful “after MB-ML500 service” sensation. Made me wish I smoked.

But the day wasn’t over!! We went directly to Lexus and bought a new RX400h. (Taking a BIG loss on the ML500.) Lexus bragged about their service and vehicle. I didn’t care. The idea of not having to deal with the ML500 and its poor quality made my wife (and me) giddy!

So this is just a note to say THANK YOU, for giving us.

3rd Oct 2006, 12:14

My 2002 ML500 was purchased brand new by me. I bought the car for reliability, safety, and performance.

I had numerous problems with the car including brakes, power windows and locks, headlights, stereo, and the seat-belts. Everything was covered under warranty, but a car with 17,000 miles should not have any problems.

I drive the 405 and 10 freeways 5 days a week. I stopped driving this car due to the reliability issues. I would be doing 75 on the freeway and the triangular warning light would start flashing for no reason. I went back to driving my wife's old 1994 Lexus LS400 with 174,000 miles. It's sad that a car with that kind of miles runs better than a Mercedes with only 17,000 miles.

I traded a 1998 Lexus GS400 for this Mercedes because we needed an SUV due to 3 kids. I now wish I would have kept the GS400. The ML500 just sits in our driveway now. I drive it once in a while to the store, but that's it. Only has 17,500 miles, but I don't want to sell someone a lemon, so I'm going to keep it. I'll never drive a Mercedes again.

4th Oct 2006, 14:49

Geez! I own an 11 year-old Jeep Wrangler with over 133,000 miles on it, and the only thing I had to do is replace the manual transmission (tired synchros) at 132,000 and put new gears & bearings in the rear diff. (was getting loud) at the same time. Other than that, it's still like new. No Mercedes in my future.

16th Oct 2006, 16:46

I have just spent a while reading over all of the coments on the ML series, 350, 500.

I personally have a ML 500 2004, which has only 13,000 miles. I would have assumed that I would have double the mileage, but the ML500 has been in the shop over and over during the course of my ownership.

I am a car crazed person with a lot of knowledge about both domestic and international cars, SUV's etc. Mercedes by far is the WORST and last car I will ever get in the future. The pompous and arrogant attitude of the service department where I had bought my vehicle makes me sick. Actually, the last go around I was getting a new car at Mercedes expense. At the last hour and last minute, they backed out. If I was to make a recommendation from a past Mercedes owner, don't do it. Never again!

20th Nov 2006, 14:46

The comment above tells it all. When Mercedes offered to pay for a new car for me they told me my only option, a C230. I said no way. Why should I be giving them a 2002 ML500 that cost me $50,000 for a C230 that cost them $25,000 because it was a dealer demo.

I left the dealer with my ML500 and went car shopping. I looked at BMW, Infinity, Audi, and Lexus. All dealers are located on Santa Monica Blvd. which make it convenient for me. I test drove the X5, A6, QX4, and at Lexus I drove the RX300, GX470, and LX470. I decided on the LX470 due to how professional Lexus was. I am very happy with my purchase and am happy to say 1.5 years later my Lexus has the SAME brakes and has had no problems.

I'm now a permanent part of the Lexus family. My daughter has a 16th birthday in December and I have already looked into a 01-03 IS300 for her. Thank you Lexus!

29th Nov 2006, 18:16

The M-Class is made in Alabama... shows how great American craftsmanship is. I had a 2002 ML500 (wifes) and have a 2004 S500 (mine). There is a world of difference between the two cars just due to the fact that the S-Class is made in Germany. My wifes ML500 had all the typical problems and then some. The S500 has 65,000 on it and hasn't had any problems like the ML500. My wife now drives a 2005 Lexus RX330. Lexus said they get many people coming to the RX330 from the Mercedes M-Class. After the S500 hits 100,000 I will be buying a Lexus LS460.