Used 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class Consumer Reviews
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Reliable family car
Bought it with 35,000 miles and I have just put 37,500 more miles in 4 years. It had brand-new tires and brake-pads when bought and it is just about time to replace them. I have spent about $500 a couple of time extra for repairs (not regular maintenance) and my only complaint would be that I have to keep an eye on the engine oil level. If I drive over 70 miles per hour on a hot day, it will surely burn oil. Other than that I am pleased with this SUV.
A real man's suv
I've driven several different SUV's and all were not what iIexpected at all, until I drove the battleship of all time. This ML55 AMG will do everything possible to get you from point A to B instantly with no hesitation, but it will cost you a little more in gas than most smaller engines. I am very happy on long trips with it. It's very comfortable and reliable. Drive it and you'll see just what im talking about.
- ML320 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,999253 mi away
- ML320 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,988859 mi away
- ML320 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,9951,300 mi away
Great second car
The 2001 ML55 is now a very dated car, but drives like crazy! Great daily-driver, but 15-18 around town is a little expensive. However, it performs like a sports cars with stunning acceleration, very tight handling and good, if Mercedes-style very firm seats and ride. It's a sports cars that can haul a lot of stuff for a small car. Good off-road, but I don't do much of that. I've had mine for 8 years (second-hand) and 70,000 miles (currently @125,000). Repairs can be pricey at MB, but a good independent can handle it. Back seat is OK for short rides, but too bouncy and hard for anything longer than 30 mins. Brakes could stop a train (Brembos). Fun fact - Porsche developed the Cayenne based on the success of the ML55. There aren't many available as fewer than 3,000 were made and maybe half of those made it to America. It's a great second car that has the performance of a good sports car, comfortable, great MB interior (if muted) and you can haul a lot of crap, if you have to. What's not to love? 2016: my beloved ML55 took a medium hard hit in the right front, and was totalled-out by the insurance company. Nobody hurt. Gone but not forgotten! @145,000 on thd odo. Really sad pulling my personal stuff out, and saying goodbye. Maybe replace it with an ML550 ...
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
well satisfied
This is my third ML 320 in three years, due to my unwillingness to wait for body repairs after being rear-ended and after a tree limb incident. Performance is better with the 2001 than the 2000, and the 2001 is tighter and more quiet than the 1999. All are solid and secure on the road, and handle beautifully. No mechanical problems with any.
Thought it would be better
Great car until it hit 107,000. New power steering pump $1000. Next month emmission air pump $1400. Drove it 4 miles check engine light came on again. Must clean engine vents. Maybe cleaned externaly for $650. If that does not work - $2000+. m selling the car. Lots of little stuff goes wrong.
Performance and Style
I bought this car for 12K, it was a one owner. The engine performs great for an SUV. Handling is awesome for a "boxer" style car. Fun to drive plus very safe. I always feel I am in control while driving this auto. I did have to replace a Power steering pump ($625), but I expected to pay more for the service type work. I would strongly recommend this car.
A great buy on the used market
After reading a lot of reviews ripping the ML55 I had to respond with my experience. I did a lot of research prior to purchasing a used ML55 and decided that this is the vehicle I wanted. After 6 months of searching for the right one I landed a one owner '01 w/ 50K miles for $19K. As the previous owner had the vehicle for 5 years all the usual small bugs everybody complains about have been corrected. To say I am happy is an understatement. I went from an '01 Durango into the Benz and could not be more pleased. The power, handling, and comfort are great. I don't know about $65K but for $20K on the used market they can't be beat.
9 Month Update
This is my 2nd review of this car. I just bought a 24' boat and I'm using the ML320 to pull it. I'm extremely pleased with the towing capacity of this somewhat small SUV. It pulls a 4600lb boat with no problem and I live on a large hill. The low gear is a great feature that works well. We have had no issues with the vehicle and it has been fantastic. I drove it 2200 miles across country without an issue. I noticed the battery comment in a previous review. Be careful - Germans don't like maintenance free batteries so you need to check the water levels in your cells or it will die with no warning. I'm really impressed with the capabilities of this vehicle.
I LOVE THE ML55 AMG
NASA SHOULD USE THE AMG MOTOR TO LAUNCH THE SHUTTLE TO OUTER-SPACE!
Big disappointment
I bought this car as a Starmark certified vehicle from Mercedes. Almost immediately I noticed some issues: Two exterior plastic body pieces spontaneously broke, interior plastic parts seemed prone to breakage as well. Also, the breaks were very noisey and fluttery (dealer told me to live w/). Eventually, more serious (i.e. expensive) issues arose: fuel injectors became blocked, spark plugs fouled, coils needed replacement, power steering line ruptured... all within 21000 miles of purchase. Of the thousands of dollars in repair bills virtually nothing was covered by the Mercedes Starmark warranty. Shockingly poor quality, esp. from a company with such a premium reputation (and price tag)
A good value used
I purchased this vehicle for my wife for Christmas. She has always wanted one. I was a little hesitant due to the reviews on Edmunds. It appears some people love them and some hate them. We purchased a certified one because of these concerns. It has performed very well and is comfortable to ride in. I really like how stable it is off-road. This vehicle is ridiculously over-priced new (as most are) but has depreciated nicely to where you can get a good sport utility at a reasonable price with a decent warranty. The best thing about the vehicle is the safety features. I bought it for my wife and young son so they could walk away from almost any accident. It's a tank!
Love my car
This is the NICEST auto I have ever owned. I have had excellent reliability and have put nearly 40000mi on it in 2 years. I recomend it to everyone I know and I always get a WOW when I open the sky view roof. You can't imagine how awesome an 8 foot sunroof is, or as my husband says "a convertable SUV". I got rear-ended in my ML and the Honda Accord that hit me was totaled at 50mph, and all I had was a scratch...no joke, on my bumper. The other driver said it felt like he hit a brick wall!!! Anyway enjoy the luxury the safety RELIABILITY and pure joy of driving this car, you will never want another!!
my opinion
This is the second ML I've owned and both have been totally reliable and fun to drive. Don't discount this SUV based upon some of the petty complaints passed around on the web, go drive one and see for yourself.
Not A Mercedes
I trading in my 1996 Ford Explorer XLT in on a 2001 "Mercedes Benz" ML320. I traded in my T-O-T-L Explorer because while reliable, it had interior rattles. My brand new ML320 rattles worse. In addition the ML had the following failures: 1. Power windows. 2. Automatic door lock system. 3. ABS system. 4. Poor front and rear plastic bumper fit. 5. Poor driver side side-view mirror adjustability. 6. Uncomfortable front leather seats. 7. Rear seats do not fold down flat.
Still fun
After owning an ML 320 since 98 this was such a big jump in power, smoothness and features.
My new 8 yr old ride
Traded my 04 Escalade ESV for this ML430 and some cash. Should have bought an M Class years ago. Much better engineering and build quality. More fun to drive, and more driver friendly and intuitive. Any bugs long since worked out, I think. Mileage is almost 17 city. Comfortable, and easier in & out. Smooth and quiet.
Nowhere to rest driver's elbows!
There's excellent & smooth V8 power, & the most carlike handling of any SUV that has a low range transfer case, but the power steering is WAY overboosted & there is NO where to rest your elbows when you are holding the steering wheel, if you are average or tall sized. VERY fatiguing! Don't buy one based on a short test drive, but imagine how tired your arms will get on a longer drive while you're forced to hold them out in front of you the whole trip.
Perfection
This is my second ML 320 (1999 and 2001) Maybe I am lucky with cars but these two were the best I ever had. I will be buying a 2003 this fall.
Disappointed
I leased my first M-class in 2001 enjoyed it very much. End of lease purchased a 2001 M-class. Currently I have 85,000 on this M class with a easy care 100,000 mile warranty. Good thing, fuel pump (towed), gas/air mixture filter, sun roof air vents, electric window control, ESP and anti lock brakes. These were all covered by a warranty with a $100 deductible each time. Normal maintenance expensive. Oil changes $200 - $300. Rotors and pads for all four wheels $1,200, plugs and wires $800. I am thinking of trading it..
ml32001
The ML320 has been a great experience for me. This has been my first SUV owned and I have truly enjoyed and still is enjoying this vehicle. It handles very well (sturdy with a safe feeling). It just the perfect size and I can pretty much get around anything. I'm like a vehicle with a bit more pick- up and that is my reason for possibly trading and/or selling. Other than that this is one good riding/driving vehicle.
Excellent vehicle
I have had nothing but a fantastic vehicle. What is wrong with your vehicle. Mercedes is getting a bad rap on this one. Its a great ride and vehicle.
mb 320
Maintenance is expensive, but keeps the car in excellent condition. The car runs as well as it did 177,000 miles ago when it was new.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Beauty
This car just looks beautiful from outside. I play hockey and have and the steering column break and had the power steering fluid leak a couple times when the weather was under -40. Other than that, drives fast, guzzles gas, but looks good which is the most important right. I love how the seats fold flat. Seriously perfect. We are the 1st owner and love the ride. Gets you from point A to point B in style
Never buy anything else!
I have owned many high end SUVs. The M Class is by far the best. Let's clear a few things up. It is a Mercedes. Don't expect to drive a year and never have any problems. That said, I have put 15,000 miles on this truck in less then a year and only had 1 minor problem. MB service is amazing, you never pay for anything. The truck handles like a sports car, no joke. I dumped a LR Disco for this and never looked back. The dealer is a pleasure to deal with. Don't buy this unless you are a real driver though. If you don't know what an apex is, if you're no interested in a 0-60 time, if you don't care about road holding index, this truck is not for you. You simply will not value it.
What's Up with the ML320?
Easy to enter the vehicle. Good, firm, fronts seats with good adjustments for different sized people. Do not like the CD player being in the back of the vehicle. Good fit and finish. Engine noise not too bad, wind noise is negligible. Fuel economy is near 20. Good view from from seats, fair from the back. Transmission is smooth and responsive. Auto shifter is fun. Pulls 2000 lb. trailer with relative ease. Sound system is good with above noted exception.
2001 ML55 AMG-- Silver rocket!
My wife and I had a 1998 E430 sport, great car, but decided to go with an SUV. It was either a Range Rover or a Benz. The Rover was a little out of our price range, so we went with the ML 55. If we were going to get an ML, I wanted the fast one. Gas mileage is about 18mpg, not great, but this is a very fun and cool SUV, not to mention it will spank every Rover I've seen. Fast, fun to drive, and I got slotted and cross drilled rotors and brake pads off ebay for $345 and only spent two hours doing them myself! No weak brakes on this ML! Will buy another when it gets 90k miles on it. Bought it with 52k miles and no regrets. Great SUV!
A luxury and fun to drive SUV
I have close to 70,000 miles on this ML55 and I didn't have any problems with it. Very fine detail in the leather interior front seats, lots of punch in the engine when you need it most, and the transmission has very smooth shifting. Brakes are great but make sure you use ceramic pads or the wheels will get dirty. Anyone who wants performance will have to pay for it at the pump so don't think it's free. If you drive expensive cars you'll pay for it. I'm very happy, It's an A+.
2001 ML Disappointment
I am a die hard Mercedes Benz customer, having purchased many of their fine automobiles over the past 35 years. Notwithstanding, my experience with their ML product has been disappointing at best. Presently, we own a 2000 E320 and a 2006 S500. In recent years we have also owned a 2000 SL600 and a 1997 SL500, along with a 2002 S55, 2004 CL500 Sport, 1998 C230, 1993 300E and several 2000-2002 S430 / S500 Mercedes products. We also owned a 1999 ML320 that was a disaster on wheels and until this past week a 2001 ML320 that was one of the worst vehicles that we have owned to date.
Reliability
This is my 2nd M Class. Purchased the first model and was disappointed with all the problems it had. Gave MB another chance because of their reputation, believing they would fix all the issues. Bad decision - I only have 75K miles and it's been to the shop so many times, I lost count. Mechanical problems resulted in replacing the main computer (5K miles), power steering (pump went out at 11K miles), numerous sensors and fuel system components. Minor exterior and interior (broken plastic) parts are also a disappointment. I have gotten to know my mechanic very well. Forget MB and the status symbol. Every time I see an MB, I see my mechanic's shop. Not very reliable-only a name.
Merc + suck
So I bought this mint used 430 with 16,000 miles on it and boy was i burned. Been in the shop 7 times in 6 months. Door latchs, window lifts, winshield washers, seats, mirrors, electronics, on and on. What an idiot for thinking mercedes meant a solidly built car.
WORST CAR EVER!!!
Worst car EVER the ML 320 CDI. After three years of annual repairs exceeding many thousands of dollars we are parting with our two MBs. The ML for obvious reasons and the CLK 320 out of principle will be traded for an Audi and BMW. We were told expect 200k miles at not even 100k we've dumped more money into this car. Ok we expect the service upsell and the cost of A and B service which are ridiculous. In addition we have received thousands of dollars in annual bills - breaks, steering column, steering fluid, multiple oil leaks, engine issue, tranmission issues. I will NEVER buy another mercedes and urge anyone considering to buy a BMW where the cost of owning is better
Love It!
This car is expensive to fix but I love it! I bought this car used without a warranty and everything I have had to fix i.e. brakes, shocks, oil changes, both head lights, a tune up; was not covered by warranty anyway. The dealership I go to now gives out airline miles according to how much you spend getting your car repaired so that makes the cost of maintenance/repairs somewhat better for the consumer.
Mercedes M class
Not a Mercedes, drives like a Jeep with a mercedes name
ML430 Sport 2001
I love the vehicle. Was growing tiered of squeezing into my Lexus coupe. I am 6' 7" tall and love the head and leg room
LuvMyMerc
Bought the car back in Oct 2001. It was a car owned by the dealership and driven by one of their execs. It had about 7000 miles on board. To date, I had no problems (none whatsoever) with the car although I have around 30,000 miles on it. Loving it..
ML55 AMG
This SUV is a rocket, much better than the Yukon I had for 6 months and did not like.
Be Warned of Low Quality & RipOff Labor.
Be Warned of Low Quality & Rip Off Labor prices. there are large number of failing componenents (fuel pump, steering components, sensors, brake switches, ignition coils, etc) that will let you stranded.. The labor is a rip off for a low quality component vehicle. $600.00 for changing a coil, $280.00+ for oil and filter changes, $1000.00+ for fuel pump changes. MB customer service is a joke and dealers are a nightmare. MB refuses to perform TSB's unless you get stranded. Value went from $45,000 to a dealer trade in value of $20,000 in 2001 to the year 2003.
ml 320 AFTER 2 YEARS
I still love this vehicle after 2 years, all wheel drive awesome and its pretty quick too.
Still Luv It
I have nothing but praise for this vehicle as it is exciting to drive (Sport), has served it's purpose (Utility), and has been a good daily commuter (Vehicle). I still get plenty of looks with the Sport package and the service received from the Cincinnati store has been impeccable. It must be said that any and all cars will have minor issues arise throughout its ownership and this ML320 Sport has been no different - although nothing has been horribly wrong (worst was when the window stuck in the down position during a winter drive...Roadside Assistance took care of it within 25 minutes).
Uncomparable!
Had it for 3 years and virtually no problems (SRS relay replacement and 1 passenger seatbelt replacement). If there has been anything else wrong it must have been fixed during regular maintenance (love the FSS!). Drove it from TX to MD this summer, besides the excellent drive I only spend $100 in gas both ways! Involved in rear end collision by 18 wheeler and NOTHING happened to the passengers, the cabin nor frame (loved the quick SOS assistance). Repaired to perfection by MB. No complaints. If I don't keep this one I would certainly buy a new one. Look forward for the new design.
No Quality Check for ML320
All of these problems occurred in the first year: -Navigation systems sends out wrong location -Windshield wipers fail to function -Kick skirt falls off the seat -Drivers window loose in track fails to close (in winter) -Parking brake release comes off in your hand -Power window button snaps off -Computer brain needs replacement -Computer brain needs reprogramming since replaced with wrong version of software
Awesome
Better than an X5.
Drive it to Love it
Our first Mercedes replacing a tired Isuzu Rodeo. What a difference! Solid feel and response, while enjoying great engineering and interior fit and finish. You know that in a Mercedes, the German engineers WILL have their way with you, and some of the American frills like temp control, cruise control indicators, decent cup holders, and change on the fly CD player will have been pre thought out and arranged FOR you! Overall, however, a wonderful drive. I make my wife drive it in bad weather, because I know she's safer up high and well surrounded by a good crash cage. I would buy another in a heartbeat!
ML320
This is my first Mercedes and won't be the last. Shortly after buying it my wife and kids were T-boned by another driver on my daughters passanger door. The other vehicle had to be towed away and the police told us that any other vehicle would have resulted in injury to my daughter. In the ML she was shook up but not injured as there was no intrussion to the passanger cabin dispite significant damage to the door. My wife was able to drive away. Repair was to replace the rear passanger door no damage to frame. This impressed me as to this vehicle's safety.
ML320
Reliability and comfort are two of the most iportant features of the 2001 ML320. Its rich feeling on the interior and sleek exterior mask the rugged on or off road capabilities. It hauls people and cargo like a truck, but it can play dress up with any autos.
Owner
Drives with confidence anywhere.. stylish and tough... with guts.
I love the confort
This is my second Mercedes nd I love. You feel the security when you're driving this car.
An SUV Oxymoron
How can we say we love our ML 320 when it has been in the shop 9 time in 2 years. We have not paid a dime other than the HUGE aggrevation factor and there is an uneasinees of "What is next?" The main aggrevation is the unsolvable warm weather hesitation problem. We have driven a 2002 and a 2003 M-Class loaners that had the exact same hesitation. It is truly a great ride and one of the safest vehicles availble. However, we will not own it ouside of the warranty period.
Diaappointed
This vehicle has been a nightmare. The interior lights dim when the high beams are on so you can't see the screen for the radio and CD player. The seats are very difficult to fold down to carry large items. The battery died with no warning, the check engine light is on all the time,and we have been in for repairs constantly. The inconvenience is extremely aggravating. Plus the cupholders do not hold water bottles or coffeecups and the exterior paint chips every time I drive down the road. I will never buy another Mercedes!
Hey, it's a Mercedes!!!
I've had some issues. My power switch panel went out at 4000 miles, the car rattles a bit, and it drinks gas, like it's going out of style. But, you know what, I still love the car and besides, it's a Mercedes. Is it the best vehicle I've owned, obviously not, but I know that if any of us had a choice of a vehicle to be in, in an accident, most of us would opt for this vehicle. We all take a chance when we buy a car, I've had 2 lemons in my life time, including a 2000 Honda Accord and a 2001 Diamante. All I'm trying to say is that, overall, the ML320 is not bad at all, especially when you consider the safety, luxury and confidence a Mercedes provides.