Used 2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV Consumer Reviews
Great car
I have been owning my 2008 ml350 since three years, 54000 miles on it. Actually it's an enjoyable suv, smooth, very powerful with a good fuel consumption. I can say that the roads where i have been driving it are bad, but the ML can easily deal with it. No real problem to share and great reability from this car. I really love it and advice it to anyone who is searching for a good and solid suv.
2008 MB ML350
Great SUV, with lots of comforts and toys. Solid road handling, good power. Replaced at 65k miles, in 2015: Front Swaybar Suspension Bushings, Front Upper and Lower control arms bushings. New brakes and new tires with alignment. Check power steering leaks at control head and power steering pump. I recommend no air suspension, as it's one less system to maintain. Update at 115k miles (2019): After 4 years of driving, still solid car, still happy with purchase. New brakes in 2015, brake wear is normal and i'm looking at my 2nd brake job likely within the next year. Tire wear is great, still plenty left on the Pirelli Scorpion Verdes i put on in 2015. Major repair was an AC compressor failure. At around 90k miles. Other repairs are minors: Minor repairs included Rear Hatch Power Lock at 100k miles, Centrifugal Oil Seal and Cam Seals at 115k miles, minor seeping at front right differential.
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- ML350 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,49993 mi away
- ML350 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,997156 mi away
- ML350 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,995302 mi away
Very nice
We have one without the airmatic setup .Lightens the weight of the ML and eliminates any potential air springs issues in the future. It has blazing acceleration - when launched, even at part throttle, it can feel like you just got rear ended by a truck that forgot to stop. You'd have to see it to believe what cars it can out accelerate on a regular basis. Has a solid yet comfortable ride. Structure is very solid & tough. Engine & exhaust are tuned to be quiet & relaxed, and so don't be expecting high performance sounds. Has been very reliable so far. It's also a very safe SUV with great crash test results. MPG is actually not bad considering this level of power in an SUV package.
My 2nd MLV8!
I traded in my 2006 ML500 for this 2008ML550 because I wanted a few more options such as a hitch and backup camera. My 06ML was wonderful and I had no problems for the three years I owned it! My new 08ML550 is awesome! The extra 80 hp makes it even more powerful (ML500 was fast to me) and the gas mileage is about the same! How do they do that? The quality is top notch and this vehicle is so much fun to drive! Love it!
Proud Owner of ML 350
Back in 2008, I test drove Volvo, BMW, Audi, Acura. Finally I chose ML350. I believe in my life I have always made wrong decisions, but I have never regretted my ML350 purchase. Then I bought Audi Q7 2010 for my wife, but somehow it has failed to gain my loyalty. Even after 60,000 miles my MB drives like a newborn. Amazing SUV.
Outstanding!
What a great vehicle. Excellent Driver. Outstanding Power, Torque and smooth acceleration. Purchased new in 2008 and have had very few issues. Still looks and drives as new with 117,000 miles. Oh, I only wish that MB offered this new in 2017 -- I would buy it immediately. The new GLE350 does not hold a candle to this 9 year old car.
Bad dealership bad car
This is the bottom line worst car I have ever purchased and the dealership is even worse than the car. I purchased an ML350, 5 days after I purchased the car it had to go in for service and in less than 20 months the car has been in 21 times! Everything from the rear hatch not working (constant problem), sunroof, cam shafts leaking, oil leaking, random lights not working, battery going dead for no reason and stranding me, and the last one was the a/c going out completely. Of course out of 21 times in the dealership my service advisor who is the only decent part of this experience does not know what to do except to schedule me for service for next month in advance because she knows soon so
Excellent design
This car is just perfect all around. The engine is out of this world, the best I ever own, responsive and gas consumption better than I expected. I had BMW X5 2001 nothing to compare and then my LEXUS LX 470 2004 the worst car I had. I am so glad that I got the ML550
Probably not worth the investment
I bought this car new in October 2007. I have general dislikes about this vehicle and the cost of ownership. First, the SUV has 37k miles on it and I am on my 3rd set of tires at $1100 per set (including mounting and balancing). MBUSA says it's due to the weight of the vehicle and that the tires available are soft (whatever you do DO NOT buy Continental 4X4 contacts for this car). Second, there are many, many little things that for a MB are un acceptable like, front defroster only has one setting, which is high, then you need to play the on/off game with it when the windows fog up, the radio does not display the song or artist, the alarm makes no audio sound to indicate it is alarmed, ect
2008 ML 550 - Be careful Toyota fans
Nothing less than what I expected from Mercedes. You've done it again! Performance like I've never seen before. Comfort plus unbelievable speed. Not for the Toyota/Lexus girls & guys.... This is way too much vehicle for you! Thank you Mercedes- Benz!
A Piece of Metal...
I bought my 1st Mb 6 years ago, a CLK 320 such an amazing car I got seduced by his performance.. Then we decide to add a 06 E350 Sport what a désappointement... After all we decide to traded it in for this 08 Ml 350 4matic with over 100k Miles, But Maaan!!! This SUV feel like a Rock or block of metal moving... it picks speed so smoothly, it handle curves like a racing car. It so confortable which gives you the pleasure to drive, these are the cars that make you fell like driving and driving without being tired of driving... Because it was built to give you a pleasure of driving... My wife and I looking forward to keep this piece of Rock Metal for a very long time jst like We did with the CLK...
Much Better than 2006
My wife had a '06 ML350 and loved the looks and how it drove; however, it was in the shop several times for power liftgate and squeaking rear suspension. Decided to trade in for 2008 with P2 package and never regretted it. The 2008 handles much better, probably due to larger wheels and tires. Bought it in June '08 and overall reliability and build quality has been excellent. The '08 also seemed to have improved on the 7sp transmission as it does not hesitate like the '06. Had opportunity to drive in 3 inches of snow and handled very well.
Update after two years of ownership
I have now had my ML550 two years since my last review. I actually enjoy my vehicle even more than before!! I have had no problems with it and the power is just so amazing with the gas mileage not so bad (avg 15mpg). I live downtown and do not drive a lot of hwy miles but when on hwy I get 19 to 20 mpg. Small trucks with V6 engines do not get better in town gas mpg. The quality has stood up and I intend to keep this ML550 for a long time! I just love this SUV!!
Just a lot of car for the money
Solid as a rock. Turns on a dime. As far as I'm concerned this SUV is the most car for the money. Two large teenagers can sit in the back seat without any complaints. If you need extra space for traveling get a trailer hitch for the back and a box that will easily carry 4 sets of golf bags. I have now bought three 350ML's. I truly think they're the best car for the money.
Awesome ML!
This is my 3rd ML starting with a 2000 ML320, then a 01 ML430 and now this awesome 08 ML350. The advancements in technology, comfort, performance and design are amazing. My ML has almost every option including the Bi-Zenon headlights which are incredible in form and function. Even the power tailgate makes life so much more pleasant. Mercedes began the luxury SUV line and has totally raised the bar with the latest ML350. What an awesome vehicle.
Power and Pleasure
I purchased this vehicle because I loved the body style and then I discovered the power of a vehicle that can take you on leisurely drive in the country or blow that sedan out of the water that thinks it's hot stuff at a signal light. Not that I would ever do that(at least not with my wife in the car). this SUV is a pleasure to drive probably my favorite vehicle in over 40 years of driving.
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Great Car
Overall great car. A little overboard on the elec/tech stuff. Car rides a little heavier than I would like, but if ever in an accident that will be a plus.
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Stranded
I have only had my ML350 for 1 year and the battery has died on me twice already. Here I am in a brand new Mercedes and I have to get a jump, how embarrasing. The second time the battery died I took it to the dealership and they said that the computer chip got wet some how. They want to charge me $900, but it's not happening.
Okay, but not great
We purchased this vehicle in 2010 used with only 16,000 miles on it. It has been okay but I expected a bit more from a "luxury" manufacturer. At the end of the day, they are about the same as GM, Ford, etc. The electronic items that fail are really irritating. To date, we have had the rear hatch lock replaced, the drivers side door lock replaced, and the master window switch on the drivers door replaced. There aren't any children riding in this vehicle abusing the electronics so I just chalk it up to poor design and / or manufacturing. On the positive side of things, it still has the original tires and they are still have good tread, the vehicle rides great, looks great, and we enjoy driving it. We don't drive a lot here in Omaha, NE and put less than 5,000 miles per year on it so it still has only 45,000 total miles on the vehicle. Hopefully it will live up to the standards of our old C230 Kompressor that is still going strong at over 260,000 miles...
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Total POS stay away
Do not buy this vehicle if you do not want to be doing all sorts of expensive repairs on a regular basis.At 70k miles mine is falling apart,as far as im concerned the worst vehicle made with a Mercedes logo on it.Stay away from this vehicle . I just wanted to update my review.One year later still think its a piece of crap.Had to replace wheel sensors due to about 6 inches of snow.Dead battery after having Mercedes replace one exactly one year ago 515.00 !!!! Rear lift gate stopped working. The best part of these vehicles was left in Germany. This 50K vehicle has 94K miles on it now. Designed in Germany BUILT IN USA.Garbage. All in all one year of repairs ran over 10K in cost.Got rid of this POS purchased a brand new 4Runner.Stay away from Mercedes.They stopped building good cars in the 90s.
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Exterior design does it for ML350
Hands down rides much nicer than BMW X5. Needs leather standard on a vehicle of this caliber. Brakes are a little mushy if I had to complain at all.
Tenth Edition
I purchased the ML after trading in the Lincoln Navigator. I purchased it for my wife who loves the look and comfort of the vehicle. I like the sound feeling and how easy it drives. We recently took a short two hour trip and found it to be all we expected and more. We have previously owned 6 SUV's in the past but this by far is the best SUV we have ever owned. For that matter it just might be the best vehicle we have ever owned. I would purchase it again without any reservation.
The Best SUV
I am so glad we'd got this SUV. The Mercedes Benz ML550 has been very good to our family so far. I love everything about and I promise if you take it for a test drive you will love it too.
Zoom Zoom... not just for Mazda
My ML550 has the power to scare squirrels on trees a quarter mile away. I love the take off speed. The stereo is very rich and nice. I never dreamed that satellite radio would be so addictive. The seats are seductive in their contours. While the nav has quite a few limits, such as the joystick and the lack of new roads, it serves it purpose well and has a much nicer voice than the 2006 edition. While road noise is more pronounced then the E class, it is much quieter in the ML than in many other cars. The car is just fun to drive. I really like at lights when someone pulls the other lane expecting to blow past the bloated SUV only to be mistaken.
ML550 Great!
I purchased an 06 ML500 to replace my 2001 ML430. Loved it so much I just purchased a 2008 ML550. The motor is fantastic. The 550 is so smooth and fast, it blows away the 500 engine. Heated and cooled front seats, air suspension, and 19" AMG rims make the car the ultimate long distance cruiser. Handles the Canadian winter with no problem, and takes us skiing every weekend in style with heated rear seats for the kids. As my 4th ML since 1999, this one can't be beat. We plan to keep the ML500 and ML550 for a long time.
ML 350
A great auto from beginning. Comfortable, spacious, P-1 package plus. Rides and drives like a dream.
'08 ML350/Alpine Rain/P2/IPOD
This is my 2nd MBZ, coming from an E- Class, I thought I would give the ML350 a shot, after reading so many good reviews here. I must say, they are true. This is really a great vehicle. The Alpine Rain color is hardly seen here in NY and love it, with the Ash interior. I think MBZ should have more standard features though.. you have to pay for everything! My buddy's KIA came with bluetooth, but MBZ wanted $400 for it. I really have nothing to complain about. Rides excellent and looks even better. Much better than previous shape.
Best luxury SUV on the market
Lexus has no chance on this one, for the time being, as we did consider the GX 470 and many other SUVs. Standard equipment on this car is unbelievable and the ride is irreplaceable. Great job MB
2008 ML350
Too new to be totally fair with this vehicle, just bought it October 18. The SUV only has 101 miles however we have already received a warning message indicating a problem with the rear tail light. The dealership wants me to bring it back in however they are over 40 miles from my house and this vehicle is leased. Kind of soured me on the whole "new car" experience. So far we like the SUV and it has a lot of power, especially compared to my X5 which was terribly slow. I will follow back with a reliability report and how this issue is handled by MBUSA.
Great car
We bought our 2008 used. Besides regular maintenance we spend less than $1000 for repair. Car still looks and runs great.
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ML-350
Ive had the ML-350 for 4 weeks now.The performance is great. Quick,solid,smooth shifting. The steering is very sensitive and I tended to oversteer until I got used to it. I think much more responsive than my Jag XJ-8. The ML-350 has so many bells and whistles it takes time to learn them but once you do it seems easy. I was actually happy with the non leather seats. I've had trouble in the past with leather. Seat adjustment is wonderful. I am 6-4 and my wife is 5-3 so you can imagine what kind of workout the seat motors get. Great car as you would expect
Luxurious but practical
Before I bought my ML 350, I did test drove a BMW X5 and Acura MDX. In terms of refinement, nothing beats the Merc. The X5 is very heavy and the Acura sounds laboring in acceleration. This car combines luxury with practicality.
My first SUV
I love this car! I recently bought a 2008 Limited Edition M350 and it's the first SUV I've owned, having previously owned 4-door luxury sedans. The car is a vast improvement over previous models. The newly designed exterior is sleek rather than boxy, interior is luxurious yet practical, and handling is responsive but not truck-like. The interior and ride are more like a luxury sedan than a work- horse vehicle, though I got the car to perform in the snow. It hasn't snowed since I got the car so I can't comment on that aspect of its performance, but I'm sure I won't be disappointed since previously I owned a rear-wheel drive car.
ML 350 Great value!
Coming from two BMW's (most recent being a newer model 7 series), I was going back and forth between the X5 and ML. I decided to go with the ML since the value was much greater and I like the ML design better. Also, the standard seats on the X5 were uncomfortable. Although I am accustomed to a smooth ride, I found the ML to drive very well especially considering it's an SUV. I also like how the transmission shifs so smooth. I bought the ML 350 with premium 2 pkg, parktronic, Ipod and running boards. Unlike the review from spicoli on 3/17/2008, I do have Xenon headlights, rain sensing, power tailgate, driver/passenger memory seats and rear climate control and many other cool features.
Better than my Range Rover
When I had to look for an SUV to replace my 05 Range Rover, I wanted something smaller and hopefully with a bit better fuel economy. I had already leased a BMW X5 and didn't really love it-it was very heavy and "trucky". The Lexus R was sort of cheap feeling and I believe if you buy a Lexus or Infiniti, you are paying for the badge not the quality. I thought I would miss the luxury of the Rover, but from the moment I p/u my car I have not looked back. It handles beautifully, feels more like a car, much better mileage already w/o breaking in. The only thing better on the Rover was the navigation.
Excellent Auto
The car looks great and has a fantastic ride, The kids love the dual dvd's and the satelite radio is easy to use for us. The ride is smooth and it handles very well.
Perfect Ride for Me
I could not be happier. This car is solid as a rock with Mercedes Engineering. Nothing flimsy with the frame, door hinges, suspension, etc. The only downfall is the fragile power window keys that will break off with the slightest tug. Otherwise, I’m very happy with the mileage and the powerful acceleration. The steering wheel paddles are not my cup of tea. Wish they could be disabled. But, all in all I have fun every day I drive to work and play.
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Dream Car
I LOVE my ML550. Best car ever !!
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Exactly what I expected.
Car runs very well. I have absolutely no regrets at this time.
Comparing with Acura MDX
Have had ML350 for 1-1/2 weeks now. Very impressive, sylish, drives very well. Mercedes clearly pays attention to detail. I am replacing an Acura MDX which I liked very much. ML 350 has the pickup necessary for Dallas area freeways. It is very quiet inside. While the toys (voice recognition, touch screen, nav system) are not as sophisticated as the Acura, the comfort and safety features equal or exceed the MDX. The resolution of the rear camera is outstanding. The Acura has a few more storage areas which I miss, but the power liftgate on the Mercedes is a very owner friendly feature I am still getting used to the shifing lever. It is unlike anything I've had before.
10th anniversary edition
This is my 4th ML by Mercedes. This is a real Mercedes-Benz compared to the 3 other MLs I owned. I think it is better in every way. The interior is the biggest upgrade. I like the 10th anniversay features, special leather, badges, exterior headlites, and tail lites.
VERY SPACIOUS
This car is very spacious, lots of airbags for safety, 20" wheels. I absolutely love it. Not very good on gas though, and mine drinks premium gasoline not diesel so its very expensive to fill up! Just dont take it on rode trips, good for driving around town and day to day commute.
Excellent Car
I have owned my ML350 for 11 years and have found it to be the best car I have owned. I have previously owned Land Rovers and BMWs, but none compare to the road manners of this car plus the off-road / snow capability. I remember driving it one evening on a long trip and thinking to myself that this is the finest driving car I have ever owned. I also owned an E 350 and the ML won over it. I have driven it in snowy conditions to have it drive up snowy/icy hills without one slip. I have driven it in heavy mud and have climbed and descended hills off road without any issue what-so-ever. The only shortfall is that it has been a bit too small for our family's needs. Perhaps we should have bought a GL instead for that factor. My car presently has 142,000 miles on it and I just recently took it fully packed on a road trip of over 1,600 miles. It drove like new. I don't want to part with it but it is time to get a car for our son and he will not be caught dead in a W164 series ML. I hate to see it go.
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Not Enough for the Price
We were previously dedicated BMW owners however a lack of incentive programs on the new X5's led me to Mercedes. The vehicle we bought is pathetically equipped. We did buy an entry level model (only $46,000). But even at that price one would assume you would get some of the basics. I am very disappointed in the lack of features. Here is a list of what the vehilce does not have that all of my previous BMW's came with as standard: Xenon headlights Rain sensing windsheild wipers No song/artist title on radio display Power lift gate Child locks on rear doors (believe that one!) Driver power seat memory Rear climate control
Disappointed
As the owner of three ML's since 1998, currently a 2005 Special Edition, I went into my local dealer today to test drive a new one. I love the exterior styling and wanted to love the interior but was very disappointed by everything. The gearshift on the steering column - what were they thinking? And the MBTec standard fake leather is ridiculous on a supposed luxury car. Inside much cheaper looking overall. So my love affair with MLs is coming to an end. My heart is considering buying the one I have now, but my head is telling my to give serious consideration to the Acura MDX I test drove yesterday - don't care much for the look but it's all around higher rated and a better value. I'm sad.
Do not trade your Lexus for it!
I get used to my 2004 Lexus navigation system and now I am not able to find a Starbucks Coffee in LA. According to Mercedes-Benz, the closed Starbucks is in Oregon. The height of the inside mirror is not adjustable and tall people like me will need to lie down on the passenger sit making the right turn. The half of storage compartment is used by the Bluetooth adapter so you can store only a pair of glasses in it. There are hidden costs. After purchasing the vehicle you will discover that you have to pay extra $400 for the Bluetooth adapter (standard with the Lexus navigation system). The car runs smoothly and has a lot of power, but these small things may spoil the fun of driving it.
ITS A FUN SUV
HOLDS A LOT IN STORAGE. BACK SEAT IS KIND OF SMALL FOR ADULTS, THAT'S PAR FOR EUROPEAN CARS THOUGH
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