Is it expensive to own a Mercedes ml350?

Answer 1

I've owned a 2004 ML350 for about 3 1/2 years now and will agree that the maintenance is more costly than say a Ford Explorer but the over all quality is better so the big problems are less likely to crop up. That being noted a SUV is still a machine that will wear out no matter who makes it, but the particular unit that I drive has had less major problems than some other American made cars that I've used. I've heard repeated stories that the ML series up to 2003 had significant flaws with the electrical systems and such but that's not my experience with the 2004. Maybe it's just luck.

The biggest drawback in terms of daily use is the requirement for premium gasoline only. At $3.00 plus expect the full tank to cost you around $65.00 or so. With gas mileage, by my count, at around 15 to 16 MPG you can think about the miles you'd put on it each week and come to your own conclusions. Also full synthetic motor oil changes will cost close to the $100 dollar mark regardless if you do it in your driveway or have the local QuickieLub do it. Replacement parts for Mercedes are always at a premium cost as is the labor. Local independent Mercedes mechanics tend to be less expensive than the dealership ones and you can always try to dicker a better deal with the small local guy if you're a repeat client.

Bottom line: with luck you get what you pay for. The rest is what you want and what you can afford. Cavet Emptor.