Greetings,</P>


I just bought a used ML 430. I was wondering if you experts out there can help me with a few newbie questions:</P>


1. What's the maximum speed when engage in "Lowrange"?</P>


2. Is ML 430 an AWD or 4WD? What's the different between "All Wheel Drive" and "4 Wheel Drive"?</P>


3. When engaged in either 1, 2, 3 or 4(gear), are they in 4 wheel drive?</P>


4. What's the optimum speed when enagaging those low gears like 1, 2, 3 and 4?</P>


</P>


Thanks</P>

 

Well what you should do first and formost is look in the mannual, Mercedes makes excellent mannuals</P>


1. Never go over 30 MPH in any low range</P>


2. AWD just means all the wheels are beingengaged by the engine, in this case 4WD and AWD are the same because the car only has 4 wheels.</P>


3. All M calss Mercedes are ful time AWD/4WD so you don't have to worry about rear or front wheels onl being engaged</P>


4. Again consult your mannual, but just keep an eye on the RPMs (revolutions per minute) the car is an automatic transmission so if it gets too bad it will shift no matter what gear you have it in</P>

 

Hi ML55buyer,</P>


thanks for you reply. I appreciate it.</P>

 

I have some answers/opinions to your questions:

1) Most 4WD vehicles won't let you switch to a lower range unless you're going under 20mph. If you're actually already off-roading, I'd engage it at 10mph or lower - you never know when something like a tree might come out and hit you!!! :-)

2) As M-Class vehicles are full-time 4WD. There is a difference between full-time 4WD and AWD. AWD only has one range (high), whereas the full-time 4WD on M-Class vehicleshas a high and a low range. You'd easily be able to tell the difference when you get stuck in the mud next to an AWD Acura MDX. He may not be able to get out, but if you switch to the low range, you'll get out easily.

3) All 4 wheels are always engaged.

4) Not exactly sure what you're asking here - are you talking about low-range shifting of gears, or are you simply asking about shifting during normal street driving?

 

I've been doing over 50 MPG on low range in ML320.
I never heard scientific explanation, but from what is on the road, I see, that 4WD is system without central differential, that shouldn't be used on dry pavements, while AWD can be used in any situation.
Be carefully on low range. If you accelerate on 1st gear and let the gas go, the engine braking force is so big, that can stop the wheels even on dry pavement.