how does mercedes-benz call the m-klasse a "Mercedes"? the m-klasse in USA is NOT made in GERMANY, so i dont see any point in even buying it. the whole magnificence of a Mercedes is that its MADE IN DEUTSCHLAND, designed and BUILT by Germans. i dont understand how Mercedes thinks people will buy a Benz built in Alabama by Affirmative Action American-Minority workers.

Long live the days when ALL Mercedes were DESIGNED by Germans AND BUILT by Germans.

vielen dank

 

Per google earth I live 153 miles from the Alabama plant... I have one of the first ML320s off the production line...a 99 model received at the end of 98.. they call it I think Opal blue... it is very dark very nice looking... it has a huge 5 foot cantilever type sunroof (they charged me $2500 to replace a few years ago).... crappy German engineering (must be because it is far beyond Alabama engineering capability). I have really not had trouble except the check engine light and oil lights come on about every four days, always have... the local Mercedes service, Jack Ingram in Montgomery, Alabama has pretty much been the saddest excuse for a service center.. not even close to the local Ford and Toyota dealers. However, to be fair, Jack Ingram hired a new service manager a year or two ago and he seems to have turned the place around. I wanted an Alfa Romeo in college but my Daddy said it might have linguini in the tail pipe so he wouldn't buy it, instead he purchased a Porsche 924 turbo. It was fun but always smelled of gas and I was raped $5000 for a new turbo a few years into ownership. Unfortunately my friend, Deutschland has gone the way of Hitler as has the United States. Nations are simply a persistent myth... you live in the world period. US mercenaries fight for multi-national conglomerates. Long live self-delusion.

But on to a more important topic... I have decided to keep the 320... nearly 10 years old and I love it... the poor instrument panel design hides the glaring oil and check engine lights so I am happy.

Can anyone recommend a "good" mechanic for the ML320 in the Montgomery, Alabama area? I hate paying $1600 for the brake job when Sears will do the same for $185. But I would like someone to keep tabs on the kraut built engine.

ciao

 

"kraut built engine"????

are you disrespecting German built cars??? you think America's car can do better?? why dont you get yourself a wonderful Saturn Ion or one of those "tough" "D-Troit" "muscle" cars, maybe the Mercury Marauder, or the stylish Ford Focus.

American automotive companies have 100 years of building ****TY cars. Trust me, nobody can build a worse car than them.

The Germans on the other hand build the finest Automotive masterpieces known to man.
including BMW, MERCEDES, AUDI, PORSCHE, VOLKSWAGEN. Simplt put: they CANT build a bad car (unless of course it is BUILT IN USA, like the ML-Klasse).

 

I must be a dunderhead as I love my 98 ML320. The only real weakness I see is in the heating system, I spend more time adjusting it than I do in my other cars. Regards, Richard

 

All I can say is that my 06 ML350 that is madein Alabama has a build quality far superior to other SUV's in its class. I had a 2000 Porsche Boxter. Came to find out it was made inFinland. What a piece of crap. Thank god I only leased it for 24 months. In the two years Ihad it, warrenty items totaled over $7K. I am a former BMW owner, have had 5 of them misc warrenty items on all. The last BMW I leased after one year the leather on the drivers seat side bolster was worn to the point of embarrisment.In the year I have owned the ML no problems. It is my daily driver. Granted many of the parts come from Germany and are assembled here.

I do understand your point, however from my perspective I could care lessabout where the car is made and or assembled as long as it is a qualityproduct.

Mark

 

we can't find Finland on the maps here in Alabama... isn't that a brand of tuna?

 

Wow 1995 C280,

And people consider many in Alabama to be "racist"! It would be interesting for you to know that the plant in Alabama has a predominatley caucasian workforce, and that the education level of those working at the plant including "African-Americans" exceeds that of many other plants including the German plants. The plant is non-, and has not suffered the brunt of the economic woes of the Automotive Industry here in the States. This is the same for Alabama's Hyundai and Nissan plants. Our Senator's have actually fought against the "bailout" for the American automotive industry. Also, please visit Huntsville Al. sometime and take a lookat Nasa, Redstone Arsenal, and the overall education level of this city.

If NASA uses Alabama workers, then Mercedes might just be in good company.I love the above post about the Porsche boxter, andI would love for you to find me 5 people whoowned a porshce 914 that can say that German's CANNOT build a bad car.

Silliness..... BTW, ROLL TIDE

 

For you godisawesome, (I have same car, year and color) you need EGR valve tube for few $ to fix you check engine light for a nother 10 years.
As for Richard, the ether foam dampers in your vents are desintegrated and leaking sending the heat where ever it will blow. Going only for the profit, that is the only think wrong with these old but ones good name companies, I think.
Check the education level of working people in US and Europa.

 

I dont see any of them in need of a bailout. They must be doing something right.

 

Not sure where this thread is going. I smell a "Ford vs Chevy" truck debate-like discussion going on here. Where are the facts to back up anyone's claims? I will give a nod to the Porsche 914 reference. As a child I do remember asking my father where the batteries went in one of those things. Total Junk. Don't forget the 944 which was not the best foot forward for Porsche either.

Though I do see the German dude's side of things about MBs being great cars, I do take exception to his quote about Americansonly manufacturing junk. Really? Want to **** of a German in Germany in the biggest way? Fly by his *** on the Autobahn in a Corvette. What was the best selling vehicle in Germany for most of the 1990s? A Jeep Cherokee! Perhaps too much self flattery affects the memory. Show me a late 90s or early 2000s Audi A8 that hasn't spent an insane amount of time in the shop. They are openly known as some of the worst engineered and least reliable automobiles on the road today. Why don't Europeans build lories (trucks) that are worth a darned? The sad excuse for contractors trucks that I have seen in Europe are downright depressing. They look liketennis shoes or cell phones. (I lived in Europe for a year in the 90s.) I'm not so sure that any German would not want to be seen cruising the streets of Berlin in a classic convertible 1960s Mustang or Vette. How could they not? What classic automobiles.

Continuing on the "America does not build crap" theme.... What about the Cadillac CTS-V which absolutely annihilated both the M5 and the AMG E55. It out-braked, out-handled, out-accelerated and out-drove both of those cars. It's also pretty sharp looking. Let's also not forget the GT40 which is perhaps one of the best built super-cars in the world, ever. Guess those lazy Americans just got lucky on that one. Oh, almost forgot...for many years, the Dodge Vipersold better in Germany than it has here in the states! I guess that all of the Americans living in Germany bought all of those. Ha!

I love my 1998 E320. It has served me well. Is it bulletproof? Nope. Is it efficient? Yes. Is it beautiful? Yes. Do I drive it because I dislike American workers and American cars? Absolutely not. I love the ride, the handling and the engineering in the engine. In closing I must make a final statement to 1995 C280... Your anti-American rhetoric is not welcome in my book. You need to remember that these forums and posts are designed for people to talk about cars, not politics or baseless opinions on the workforce. Furthermore, if you want to self-elevate your heritage I want to remind you that you are free to do so here in the US without fear of retribution. That is what makes this country the best in the world. I shudder to think what would happen to me if I chose to promote America while in Germany.

As of this moment, we may be down a bit but we will never be out. This very philosophy helped us to saveall of Europe from speaking German some 60+ years ago. Oh... almost forgot... you claimedStrasbourg again... Oops!