W163s are amazing beasts. I have around 600,000 miles on them. Ran one from 0 to 350K miles, then gave it to a homeless buddy and he lived in it and drove it for another couple of years. Super easy to work on. I have abused the crap out of them and enjoyed every minute! Allowing them to overheat very badly (warping heads) is the only thing that kills them. I drove one 10 miles back and forth to work for a week when I didn't have time to fix the water pump; with only bags of ice on top of the manifold, with no cooling system the temperature never got above normal. Beasts!

You are also complaining about the quality of a interior that is 21 years old , and still in great shape , everything appears to be working , no cracked dash or ripped seats . Headliner isn't sagging , no missing parts . Yet the interior is "poor" quality ?

You tripping. That vehicle is a CHAMP. I have one now same color almost 250,000 still runs like a criminal on the loose!!!

368k miles on my last 00 ML 320, now at 163k on an 03 ML 500. They are tanks, their problems are easy to fix, the v6 m112 and v8 m113 engine is indestructible and the 722.6 transmission is practically immortal. You can find these going anywhere from 1-4k from decent to excellent shape.

I've owned a 1998 ML320 for 9 years which has done 275k miles so far. Best of all, I gave $2,000 for it. I cant praise it enough. If it blows up, I'll buy another one.

please keep the ml videos coming. This is my fav mb ever!!! call me crazy but i love it. My grandpa bought a brand new one in 2001 to use it in the farm and now I have it. I love it!!!! super reliable!

I love my 2000 Ml320. I have owned it since 2004. The only major item that I struggled fixing was when it would self brake. I did a lot of research on the subject, replaced the yaw rate sensor, lateral acceleration sensor, and the brake sensor. The problem finally stopped though I am still uncertain which one of the sensors was the culprit. Last week I had a check engine light come on indicating a malfunctioning of the EGR valve. I removed the valve, thoroughly cleaned the valve and the aluminum tubing, checked the solenoid and everything is fine now. With 202,000 miles on the vehicle, I figure it has at least another 100,000 moles of good life left.

I love this series. My second vehicle was a 99 ML320 with over 200k on it. Compared to my 96 Accord it was the most luxurious thing I’d ever seen and was an absolute beast in the snow and light off roading. I still lust after the ML55.

That being said; a 20 year old version of this car is still more reliable than a three-year old BMW

I have owned my 2001 ML 430 since 2005. 182k miles and going strong. Off roads like a champ, pulls trailers, and still cleans up nice. No plans on ever getting rid of it (within reason).

Yes mine used to be a bitch for a long time but last year I decided I was gonna work on it and funny thing is my mechanic can’t find anything wrong with the car. I mainly keep the car for the memories, used to be my dad’s car. listening to his CDs and driving it just calms me, hard to explain

I have had my ML320 for 21 years! She is lovely still (even with her bits of rust from living on Martha's Vineyard - salt water kills your car!). We are just shy of 290,000 miles. I will ALWAYS love her the best, especially her lovely teal green color and tan interior!

One thing you didn't point out is safety. That thing had side airbags in 1998! That is a huge plus.

Owned a 99 ml 320 since october 1998. Its been a fantastic vehicle with hardly any problems outside of normal maintenance. It was also 1998 MotorTrend truck of the year 😉

My '99 ML320 has 157,000 miles and rides great. I've had it since 2001. I have a second set of rims with snow tires and this vehicle goes wherever I point it. Mine has leather seats and wood trimmed dash. I have added extra wood and upgraded the stereo and added a backup camera. When I leave it at trailheads I'm not leaving a $50,000 car that might be vandalized. It rides well on long trips, pulls trailers and up to five ride comfortably. I've driven newer ones, but see no reason not to keep mine for another 10 years or so. While you panned the looks, I prefer the front end treatment to newer Toyota and Lexus SUV's. Thanks for the videos. I like seeing my car getting its due.

I have an ml350, which is the facelift model which ironed out a lot (but not all) of the build quality issues. It’s got a lot of quirks but I love it. Have fun with it, it’s a lot of car for the money.

I've got a 99 ML320 I have had so much fun with this thing off road and I love the looks people give as you take a Mercedes off-road and it's been able to go everywhere so far without any problems

I was born in 1999 and my parents bought a decked out 99 ML 320, I'm now 21 years old in college and we still love our ML.

Hate to disagree with a lot of your negative points ..but here goes . The ML was nearly universally praised by the automotive media and had waiting lists for the first few years . There was some penny pinching in the interior ( much of the problems came from a new factory and new parts supply chain, and were solved in the 2001 facelift ) , but again the car was PRAISED by most , as comfortable and luxurious, with well thought out controls . You are looking at it from a 2020 view which makes zero sense . You compared it to a modern Hyundai accent . Compare it to a 1999 accent . Compare any 1999 car to a modern vehicle where fit and finish has improved in leaps and bounds for the last 20 years. The panel and interior gaps on any car prior to 2000 would make modern economy cars blush . A 1999 Escalade had 40 more HP from double the displacement , and there are very few surviving compared to MLs. Complaining about styling on a vehicle drawn up in 1995 is a bit silly . Also consider all the copycat SUVs from other manufacturers that followed the ML . They copied it because it wasn't considered ugly. The Cruise control on old Mercs. is the most simply designed and useful cruise on any vehicle . EVER . Modern cars YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CRUISE ON every time you want to use it .The old Benz design was flawless in my opinion, and only caused issues for people who weren't used to it, which took a few hours driving . It's exactly where it should be compared to 5 or 6 tiny buttons on the wheel spokes or twisting stalks with buttons on other cars. Not sure where "really terrible car " comes from . All just my opinion , sprinkled with some facts . Love your show BTW . Keep it up

Here in upstate NY the winters are hard and they use a lot of salt on the roads. I don't see any or very ,very few 20 year old Asian cars on the road. My 2003 ML350 has 176,000 miles and has never been in a garage and it still does not have a rust hole, frame still looks good too. I still see W163's regularly, which is the best test review of all. I can't believe how well it has held up and looks to me it can go a few more years. It will need the normal things that wear out after a while but its going strong at 20 years old driving every day no matter what the weather.

Clear the program on the transmission (same as every MB trans reset, takes 2 minutes) then drive 'spiritedly' for 10 minutes. It will relearn you driving habits for the first 20 gear changes, there are a few handy resets to learn in a mercedes

The interior reminds me of a Sprinter. Very Spartan and utilitarian. Perfect for an off roader. I'll buy it off you guys

Guy: Complains about the "cheap" interior. Same guy: Shows immaculate 22 y/o interior.

I got one a few months ago with 225k miles. It was a well cared for 1 owner. Runs great!

They worked pretty well in the 2nd Jurassic park movie.

I was 8 when it came out and I was obsessed with it!! I wonder if I’m the only child that was into this car back then? I’ve always been a car person even at a kid.

I feel like he is mad that he didn’t get one earlier. I had my 99 ML 430 for 5 years. It’s more reliable than most of my friends vehicles.

I take my w163 ml350 on basic trails here in Arizona and it hasn't left me stuck in the sand yet, of course I upgraded my tires, up to 265/70/17. Got mine for a steal so I don't feel bad about the twigs scratching lol

Great video I just recently picked up a 99 ML 430 for $2500. I love it and it serves it's purpose very well as a spare vehicle.

I have a 2005 ML W163, but a 270 CDI, a widely engine used in Europe, and . . .for me it's a great car, automatic gearbox, the selector is not like that one. Run's nicely, precise in driving, confortable in the interior with some diferences for that one, a little bit more nice and luxurious than that one, leather seats, gas schock elevators to rise the engine door.

I own a ML400 cdi '02 with 380.000 klm and still going strong!

I own a ML W163 -00 and I have to disagree about "poor and crummy" interior quality. Even though it's age everything is still in great condition, no cracks etc. And I do not feel like there are cheap plastics everywhere, the dashboard is soft touch, pretty much all of the door has soft touch material and everything is pretty much finished in leather. So I think that was bad judgment

Informative and fun review. I have enjoyed other videos with you and your father testing and commenting on 4 wheel drive vehicles and I appreciate the balance between objective and subjective being transparent and balanced. Keep it up!

I love how this car looks honestly

w163 is a great vehicle..i had a 2001 ML320 bought new. No issues whatsoever. Just normal wear and tear items. Rotors, pads, oil changes, outer tie rods and plugs. At 150k it drove smooth as new off the lot . So good, it saved my life when I was driving at 65 mph and got rear ended by a drunk doing well over 110 mph. The ML got knocked off the road onto a muddy shoulder and I was able to keep it straight and avoid rolling with the ESP system working like a charm. Side impact airbags went off when I was pitching around. If my rear wheel wasn't cracked in half, it could have possibly driven home.

Bought this new 20 years ago fully loaded with lots of extra. Not driving much at 175K but no major problem as well. I've been working on it ever since it went out of warranty! Easy to work on, that's for sure!

Wow. I love the upgrades you did to this ML! The oversize wheels look awesome! Great job..

The best thing about the w163 was that they were pre-wired for almost all of the available options.

Take this hunk of junk to the car wizard and see what he finds wrong.. Lol

I drive 110 miles I'm bad roads in Alaska I hit 3 caribou and 3 moose with mine sure it has a bull bar but the thing is still running really well I love it one of the best vehicles

I loved my '03 ML350. It was not the most reliable car or the most affordable to run, but it was very comfy, had loads of space and the 4wd system was great in the snow.

Ive had an 01 w163 since new and have never accidentally engaged cruise control when trying to activate my turn signal.

Dude, im a mechanic by trade and one thing i can tell you for sure is that there is no perfect car. However the W163 is actually a pretty descent car.

A Jurássic Park wrap would look awesome

I have a 2003, and it is one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. Of course, I also have an 85 300D turbo that's built like a tank, but the ML cant get stuck the drivetrain is amazing. I think you scrutiny is very misplaced.

This car was the first SUV ever built by Mercedes. I purchased my new ML320 W163 in 2001, I still drive it, its as solid as a rock, its NOT cheap and nasty, in fact this guy totally contradicts himself. After 18 years of driving the only problems were normal wear and tear type issues. A great engine, strong chassis and has outlived most competitive USV's of the same era. This is the perfect vehicle to rebuild if you can purchase one of these USV's in good condition.

I like the new ML videos...I've been following this edition since the start..Awesome video as always Tommy.. Thanks

The “rocker panels” Need to be coated black...... they don’t match.......

We owned an ML500. Great car. Man was it fast. Had some minor weird issues, but was pretty reliable, overall. You failed to mention that seats are ROCK HARD! Drives from NJ to Chicago were miserable.

My old boss used to have a first generation ML500 and I would take it out on trips to the bank during the day. Wow, super comfortable and quiet inside. Drove like it was on a cloud. Took out an ML320 loaner he had one time and it was alright with the power it had but equally comfortable on the road

I bought a 04 7yrs ago and it's the best thing I have spent money on. Comfortable and reliable.

Outstanding review!!!

I have a 2004 - My truck is now 20 years old at 240k+ miles its running pretty good paid cash

Had 55ml 02, now have 0055 ml, n 03 500 ml e 55 02, s50001. They all great cars. Also got audi , n bmws. Love my benz more

I worked for a Mercedes dealer a few years into the production of these and have seen more warranty engine replacements and full wiring harness replacements than any other model from that time frame. These marked the start of Mercedes lengthening their service intervals and people were told to run them for 10k miles without servicing the engine oil. Not 100% on the wiring harness issues but seeing one of these with full interior ripped out wasn't an abnormal occurrence. It wouldn't be on my list, despite the handful of diamonds in the rough I'm sure are out there.

have a white one just like that with tan interior. paid 400$ for it and flushed the transmission (was shifting hard) and sea foamed it. still ticks a little but shifts smooth and gets me into and out of some pretty dumb places

i have an 02 ml320. they updated the dash in this year but basically the same. also added a slapshift to the transmission. it's been really reliable. only got stuck once when the starter died but for the age I wasn't mad.

My 2000 ML329 is a beast I love driving it. For me the best 4x4 ever built.

I had to donate my "crappy" '99 ML320 to charity after it started to leak oil at 340,000 miles. What a piece of junk! ;-) BTW, I've seen it around town, still giving good service to the new drivers I suppose.

Great video, Tommy.

May 22, 2022. Iam driving A 1999 Mercedes ML 320. A few issues over 200k miles drive train is great engine no issues.

Keep the ML videos coming please!!! My wife is making my get rid of my '01 and it's making me sad.

I agree with you about the cruise control. When I would visit my mom and drive her Mercedes I would hit the cruise control instead of the turn signal all the time.

Not easy: fuel filter, rear struts, frozen control arm bolts, brake lines, getting the plugs wires-all 12-16 of them off without breaking them, the radio, the rust. But everything else is easy. The bodies have spontaneous rust spots like boils or chicken pox. I have a customer with 345k on his ml500, it’s still pulls like a bull and ride solid and smooth!

I have owned mine for 6 years never once hit the cruse when I wanted the blinker. Also the key is 20 years old

PLEASE paint the rockers.

I bought this in 2001 because it was the safest car I could find for my wife. Still driving it. It was a G wagen for the price of maybe an E-class. Not much higher than the smaller unibody Lexus SAV that was popular then. None of them are still on the road for many years; M class still are. Car mags were owned by Toyota, so Toyotas got always recommended, and this was a half-price G wagen that they had to steer you away from so there were lots of ridiculous objections. I never heard about blowing up on Pike's Peak. The M class did win the Paris - Dakar race. They were much more expensive than an E class over in Europe, because it's much bigger. By the way I love the Merc cruise control.

Please make more ML videos, I actually own one right now.. has 280k miles, it's a 2000 & does have all the options (no nav or cell), came with stock Bose

My 2002 was horrible. Transmission failed at 75k miles. Multiple times I was stuck in limp mode. Very expensive to fix.

How dare you complain about the incredibly simple way of accessing the cruise control! I never bump mine...

I previously owned a 2004 ML500. Good job Tommy!

Tommy!! Love these first gen MLs. Really undervalued trucks. Please...please do your rocker covers in the same Rhino that you did the bumpers and side trim...they look so out of place now. Maybe hit the mirrors with it to!! Can’t wait to see all the fun you have with this brilliant and cheap toy!!

This are easy to fix, lots of space in the engine compartment I purchased mine two years ago with 92k miles, today it has 125k no mechanical issues, except a simple O ring that I replaced in 20 minutes. The 2000 and newer ML ware revised by Mercedez they corrected some of the issues that the older 1997- 1999 had. This are capable off road vehicles, the construction under carriage is robust the way a real off roader should be, the only things I would do is add some more protection to the gas tank, bigger off road tires, I added an aluminum plate and it has protected mine. I have taken my ML to Hard Rock park in Ocala, FL and it has surprised me how capable it is.

Mercedes Benz used that 3.2 V6 in almost every car they made in the 90's and early 2000's, so parts (and engines, should you need one) should be easy to find. Also, Mercedes fixed some of the quality issues with these when they refreshed this car and switched to the ML350 (which for some strange reason had a 3.7 V6).

It’s unfair to judge the entire W163 line when you are only looking at a pre facelift model. A lot of the quality issues were fixed especially with the interior. I have an ML430 and my interior in mostly covered in leather with some exceptions with the trim around the Nav and shifter. The AMG version even traded the regular cow leather with bison leather. I think these cars compare very nicely today depending on how you define luxury. Although I would never buy any ML that is before facelift.

I had an ML430/2001 Designo for 18 years. It was trouble free always.

was doing a search to find out how many cats on a ML 430 found this title. I love my ML430 its a 2000 and still runs strong. ( needs cats now ) but my truck has been fantastic!.

Owned a 99 since new. Few hiccups at the beginning but I still have it at 257k. engine, trans, and the accessories are all still original. I’ve replaced many parts on it but it’s been reliable and keeps going. Oh and FYI off-roading the IFS/IRS isn’t the best. I’d recommend at least pulling off the rear sway bar.

Love my 04 ml350 almost 190k and still rolling. most reliable vehicle ive ever owned. in the market for a newer one now. my kid is hyped he'll be getting my old one.

Owne one of those here in Germany served me pretty well never let me down, since gas isn't cheap over here I keep it for winter and "replaced" it with an 1987 w201 with the 2liter 72hp diesel engine

I currently have a ml320 2001 it’s a 20 year old car and it’s crazy that it has 240000 miles on it and the only think I change is the breaks and water pump and that’s just simple replacements and runs and turns on good. I was worried at first because it’s a Mercedes but it’s actually good

Well i bought one about 6 years ago 125,000 miles now i have closer to 200k , 99 ml430 great,reliable its solid, taken it off road, towed another car to the track plenty of times over 200 mile round trip, great around town , road trips. just regular maintenance, a crank angle sensor , water pump, idler pulley , motor mounts, auxilary water pump , alternator and thats it not bad for 20 year old vehicle

Consumer Reports had this car as "The Worst Car Made in America" when it came out. Pretty much sums it up.

I keep looking at getting one of these, but don't know if it's worth the risk as I need my car to be fully serviceable 24/7 for about 10 months of the year, except that is for routine servicing. But in my neck of the woods there are some really good deals for these at about 10 years old. Thanks for the video very useful and if you dislike your ML pass it my way. :) :)

Some of these old Mercedes-Benz W163s had an option for a manual transmission but that option was not really common

Hardest I ever smashed my knee getting into a car. Was this vehicle.

I have a 2011 ML350 and has been very reliable. No mechanical problems as of yet. I enjoy it more than my Lexus Rx450h.

What size tires did you end up throwing on there? i want to get an offroad set but don't know what will fit.

Good video Maestro. Had a 2000 model since 2002. It still drives very much like it did when it was new to me. Unfortunately the clear coat on the paint is disintegrating on the Lapiz Blue (I think that is the color) and it developed a water leak when the sunroof drains shrank from heat and separated from their connectors. Had to replace a TPS (throttle position sensor) but a scanner diagnosed it and I found one and stuck it on myself. It was once said before the Civil War that southerners are not 'mechanics' like northerners but that is changing. About 5 -6 years ago put an aftermarket set of HID headlights bulbs with ballast etc. into the existing headlight housings. I like the flash when they power up. Looks cool, not 'Alabama Trash.' (That's ridiculous by the way. Those Alabamians built a darn good car). A 12 year old set of Michelins have dry rotted terribly on the sidewalls, but the tread is deeper than some brand new tires. Can't force myself to throw them away. The heater blender motor went bad, but I removed the glove box, got in there and moved it and it started working again. Then yesterday it decided not to work. When it stops working, it defaults to full heat. And it means it. The power seat motors are giving problems, I think from water intrusion. The car sat for a couple years. Not good for any vehicle or machinery. And instrument cluster needles flicker when starting up. This came about the water leak also. But then resume working position and are accurate. Paid a friend to put new brake rotors and pads on it and fix the water leaks. The leak would get in the driver's footwell, but after he fixed that, the leak moved to the passenger side. Go figure. I decided to take matters into my hands and put clear shipping tape on the sunroff outline on the roof. No, it won't open now. Yes, that's right I don't want it to. Will that stop the water intrusion? We'll see in a few days. So the car was neglected, but now it is coming back to life. I don't want to sell the car. And I would buy another one, or this one all over again. So there you have it.

Was wondering what size the tires are? I have a ml350 ('04) and looking for AT tires

I just might have to get one. ❤️ this generation of ML.😀

I like what you did with the bumpers. Cleans the look up a lot! Unfortunately now the rockers look kind of odd. Maybe another rhino liners project! Before you hit the trails, might be fun to tweak the torsion bars and add a spacer or shackle lift in the back. Another 1.5 to 2 inches would significantly change the stance and appearance on the vehicle. Very little money would have to be spent either. Just ideas, of course. The vehicles is yours to do as you like and I will watch to see how things go. Thanks for the video. I was surprised when I realized I had watched the whole video as I really am not a fan of these. You changed my mind on the TFL Pro Landcruiser and I was sad to see it go! That may not happen with this, but I’m interested enough to offer suggestions,,,,,

Very good channel, congratulations. Could you tell me what it looks like replacing the engine with an ML 230 with the engine of a 230 slk kompressor? Could it be done? Is it very difficult? I refer to this model because it came with a manual box, here in Europe many of us like this exchange rate more. Best regards

My parents had a 99 ML 430. It felt solid enough that you could drive it through anything and everything, but reliability was terrible and it started leaking oil after 6 years.

multiple youtube car channels I watch, or come up on recommendations, have featured the ML as a good buy. Expect used prices to jump significantly

Best user friendly cruise controls sprinters still have them.

my wife rolled our 1998ml320 about 3 years ago.she walked away withou injury. We are using parts from the 98 to get the 99ml320 running since we went out one day 2 years ago and it would not crank. Code C-1022. Good vehicles in deep snow here in West Virginia

My favorite year model for the ML class 1997. Especially when it was used for the movie Jurrasic Park Lost world.

my cousin still has one from 1999. it needs new brakes every 20,000 miles. that seems a bit frequent, and it's only used to go shopping

Just bought a 08 ML320 CDI. It's awesome