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10/01/2005
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Mercedes’ first passenger SUV, the M-Class 4WD was an early starter in a class that’s now become highly competitive. A stylish vehicle even today, seven years after its launch, it is as much a luxury wagon as a 4WD. Unlike some later additions to this vehicle type, the M-Class is reasonably serious about its off-road ability. To the extent that it’s built on a chassis and has a low-range transfer case to give extra torque and more low-speed crawling ability.
 Built in the USA, the German 4WD sells for considerably less than the equivalent Mercedes sedans, even when they share major mechanical components, such as engines and transmissions. That’s partly due to lower import duties as the luxury wagon can be brought into Australia as a truck, but also because the M-Class is re-built down to a tighter price than the sedans. In fact, build quality caused real anxiety in the early days, before being improved significantly following some strenuous work within the factory. In particular, vehicles from the early 2000 update are noticeably better.
The high centre of gravity when compared to a car reduces the cornering ability of the big Mercedes 4WD on sealed roads. But some of the potential loss is offset by electronic driver aids in the form of traction controls. The M-class corners safely at speeds unlikely to be attempted by the average owner, but revheads who have only driven a sedan before should be aware of the limitations of any tall vehicle.
With reasonable ground clearance and short overhangs, the M-class can traverse tougher terrain than you would expect. The body on the original vehicle had a fair bit of movement, even squeaks and rattles, in the really rough stuff, but was stiffened up for the year 2000 model. The M-class has full-time four-wheel drive and full independent suspension and an electronically-controlled two-speed transfer box with a low-range. The ABS brakes have a special program that comes into action automatically when using low range.
There's good interior space and the boot is a good size. Early models had a three-bucket rear seat. From the 2000 update, the rear bench and backrest were conventional units with a split-fold 60:40 configuration.
 When launched in September 1998, M-class came with a 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine as the ML320, a 4.3-litre ML430 V8 joined it in March 2000. Revheads could opt for the highly-modified, and highly-expensive AMG ML55 with a 5.4-litre V8 from the start of 2001. Unless you want to drive hard, you will find the ML320 has more than adequate performance.
In February 2000 a new diesel-engined version, the ML270 CDI arrived. A very-modern design, it uses advanced common rail direct injection, four-valves-per-cylinder technology, turbocharger and an intercooler. It is aimed at frugal fuel use, but doesn't sacrifice performance to achieve it.
Australian Mercedes M-Class models all come with a five-speed automatic transmission.
The Mercedes-Benz dealer network is very well established in Australia. Spare parts aren't overly expensive for what the vehicle is.
Insurance charges are surprisingly moderate for an imported German luxury vehicle, reflecting some of the cost cutting that has gone into the manufacture of the M-class.
Few vehicles are more popular on the Australian used-car market than Mercedes-Benzes with full service records. You will usually be asked to pay extra, but many consider it well worth the additional money.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Make sure the engine starts easily, even the turbo-diesels only take a second or two on the glow plugs and idles smoothly from the moment it fires up. On your road test make sure the engine pulls strongly without any initial hesitation.
The automatic transmission should work almost imperceptibly, even when worked hard by the engine.
 Very few M-class 4WDs are gong to have been used in serious off-road conditions. The clues are light scratches to the body sides caused by squeezing past bushes and trees, scars on and/or under the bumper corners or scrapes on the underbody protection plates.
Then again, carting boisterous kids around the suburbs isn't all that easy on a 4WD, either. So have a good look over the interior, particularly at the seat bases and in the vicinity of the door controls.
Try engaging all the 4WD modes to make sure that they operate.
Having done your preliminary inspections, always call on the services of a professional before committing yourself.
CAR BUYING TIP
So few 4WDs ever go off road that it’s hard to think of a good reason for buying one that has done some serious bush work. |
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