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Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2006 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML350 review: 2005-2010

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class as a used buy.

Most Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUVs are bought as prestigious station wagons rather than a 4WD, though some are use in off-road conditions and there's a package for those who want to get really serious - more about it in a moment.

The first M-Class model had true 4WD body-on-chassis construction, all others have a monocoque body with some underbody strengthening to make it more suited to off-road running.

Mercedes-Benz M-Class first arrived in Australia in September 1998 and has sold well in the two decades since then thanks to a combination of image, price and 4WD ability.

These first models are slightly smaller, and significantly less stylish than later ones. They are also getting on in years and may be past their use-by date so we won't detail them here. Note that build quality was poor in the early days, those from the early 2000 update are noticeably better than the originals.

Thanks to the tall station wagon body there's plenty of interior space in these big Mercs and the boot is a good size, well-shaped and easy to load.

The high centre of gravity when compared to a car reduces the cornering ability of an M-Class. However, electronic stability aids make them hold the road remarkably well. Indeed, the M-class corners safely at speeds well in excess of those likely to be attempted by the average owner.

A second generation model replaced the original in April 2006, it received a facelift and upgraded mechanical components in January 2008. The gen-three arrived in Australia in April 2012. Each version increased the stylishness of the vehicle, but put ever more emphasis on on-road performance.

 These rocketships are much loved in Australia.

Mercedes-Benz offers a staggering range of four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engines with naturally-aspirated petrol, turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel setups. The turbo-diesels are generally the favourites, but those who like a bit more driving pleasure the V8s are the ride of choice.

At the top of the performance tree are the Mercedes-AMG variants of the M-Class. These rocketships are much loved in Australia and ours is one of the world's biggest markets globally.

Seven-speed automatic transmissions are fitted to all M-Class vehicles from 2006. One with a manual gearbox is likely to have been imported from Europe and could prove a real hassle at resale time.

If do want to get seriously down and dirty the Mercedes Off-Road Pro packages work well. The package adds adjustable ride height and a two-speed transfer case as well as numerous other smaller items.

As part of its umpteenth revision of model titles the Mercedes M-Class was renamed the Mercedes GLE in 2015. Few of these are on the used market yet so won't be reviewed here.

The Mercedes-Benz dealer network has been well established in Australia for many decades. As is the norm, most are in metro areas, but there's a decent number out of town as well, the latter thanks to the popularity of diesel Mercs, cars and SUVs, in the bush as well.

Spare parts aren't overly expensive for what the vehicle is. But if you're upgrading from a less prestigious vehicle it might be an idea to do so price comparisons before falling in love with a Mercedes.

Insurance charges are reasonable for an imported German luxury vehicle, reflecting some of the cost cutting that has gone into the manufacture of the M-class. It's made in the USA and, relatively speaking, is built down to a price.

Few vehicles are more popular on the Australian used-car market than Mercedes-Benzes with full service records. You will almost certainly be asked to pay more, but smart buyers say they are worth the additional outlay.

Do preliminary inspections to the best of your ability then call on the services of a professional before committing. A Mercedes-Benz trained person is the best, motoring association inspectors are the second choice for most potential buyers.

Make sure the engine starts easily, modern turbo-diesels only take a second or two on the glow plugs and any longer could indicate a problem.

Feel for the engine idling smoothly from the moment it fires up.

Make sure the engine pulls strongly without any initial hesitation. Turbo units will have a little lag, make sure you understand what to feel for, or call in a professional who does.

The automatic transmission should work almost imperceptibly, even when worked hard by your right foot.

Clues to off-road use are light scratches to the body sides, scars on bumper corners, scrapes on the underbody protection plates.

Ferrying 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. And don't forget the luggage area.

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Used Mercedes-Benz ML350 review: 2005-2010

Mercedes-Benz was the first to hit the showrooms with a new prestige SUV, beating arch-rival BMW to market by a few months in 2000. Unfortunately for Benz the BMW X5 quickly moved into the lead in the sales race and the ML was swamped.

NEW

Mercedes moved to address the situation in 2005 with an all-new M-Class, including the ML350. The new M-Class brought with it a new look with a blend of bold contoured shapes and tight lines that gave it a sportier look than the rather bland outgoing model.

Not only did it have a new look it was also bigger in almost every dimension. It was longer, wider and rolled on a longer wheelbase, but was also lower. Inside, there was good headroom and the seats were comfortable, but it was tight for legroom and the load space wasn't great.

New to the M-Class was a hearty 3.5-litre V6 engine with 200 kW and 350 Nm on tap when needed. It was linked to a new seven-speed 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission that could be shifted manually if desired for greater control.

Mercedes offered two versions of its permanent four-wheel drive system, which is important to know if you're buying a used example with the intention of going bush.

In addition to the basic system you could also equip the M-Class with the Off-Road Pro pack, which then equipped the car with a low-range transfer case, diff locks, and a modified AIRMATIC air suspension system able to raise the suspension to increase the ground clearance for rough terrain and water crossings.

NOW

Few ML350s are likely to have found their way beyond the black top, but it's still worthwhile giving any car you're thinking of buying a thorough going over for possible off-road damage.

Before you buy get your potential purchase up on a hoist and spend a few minutes inspecting the underbody, suspension and driveline. Look for damage to the underbody itself, suspension components, driveline seals and boots. In the unlikely event you do find evidence of off-road use walk away and continue shopping.

If in doubt have a Mercedes-Benz specialist inspect it for you. Like all makes and models servicing is the key to a long and reliable life for the ML350, so check the service record. Not only check that it has been serviced but also check to see who has serviced it.

There have been a couple of recalls affecting the ML350. One in 2007 was for the accelerator pedal securing nuts, which may not have been fitted correctly in production, or may even be missing.

Another, in 2009, affected vehicles fitted with the electric tailgate. It was possible for water to pass the taillight seals and enter the boot and affect the operation of the electric tailgate. It could even overheat the tailgate control unit. Check the owner's manual for confirmation that the recalls have been conducted and recorded as such.

Thoroughly road test your chosen vehicle, listening for any unusual noises, such as clunks, bangs, grunts, growls, rattles or squeaks, and make sure everything is working the way it was meant to work. It's worth taking the time to check everything than getting your newly purchased car home and finding out there is something that isn't working properly.

SMITHY SAYS

More a 'burb-beauty than a bush-beater, but it looks good and drives nicely, and has the three-pointed star to boot.

Mercedes-Benz ML350 - 2005-2010
Price new: $79,990 to $87,900
Engine: 3.5-litre V6, 200 kW/350 Nm
Transmission: 7-speed auto, 4WD
Economy: 11.7 L/100 km (V6)
Body: 4-door wagon
Variants: ML350, ML350 Luxury, ML350 Sports
Safety: 5-star ANCAP (from 2008)

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Used Mercedes-Benz M-Class review: 1998-2012

Britain’s Range Rover had the luxury 4WD market all to itself for many years until the Germans finally entered the arena. Led by the M-Class, Mercedes’ first luxury SUV, this market segment has become highly competitive. There are now also entrants from Mercedes’ biggest rivals, BMW and Audi.

Mercedes-Benz M-Class arrived in Australia in September 1997 and has sold well since then thanks to a combination of image, price (more about this in a moment) and genuine 4WD ability. While the M-Class is used by most owners as a luxury station wagon rather than a 4WD, if you choose the right off-road packages it is pretty competent on unsealed surfaces.

You wouldn't tackle Jeep’s Rubicon Trail in an M-Class, but it will cope with far tougher conditions than likely to be attempted by 99 per cent of owners. Why mention the famed ultra-tough Rubicon Trail? Because the Mercedes SUV was primarily aimed at the American market - and is made in the USA.

Build quality was poor in the early days, but following some serious overhauls in the factory systems things improved greatly. Vehicles from the early 2000 update are noticeably better than the original units. 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 high centre of gravity when compared to a car reduces the cornering ability of the big Mercedes 4WD on sealed roads. But electronic aids in the form of traction and stability controls make it cling to the road remarkably well. Amazingly, the big Merc M-class corners safely at speeds far higher than are likely to be attempted by the average owner.

The generation-two models (W164) replaced the original W163 in October 2006 and the gen-three (W166) came to us in April 2012. Each version increased the stylishness of the vehicle, but put ever more emphasis on on-road performance. However, the Off-Road Pro packages are there for those who want to get down and dirty in the serious stuff.

There's good interior space and the boot is a good size. As is the norm in the car business each model was larger than the previous, came with more a luxurious finish - and sold in greater numbers. Mercedes-Benz offers a staggering range of V6 and V8 petrol and engines. Diesels come with five or six cylinders, with the great majority featuring the V6 powerplants.

Automatic transmissions are fitted to all vehicles, with five forward ratios in the early days and seven since the introduction of the W164 in 2006. At the top of the performance tree are the AMG variants of the M-Class. Improbable as they may seem, the ML 55 AMG and later the ML 63 AMG rocketships are much loved in Australia and ours is one of the world’s biggest market on a population basis.

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 more, but wise men say they are well worth the additional money.

If you don’t want to be seen driving a large 4WD why not consider a Mercedes-Benz R-Class. These are much more conventional-station wagon in appearance than the M-Class, but are driven by all four wheels and share many major components under the skin.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Very few M-Class will have been used in serious off-road conditions; 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.

Carting kids around the suburbs isn't all that easy on a 4WD, either. So have a good look over the interior, particularly at the seats, door pockets and the door controls.

Make sure the engine starts easily, even the old-style turbo-diesels in the first models only take a second or two on the glow plugs.

Check that the engine idles smoothly from the moment it fires up.

On your road test make sure the engine pulls strongly without any initial hesitation, diesels won’t be as responsive as petrols but if you feel one is too slow to react be very careful.

The automatic transmission should work almost imperceptibly, even when worked hard by the driver.

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

Anyone buying an upmarket vehicle without a professional inspection - or a large budget on standby - is taking a major risk.
 

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Intermittent transmission

Approach them head on! Take it back to your dealer and insist the problem be sorted out. If they feel they can't solve the issue request they get a Mercedes technician in to check the car. There's no other way to do it, other than directly.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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