Mercedes Benz ML-class W163 Development

The M-Class was the first luxury SUV to feature stability control, a system designed to detect loss of control and instantaneously intervene with selective braking to bring the vehicle back on its intended course. This system is now hailed by safety experts, and studies have shown stability control and systems like it are capable of reducing single vehicle crashes by up to 30 percent. Furthermore, the M-Class boasted front- and side-impact airbags with advanced occupant detection for the front passenger seat, which, combined with Mercedes' legendary safety structure, earned the M-Class the highest marks in insurance industry crash tests.

A road test on the BBC programme Top Gear revealed that the presenter, Jeremy Clarkson, could put his fingers into the gap below the rear lights and above the rear bumper. This improved over the years, especially after a mild facelift for 2002. However, owners are often unhappy with the car's quality — for example, the car was placed last out of 142 cars in the Top Gear Motoring Survey 2004. DaimlerChrysler spent US$600 million on improvements at the Alabama factory before launching the second-generation ML in 2005.


The modified W163 that appears in Steven Spielberg's movie The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997).Before the vehicle was launched, Mercedes-Benz allowed the producers to use two pre-production M-Class SUVs in the film The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and used the vehicle's appearance in the film as a way to advertise it when it was launched. As a result, a Mercedes-Benz ad appears before the film on original VHS copies of the film.

Major model variants have included the ML320, ML350, ML430, ML500 and ML55, along with the 4-cylinder ML230 and the turbodiesel ML270 CDI and ML400 CDI in Europe. The ML55, or ML55 AMG, featured a V8 engine made by AMG, modified body-work, and other performance features. The ML350 replaced the ML320 as the base model in the United States in 2004.

The M-Class was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year for 1998. The ML320 was voted the 1998 North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, in January 1998.


Pope Benedict XVI in his 2002 ML430 PopemobileThe current Popemobile is based on a W163 ML430 and has been in service since July 2002.[1] VW had offered to build a new vehicle based on the Touareg, but Pope Benedict XVI declined as he prefers to ride in a Mercedes-Benz.

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[bikemasterjacko]

I love my ml it is awesome

[edthetallguy]

I think you guys are refering to the first models, not the later ones. We have 02 ML320, black on black with Brabus rims. The thing is a beauty (seriously, we get so many looks) and so far, no problems with it (knock on wood :) I know that the first models (98-00) had their problems but I haven't really heard much about 01+ models.

[TheSoundzUK]

@edthetallguy we have a 1999 ML320 with 130k miles,had it from new and nothing has actually gone wrong with it besides a fan belt snapping once.

[sha053]

I have a 04 ML270CDI Inspiration edition, black with black lether. It has 220.000K and still running strong! I love it!

I think acceleration is good to about 90-100K. Where I live the firmly enforced speed limit is 80K, and if you do more than 116K, you have to do jail time with murders and rapists!

[DrHouse2004]

God Steven Spielberg Thanks!!

[mattypooz]

@redbeast2 especially against tyrannosaurs :D

[croathouse]

actually the R class isn't that bad (got a R350), except for the cheap feel of the interior, but it is a good cruising car for the highways. and the back doors are huge.

[GhettoTurka34]

Hamma Auto Ya

Mercedes 500 Promo el super modell de Espana y tout le Europe. C'est un formal addictor por la fais simplemente par la Sabilador ver.

La Tout el compresso del Mercedes MS-Klasse hace en Italia y no en Alemania.

Martin aus Gladbach.

[usernam323]

the mercedes ml class (98-04) was a good suv. i own have one... al ml 320, but the big problems i see in it is, FAKE wood panels on the doors, not enough poewer(216 hp, considering the newer models like 260hp) and the ride quality was sub par... the car make lots of shakes, creeks and cowels and its not egronomic(backseat passengers have to reach into the middle console to put their side window down. Still a good car (1998-2004) but not really worthy of its 3 point star

[jwatwater]

Building this car in America was the worst thing Mercedes could ever do, Luckily we still have the G class and the up and comming GLK, so there is hope for the Mercedes suv. If they could give the GL some real mirrors and move its plant to Germany along with the M class and just get rid of the R class (no one will miss it) Mercedes could be even better *hard to imagine huh?)