Mercedes Benz ML320 4WD 1998

A Mercedes Benz Mclass ML320 at the Melbourne Motor Show. This one had all the luxury touches down to a wood-grain steering wheel. Room in the front and passenger seats is good but the optional seat in the rear load space is strictly for ankle-biters.

The interesting bit of pipe bending for the spare wheel carrier means that the number plate and high-level central brake-light can stay fixed to it at all times. The carrier does have a fair bit of flex in it - hopefully it has been tested on a few thousand km of corrugations?

Mercedes Benz 3.2 litre V6 provides the kW. It uses lean burn technology (and has twin spark plugs in each cylinder) for good claimed fuel-economy. There is an engine-driven viscous-coupled fan plus twin electric fans. The engine is coupled to a 5-speed automatic gearbox.

The ABS brakes have a special feature of locking the front wheels (if required) under 40km/h in low-range to improve braking on dirt tracks. The ABS brakes also contribute to the electronic traction control system which replaces any differential locks - the Mclass has 3 open differentials.

The rear suspension (and front) uses double wishbone suspension attached to subframes. This protects the differentials and gives good car-like handling but restricts the suspension travel, particularly downwards, and thus wheel grip in rough terrain; perhaps the traction control will make up for this.

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Mercedes Benz M-class ML320 1998,  . . . 

• station wagon, 5+2 seats, 4 doors, airbags, ABS
• loa: 4587mm, width: 2190mm, height: 1776mm
• wheelbase: 2820mm, track: 1535mm/1535mm
• weight: 1930kg (unladen), GVM: 2650kg
• 3199cc, petrol, V6, efi, 3-valves/cyl, ohc, lean-burn with dual spark plugs
• bore: 89.9mm, stroke: 84.0mm, c.r.: 10.0:1
• power: 160kW at 5000rpm, torque: 310Nm at 3000rpm
• transmission: 5a (3.93:1, 2.41:1, 1.49:1, 1.0:1, 0.83:1, rev 3.1:1); 2-speed transfer case (1.0:1 hi, 2.64:1 lo), full-time 4WD, no diff' locks rather ETC; diff ratio 3.69:1
• suspension: twin-wishbone -torsion-bar/ twin-wishbone -coil; brakes: disc/disc
• tyres: 255/65R16 on 8Jx16, fuel-tank: 72L
• notes: built on full chassis, front and rear suspensions are mounted on sub-frames
• price: $67,400 (std), $73,400 (luxury) $au 9/1998

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