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Mercedes ML320 1999
The French "AWD Mercedes owners association"
enjoyed a true test drive of the
ML320
during their last AGM.
Some say that it is only able to drive the kids to school and
eventually climb onto the sidewalk.
They lie or they never tried.
It is true that Daimler Chrysler France advertise the M
as anything but a true offroader;
their aim is to get high powered monospace
(i.e. Renault Espace V6) customers to switch to
the M-class.
The ML320 followed all the
G-wagen's
in every condition,
through mud with holes and in the French main trials area
where the French Camel Trophy selection trials
are held.
The only important change has been to switch from the original tyres
to BF Goodrich MudTerrain T/A in the
265/70-16 size (30.5"o.a.d.).
This is, we believe, the largest size that you can fit without
trouble.
We tried 7.50x16 (31"o.a.d.),
which fits OK provided that you stay on-road!
We put one of those on the front and lifted the opposite rear:
we should have taken off the front bumper otherwise the tyre rubs the part.
The look (without the bumper) is then ... desperate
- Claude de Pau
1999, September:
M-class production in Graz started on 29th June 1999.
I had the opportunity to see a G(raz) 320 and the level of apparent
quality is far better. Run in of the assembly line is still going on as
different parts (to the US) will be installed.
Daimler Chrysler is setting up a not-only-cosmetic plan to improve the
"look" of the trim
(for instance moulding lips until now are on the front
of the door handles rather than behind).
This will appear sometime around October.
Another side economy will be dropped:
the (ML320 luxury) seats are real leather
except(?) on top. This is also true on the ML430!
This kind of cost cutting will be dropped,
not because it does not work properly, but because it
is not a Mercedes (Europe) way of upholstering.
Mercedes customers are already upset because
there is no way to get, or even retro-fit, a Webasto pre-heater which
is standard equipment in any single E-Class
(think about Canada's average winter temperature).
I am afraid this will come later or never
in Tuscaloosa for supply to Australia [-hardly necessary in oz].
[I heard of] a motorway contest with a
RR 4.6.
The RR was speeding, that's how he knew the make. Then he dropped a
lead foot on the throttle: and left the RR far behind. The true
top-speed is 215km/h; the police speedometers are really accurate.
- C'
Go to the
M-class,
ML320,
1998
and
Mercedes
pages
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