Mercedes Benz M-class 4WD 1998...

Mercedes' ML320 4WD went on sale in Australia in September 1998 after an appearance earlier in the year at the Melbourne Motor Show. The bottom line is that ('98) prices are $67,400 standard ($au) and $73,400 for "luxury" trim.

The engine is a 3.2 litre, 160kW V6 with single overhead camshafts per bank and three valves per cylinder - two inlet valves and one outlet valve. Transmission is a 5-speed automatic gearbox coupled to a two-speed (1:1 and 2.64:1) full-time four wheel drive transfer case with centre differential.

The ML320 has anti-lock brakes, ESP - electronic sensory program (gerrit?) - and ETS - electronic traction system (control). ESP applies brakes selectively at each corner of the car to correct under-steer and over-steer. ETS automatically applies brakes, to prevent wheel-spin and removes the need for locks in any of the three differentials.

Safety equipment includes seat-belt tensioners and front and side airbags for driver and front passenger. Also standard are cruise control, allow wheels, air conditioning, central locking and engine immobiliser.

430
ML430 has 4.3L V8

Luxury level ($6K) gets you leather upholstery, walnut wood trim, leather bound steering wheel, electrically adjustable front seats, trip computer and automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Under the body is a full chassis or frame. This carries subframes for the double wishbone suspension fore and aft. This sophisticated arrangement gives minimum unsprung weight which is why racing cars use it but it does not give maximum wheel travel.

The M-class does not have many direct competitiors. It is not large, "compact" the flier calls it, at 4587mm it is 200mm shorter than the Rangie, and $13K cheaper than the 4.0 (in 1998). It is 300mm shorter than the Lexus LX470, and at 2010kg it is 500kg lighter too. In some ways it is close to the likes of the Honda CRV in concept, although it is bigger and twice the price. This means that either Mercedes have got it just right and invented a new niche or they have got it dead wrong. Time will tell, but in addition to the initial plan to build 80,000 vehicles a year at Tuscaloosa Alabama, another 30,000 will be built each year with Steyr in Austria [started mid 1999].
- 4wd.sofcom.com/Mercedes/Mclass.html

Mercedes Benz M-class ML270 CDI 2000 ...

The ML270 CDI has a 2.7 litre, 5-cylinder turbo-charged and intercooled diesel engine giving 120kW and 400Nm.

Price ML270 CDI from $64,900 ($au 1/2001).

Mercedes Benz M-class ML320 1998 ...

Manufacturer's figures

station wagon, 5+2 seats, 4 doors, 4 x airbags, ABS
loa: 4587mm, width: 1833mm (body), 2190mm (mirrors), height: 1807mm, ground clearance: 204mm
wheelbase: 2820mm, track: 1535mm/1535mm, turning radius: 5.9m
approach: 30, departure: 31, ramp-over: 160
weight: 2010kg (unladen), GVM: 2650kg, towing: 750kg (unbraked)
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 5600rpm, 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, ABS and ETS
tyres: 255/65R16 on 8Jx16, standard spare: 155/90 D18 on 4Jx18H2, fuel-tank: 72L
notes: built on full chassis, front and rear suspensions are mounted on sub-frames
price: $67,400 rrp, luxury: $73,400 ($au 9/1998 & 9/1999), 3rd row seats $1,800 cloth, $2,250 leather, roof bars $463, full-size spare wheel and carrier $2,578 in full rear suspension upgrade
$67,900 ($au 1/2001)

Mercedes Benz ML430 1999 ...

Manufacturer's figures

station wagon, 5-seats+2, 4-doors, 4 x airbags, ABS
loa: 4587mm, width: 1833mm (body), height: 1807mm
wheelbase: 2820mm, track: 1535mm/1535mm, grnd clearance: 204mm
approach: 30°, departure: 21°
turning radius: 5.95m
weight: 2090kg (unladen), GVM: 2650kg, towing: 750kg (unbraked)
4266cc, petrol, V8, mpi, 3-valves/cyl, sohc (per bank)
bore: 89.9mm, stroke: 84.0mm, c.r.: 10.0:1
power: 200kW at 5750rpm, torque: 390Nm at 4500rpm
transmission: 5a (3.59:1, 2.19:1, 1.41:1, 1.0:1, 0.83:1; rev 1.93;1), full-time 4WD (hi 1.0:1, lo 2.64:1), diff' ratio 3.46:1, centre diff', traction control
suspension: indep - torsion-bar / indep' - coils, brakes: disc/disc
tyres: 275/55R17 (29" oad) on 8.5Jx17 wheels, fuel-tank: 70L
rrp: $98.5K + orc ($au 8/1999), 3rd row seat $2,250, roof bars $463, full-size spare wheel and carrier $2,870 in full rear suspension upgrade
$95,500 ($au 1/2001)
competition: BMW X5 (from late '99, USA), Range Rover

The ML430 went on sale in Australia in mid 1999; replaced by ML500 late 2001.

The ML55 AMG went on sale in Australia in January 2001.

Mercedes Benz ML500 late 2001 ...

ML500 5-litre V8 replaces the ML430 in late 2001 for the 2002 model year.

Go to the M-Class (current), 2002 (inc' ML500), 2001 (inc' ML55), 2000 (inc' ML270), 1999 ML320, 1999, 1998, 1997, AAV (I), Mercedes Benz and Lost World pages


The ML320 has anti-lock brakes, ESP - electronic sensory program (gerrit?) - and ETS - electronic traction system (control). ESP applies brakes selectively at each corner of the car to correct under-steer and over-steer. ETS automatically applies brakes, to prevent wheel-spin and removes the need for locks in any of the three differentials.