The Mercedes-Benz W163, particularly the ML430 model, doesn’t often evoke fond memories, especially among previous owners. While some might have had surprisingly positive experiences, and Mercedes-Benz addressed the most significant issues by the time the improved W164 replaced it in 2006, the first-generation ML’s reputation remains tarnished by build quality problems. Mentions of this platform often bring to mind the low points of the Daimler Chrysler merger and the general struggles of Mercedes products in the mid-1990s and early 2000s.
If you had asked for my opinion on the first generation Mercedes-Benz ML a few weeks ago, based on my brief ownership, I would have echoed the common sentiment that its poor reputation is well-deserved. However, the more I reflect on my time with the ML430, the more I realize that I actually hold some positive memories. Perhaps it’s because my ML430 was undeniably a “beater,” leading me to set my expectations low, and my investment and effort mirrored that.
I’ve previously written about my W123 240D, a car I genuinely enjoy despite it turning into a more extensive project than initially anticipated. Many of us have experienced this project “scope creep” in automotive endeavors. My initial plan for the W123 was simply to get it mechanically sound, transforming it into a reliable and enjoyable daily driver. Yet, I can’t resist tackling small projects on the car, and the expenses have steadily accumulated. That’s the nature of car projects, isn’t it? The saying goes, “There’s nothing more expensive than a cheap German car,” and in the case of the W123, this is proving true even with me handling most repairs myself. Of course, the other clichés about the car – its robustness and classic charm – also hold true, so I can’t complain too much.
It’s perhaps through this lens that I began to reassess my experience with the W163 Mercedes-Benz ML430 and realized that it was a cheap German car (albeit, made in the US) that surprisingly proved inexpensive to run. I purchased my 1999 ML430, silver over grey, in late 2016 with approximately 160,000 miles on the odometer. I needed a vehicle with ample space and towing capability for a side venture that unfortunately never materialized. It also needed to be a comfortable and capable daily driver for errands, weekend getaways, and occasional road trips. And being a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast, the ML430 seemed like a reasonable choice. I figured I would handle the maintenance myself, so how problematic could a Mercedes-Benz ML430 really be?
Over 18 months of ownership, I put 12,000 miles on the ML430, including two round trips from New York City to Northern Wisconsin. For someone primarily using public transportation in the city, that’s a significant amount of driving, not to mention the harsh realities of city street parking.
When I acquired the Mercedes-Benz ML430, it was evident that previous owners had neglected it. Living in Brooklyn with limited time and space for car work, I admittedly didn’t pamper it either. Yet, it persevered, becoming a reliable companion during significant life events. This truck even handled the task of moving all my belongings from New York to Washington, D.C.
My ML430 was the top-of-the-line model for 1999, the year before the performance-oriented ML55 AMG debuted. It boasted the respected 4.3-liter M113 V8 engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission, a powertrain combination found in numerous Mercedes-Benz platforms of the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was generously equipped with options and, from a distance of 20 feet, appeared quite presentable. From that vantage point, the amateur repair on the notorious “headlight trim” piece, inexplicably done with wood glue by a prior owner, was barely noticeable. These headlight trim pieces became symbolic of Mercedes’ mid-90s quality dip. Their design featured flimsy plastic tabs that likely broke on a vast majority of W163s at some point.
Inside, the ML430’s interior was in rough shape when I bought it. The front seats had rips and tears, the cheap plastic trim around the driver’s seat base was cracked, and the headliner showed tears from years of cargo loading. The materials were undeniably of inferior quality compared to the MB Tex and Zebrano wood trim in my older W123.
I had no access to the Mercedes-Benz ML430’s service history and assumed that most major maintenance tasks that should have been performed since its initial lease were likely skipped. However, all the issues I encountered were peripheral; the engine and transmission remained remarkably robust.
The air conditioning system had a significant leak that I never addressed, choosing instead to periodically recharge the system. The water drainage systems were also poorly engineered and prone to failure. I recall hearing water sloshing around beneath the car and eventually discovered that the sills under the doors had drains that easily clogged. A few pokes with a long screwdriver released a weak stream of foul water that took hours to fully drain. The windshield drain was also perpetually problematic.
Every rainfall resulted in a soaked driver’s side footwell. I made some attempts to fix this, tracing it to a drain under the windshield cowl and wiper arms, which required removal to clear the blockage. Mercedes-Benz inexplicably used dissimilar metals in this assembly, leading to corrosion and eventual seizing of the components when exposed to the elements. After researching the difficulty of removing the wiper arms for this job, I opted for a simpler solution: keeping a squeegee in the map pocket and quickly drying the carpet if I noticed dampness.
Another significant weak point was the electronic shifter mechanism. Many Mercedes-Benz vehicles of this era are advertised online for very low prices, often described by owners as having “transmission problems.” I suspect a large percentage of these are actually due to water-damaged electronic gear selectors. If any moisture infiltrated the gear selector, it would trigger limp mode. After disassembling and drying mine, it returned to normal function. The issue was that these center console-mounted selectors were often positioned close to cupholders, which were of questionable design and quality in late 1990s and early 2000s Mercedes-Benz models. If you’re wondering how a cupholder could be poorly designed, examine the center console of any W208 or W220.
However, the most persistent issue with my Mercedes-Benz ML430 was its fuel delivery system, which suffered from several failing components. The fuel pump itself seemed functional as I never experienced power loss, but the fuel level sender was faulty, resulting in an inaccurate fuel gauge. This led to me being stranded twice due to running out of fuel. Consequently, I began carrying a spare gallon of gasoline. Even with a good understanding of the fuel range and mileage, I still ran out of fuel another two times on longer road trips. Once, I even managed to coast right up to a gas pump after running out of fuel while towing a fully loaded trailer. Additionally, a check valve designed to maintain fuel pressure for starting had failed, causing embarrassing situations where I had to cycle the fuel pump multiple times to build enough pressure to start the engine. I never got around to replacing the fuel pump and sender, although in hindsight, it would have been a relatively straightforward job and saved me considerable trouble.
Despite these issues, the Mercedes-Benz ML430 successfully completed two cross-country road trips without requiring any major mechanical repairs. The only significant maintenance I performed was a complete brake service. The ML430 fulfilled its intended purpose when I bought it: it required minimal attention to keep running and possessed impressive towing capabilities. After a few months in D.C., I sold it quickly, and my ML430 ownership concluded unceremoniously at a CarMax for a mere $700.
I can confidently say that while the W163 Mercedes-Benz ML430 was undoubtedly built to a lower standard than my W123, it may not entirely deserve its overwhelmingly negative reputation. Perhaps even a “bad” Mercedes-Benz is still a decent vehicle… or perhaps I was fortunate to get rid of it before more significant problems emerged. What I can affirm is that my particular ML430 served as an excellent “beater,” and I have some genuinely fond memories associated with it, despite its numerous flaws.
