Ok - sort of kidding here - I'm really looking for some info on the ML 350 diesel. A friend of a friend has a very low mile 2011 4-Matic (AWD) for sale and its almost in my price range if I sell a few pints of blood. I'm going to look at it this weekend. While I dearly love my CRD, 98% of my driving is around town on paved roads and the luxo-cruiser has a certain appeal to me.

Most of the Benz sites seem to be focused on how many golf clubs fit in the back, etc, and I can't find a hard core site like this one so I thought I'd ask if any of the diesel-heads around here had any experience.

Thanks in advance,

-Vic

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2005 Limited CRD

As a Benz 350 diesel owner (2014 GL) and a Libby crd owner, I'd say the following is true.

The MB is a more sophisticated and quieter diesel. The MB is also less "Rough and ready" than the libby, and if do a lot of off roading you may have problems. The MB requires more finicky maintenance than the libby, the oil is only available thru a dealer or Amazon (a mobil 1 oil), the brake fluid is a special grade and the MB brakes need a fluid change every 20,000 miles or so. The MB is much less willing to have owners do maintenance themselves--there is no shop manual available, although there are some helpful web sites. The MB has more proprietary parts and they are a bit tougher to come by. The MB has a more complicated instrument system--it is good once you get used to it, but it takes getting used to. The MB fuel and air filters look to be a bit of chore to change, although I have not done these. The MB requires ad-blue, but I should immediately add that you can get diesel exhaust fluid at numerous truck stops and auto parts store for much less than MB wants. The MB dealers have VERY expensive maintenance charges--if you don't do it yourself, find a good MB mechanic.

I don't mean to downgrade the MB--it is a good, smooth riding, quiet vehicle that has a lot of sophisticated feature and is a better highway driver than the libby, and it has better safety features. It offers reasonable off road capability for a vehicle that is more built for the highway. I would just go to a web site such as MBworld and review the comments (remember, people are more inclined to write in who have problems with their vehicles) before you purchase it. Manuals for the MB are available for a free download and you might take a look at these. Good luck with your decision.

oh man, I was hoping that a fine tuned German auto would somehow be easier!

I guess I will hold on the the Libby for a while longer.

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2006 CRD w/99,300 miles
F31 from a previous life
EHM @ 42K, ProVent @ 79K
GDE Eco Tune & TCM @ 46K
Engine mounts replaced @ 55k/93k, Timing Belt @ 90k
Lift Pump @ 97k
OME Lift, 1.5''
Kenwood TM-V71 Ham Radio / Cobra C75WX CB
Surf Racks

There is a website that lists all the MB oil specs and the oils that meet those specs.
Mobil 1 0w-40 meets the MB spec for that engine.
Shell rotella T5 semi-synthetic 10w-30 also meets it.

And I could be wrong, but I think those same MB specs are recomended for our VM engine.

Also, all manufacturers reccomend changing the brake fluid at some interval, but who
actually does it?

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U.S. Army Retired

True, 20K miles isn't very far.

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2006 CRD w/99,300 miles
F31 from a previous life
EHM @ 42K, ProVent @ 79K
GDE Eco Tune & TCM @ 46K
Engine mounts replaced @ 55k/93k, Timing Belt @ 90k
Lift Pump @ 97k
OME Lift, 1.5''
Kenwood TM-V71 Ham Radio / Cobra C75WX CB
Surf Racks

I change mine every 2 years regardless.Don't skimp on brakes.