ML Help, advice???

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JASONGDS
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My neighbour has a ML 270 on an O2 plate. Has he needs some help/advice with basic off road driving, does this ML have a low range any diff lock or is it all traction control?
Any help welcome, been towed out too many times by my G

Spider1V
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Re: ML Help, advice???

 The ML 270 should have permanent 4 wheel drive that will use traction controll to do the tuffer off road stuff. THe low range button (its engaged by electronics) is eiher on his left hand side by the centre tunnel  (by the elec windows buttons), if not should be on the front dash just above the stereo (memory bit hazy now). 

The ML 270CDI is surprisingly ok as a light mud plugger, but would advise him to get a good set of Off road tyres otherwise he will be calling you a bit more! Ground clearance, while OK, is not great and would advise him to get some protection on the front and rear bumpers

When engaging the low range, stop – press button, should have little LED that will flash three times and then go solid, then onto drive. Some of the later ML’s had diff’s (Centre and Rear) but I think they came in from 2004/2005.

Hope that helps

Spider1V

bigblock
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Re: ML Help, advice???

 It will depend on what type of off roading your friend had in mind.  

The ML163 (1997 - 2005) has a ladder frame chassis rather than the later unibody design and is actually a pretty tough vehicle. Although it has a tranfer box for low ratio it is hampered by having open diffs. It substitutes the lack of locking diffs by using Mercdes 4- ETS (electronic traction system) which aggressively brakes any spinning wheels in an attempt to power only the wheels with traction.

This system does not simulate true four wheel drive, as provided by mechanicaly locking diffs, and can produce some 'interesting' handling traits. It does work well for lighter off road duties but is fairly poor in more extreme situations or for prolonged off road use. The main problem is that because the traction control works by breaking any spinning wheels the brakes can very quickly oveheat and during prolonged use this can become terminal. In slippy situations especially on a slope the agressive braking of the ETS can cause the vehicle to skid and send you off in a direction you did not want to go. The reality is that you do not feel in control of the vehicle.

Two other points are that the ground clearance is not great and there is no underbody protection and without the correct off road tyres you will be wasting your time in anything but the mildest dry conditions.

The later model ML164 addressed these failings by offering an Off road pro pack with center and rear locking diffs and raised suspension.

In case you were wondering I had a 2004 ML55 In which I tried to compete with my 1994 300GEL, as you can probably tell from the above information it did not end well for the ML :) 

Ford Prefect
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Re: ML Help, advice???

The low ratio switch is on the dash next to the radio.   It will only select with the vehicle stationary and in neutral.   Selecting low range also alters the settings on the stability programme to allow it to come in earlier, hopefully before momentum is lost.   It's not as good as a difflock, but the system is quicker reacting than the LR traction control system of the same era.   If your friend has been in high range all the time, that's quite possibly why he gets stuck so often.  It's best to turn off the traction control if doing any very rough or very slippery stuff in the ML, or, as Bigblock says, the brakes overheat.   This is done using a switch in the group below the heater controls labelled "ESP OFF".  

Aslo take off any mudflaps, particularly at the back.   The back bumper is only held on by a few small bolts, and mudflaps catching on grass is enough to pull it off.  

Apart from that, it's quite capable.   Given the same driver and the same tyres, a G will go through more extreme conditions.  The M makes up for less off road capability by needing fewer visits to petrol stations (again assuming it's the same driver in both vehicles) and the fact that it has more cup holders for the Costa "keep it warm" mugs.  

JASONGDS
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Re: ML Help, advice???

Many thanks for all that. The main problem is descending /acsending a steep hill 1/6 in winter time. I saw his front tyres and they are awful worn road tyres, so they need changing asap. Also I think they are some crude low profiles (aftermarket)
I don't think he knows how to engage low range unfortuanately,so all this will help
I was impressed by its ability to folllow my G through ruts in snow, though it does get grounded easily.