Mercedes-Benz M-Klasse 164 facelift ML 350 CDI, 231 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive (2010–2011)

Research for this car

• Generation guide Mercedes M-Class W164 (2005-2011): known problems and buying guide

  A risky buy for its age. Check the M272 timing drive, OM642 intake flaps and Airmatic first, since these are the hardest repairs.

• Gearbox guide Mercedes 7G-Tronic (722.9) 7-speed automatic: problems, costs and what to check

  Buy only with fluid records and a clean full-system scan, and avoid any car that has run in limp mode or judders at a steady speed.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. Check the OM642 intake flaps. A scanner reads fault codes P2004 and P2005, and an actuator test shows whether the flaps move. Bad result: those codes, rough running or lost power. Needs a scanner.
2. Look for oil in the V of the OM642 engine and at the back where the engine meets the gearbox. Bad result: fresh oil, or oil in the coolant.
3. Park the car overnight and check its height in the morning. A sag or an air suspension warning points to a leak. A scanner reads how often the compressor runs; bad result: it runs very often.
4. Look at the rear light seals and boot for damp, and at the rear light area for water marks. Test the electric tailgate: open and close it and listen for a whine or a knock. Bad result: water in the boot, or lights, wipers or displays that fail.
5. Check the charging warning light and the battery. Bad result: a warning light while driving, or a battery that is flat in the morning.
6. Turn the wheel lock to lock and drive over bumps. On a lift, look at the brake hoses for wet patches. Bad result: play or knocks in the steering, or damp brake hoses.
7. Ask a Mercedes dealer to check the VIN for open campaigns, including the brake booster campaign 011819. Bad result: the campaign is still open and the booster has not been checked.

From the gearbox guide

1. Read the shift pressure data with XENTRY or an equal Mercedes scanner. Bad result: pressure deviations above 0.5 bar, or adaptation values above 30 percent. Those point to valve body wear.
2. Read the full gearbox fault memory with a full-system scanner. An engine-only OBD2 reader does not show it. Bad result: speed sensor codes P0717, P0718, P0722 or P0793, or any stored limp mode.
3. Test drive cold and warm, and pull away from a stop. Bad result: stuck in 2nd, slipping between 1st and 2nd, or limp mode at about 48 km/h (30 mph).
4. Hold a steady light throttle at about 60 km/h. Bad result: a shudder or hum. A scanner shows converter slip; 5 to 25 rpm is normal, and above about 80 rpm points to clutch wear.
5. Ask for the fluid invoices and check the fluid. Bad result: no change after about 80,000 km, dark brown or black fluid, a burnt smell, or a fluid other than the one for the build. A wrong fluid can cause code P0741. Red-amber is the correct colour.
6. Ask a dealer whether bulletin LI27.20-P-055758 applies to the car's VIN, and whether it was done. Bad result: lock-up codes FC 2783 or FC 0741 still stored.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions