Mercedes W163: specifications

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Mercedes-Benz W163 M-class. It didn't have the flotation anywhere in the world as the Range Rover, and it didn't have the easy handling of the BMW X5. However, even without this, he became a legend, a great car. In the article we will consider the competitors of the car, its price, disadvantages and advantages. Let's find out all his "diseases", possible breakdowns.

Body

For many car enthusiasts, having a strong anti-corrosion frame is a good reason to buy a car. It is easy to understand such people, because the fragile frame, the lack of anti-corrosion means that it is easier to break it and suffer in an accident yourself in it. Therefore, it is clear that you need to have a solid frame for your own safety. Yes, for the Russian climate, not having anti-corrosion is like not having a car. The harsh climate in Russia, constant rains, snow, snowdrifts suggest a lot of trouble with a car without a garage. Therefore, you should buy a garage for your favorite Mercedes Benz car, or devote much more time to caring for the frame, move to another southern city. Without anti-corrosion there will be many problems. However, it is worth understandingis this the strongest frame on a car?

Is there anti-corrosion?

Yes, the Mercedes W163 does have protection. However, ten years after the release of the body, he is already losing his strength. After all, every car and its frame can rust, even despite anti-corrosion. It is important to note that when buying a car with more than ten years of road rental experience, it is imperative to check it for corrosion. After all, it greatly weakens the frame. In addition, you can get a spar crack, tear off the console. Therefore, for your own safety, choose more reliable and not “killed” by time cars.

It is important to emphasize that cars, when used in warm weather or in the city, have a relatively lower risk of rusting compared to other cases. By the way, it can be noted that the cars of the American automobile industry most often rust. There may be similar flaws more often than cars from other countries of manufacture.

Interior

After the restyling of the Mercedes W163, the interior becomes very beautiful and futuristic. Previously, there was too much plastic, which is quite unusual, since the prestigious Mercedes brand usually equips its car interiors with leather. European leather in cars is clearly better than in the case of American mechanisms, but still, after 10 years after the operation of the car, it should be slightly updated, altered. As for the tree: it can crack inside the Mercedes ML W163. However, the tree is not always in the cabin, for more budget trim levelshe's gone.

It is worth talking about the dorestyling of this car. Things are much worse there. After all, it does not have many functions such as climate control, sometimes there is not even a multimedia system. Unpretentious trim, fabric seats. In general, a car for a small budget owner.

Has he gotten better?

Mercedes W163 after restyling has become, of course, better: now it is more beautiful, more comfortable in motion. However, according to the owners, more feminine. Many are confused by the fact that the car does not look like a gangster Gelendvagen.

In pre-styling, there is not only the question of his femininity, because there is poor build quality, cheap materials, the absence of many systems, poor sound insulation - and so you can list indefinitely. Therefore, you should avoid pre-styling Mercedes W163 cars when choosing.

Car problems

All the problems associated with the Mercedes Benz ML W163 are most often associated with its age. Torn carpets from the feet of the owner and his passengers, broken climate control, electronics failures. These can all be repaired, but due to the age of the car, parts are scarce and very expensive. Therefore, it is usually difficult to find such cars in good condition. Smoky interior from two or three owners, pedal play. All these are typical car breakdowns after 10 years of operation.

Transmission

There are very few Mercedes ML w163 cars on a manual gearbox, but if you finda good, lively option on such a transmission, do not be afraid. Such configurations are very reliable.

The CV joints of the wheels always require personal care, inspection of the collars. They can be easily damaged and worn out, especially if you do a lot of off-road driving. And with the shortcomings of the Mercedes W163 machine, restyling in general can happen anything.

On machines before restyling, there could be problems with the Teflon bushing, which constantly broke. Yes, and the gearbox was untested. Minor transmission troubles finished off the unsatisfactory condition of people due to gearbox breakdowns. They completely lost the desire to engage in a car further. After the 2002 release, the car had only resource problems, that is, the wear of various parts. It also often happens that the oil simply does not change in the gearbox. People do not change it according to the regulations, as in the engine. Please don't forget to change the engine oil.

The biggest, huge mistake made by the Mercedes W163 manufacturers is the creation of an unreliable transfer case. Indeed, until 2000, this applied to all German brand cars, all cars were with a new contract and improved razdatka, but it was very bad. But after 2000, everything became all right and the problem was settled. It is worth emphasizing that the problem of car jerks appears due to the wear of the drive chain / lack of oil in the transfer case. Check out these details.

List of ML W163 engines

Motors for this car and this body are the same as for other sedans in those years. Motorstaken from the E class bodies w210 and w211. These were the M112 and M113 petrol engines, V6 and V8 respectively. But there is also an M111, which was with an in-line four. The diesel engines were OM 612 and OM 628. The most unfortunate was the diesel OM 628. Its fuel equipment is prone to overflowing and blocks to cracks. The intake manifold parts were clogged, and the entire fuel supply system was poorly planned. Therefore, this diesel engine can be called a failure and should not be considered for purchase.

The M111 engine was a 2.3-liter inline-four with 150 horsepower. However, she had one small problem: these power indicators were not at all enough for the car to drive with dignity. It accelerated very slowly, and there was a feeling that this engine was designed just for a light sedan, but not for a heavy SUV. Even with a manual transmission, this power was not enough. But there is a big plus, especially with a mechanical transmission. The engine resource was so huge that now you can find such cars with a similar engine with a mileage of 400 or more thousand. It is worth emphasizing that the problems of the car are purely age-related. The plastic in the cabin is cracking, the rubber and seats are softening. The ventilation system is not very good, the engine seals are leaking - these are also minor problems. All engine pistons live forever, and in general, all the problems of this motor are solved easily and without much investment of money. So such a reliable car is currently to the liking of many. However, such motors are rare, and what is foundmore often? Let's figure it out now.

It was the M112 and M113 engines from the Mercedes Benz W211 that were restyled in the Mercedes Benz W163. In pre-styling, most often cars with an engine capacity of 3.2 liters V6 and a volume of 4.3 liters V8 drove off the assembly line. And in restyling, the car also received 3.7 liters of V6. All of them were powerful, but not reliable enough. The last, most powerful engine was a 5 liter V8.

Powerful engines on ML 163

In 2000, the most powerful 5.5 AMG engine appeared. Most engines of 230 or less horsepower were not enough - they wanted an engine with a volume of 5.5 liters. Its power was 350 horses, which allowed the car to drive much faster than all other SUVs moving on the territory of the Russian Federation and beyond. All engines of the Mercedes Benz M-class i W163 320 and other models were with an aluminum block. They did not have complex development and systems.

Gasoline engines have their own cooling system, the best conditions in terms of cooling the radiator and engine oil. Therefore, despite the power, the V8 engine life is very high.

The Jeep is not aerodynamic, but many SUV owners don't realize this. Therefore, flying along the highway at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, they risk overheating their motor. This is most common on gasoline engines. Especially if you have bad tires, such a speed on the track will be very, very unjustified for you. Most likely, your engine will overheat and very serious damage is possible. Notabuse it! The situation leads not only to large breakdowns, but also to small ones. However, it is worth remembering that reducing the extra 30 kilometers per hour for the sake of your own safety and the condition of the car will not cost you more than 5-10 minutes of an additional drive to your destination. Moreover, you have one life, and money is not endless. On sedans, the load at these speeds is lower, and the engine does not overheat.

Conclusion

People who claim that this brand does not require much maintenance and the service is cheap are wrong. The car has a lot of problems, breakdowns that are discovered over time. The most optimal motors are mechanisms with a volume of 3.7 liters V6 and a diesel engine with a volume of 2.7 liters. It is better to consider restyled models as a potential purchase: they are more reliable and corny better in terms of equipment. Of course, they do not reach the level of that business class, namely the W210, but if you want a jeep, you have no other options. Putting large wheels on a car is difficult: there is not enough space for wide tires. In this case, the G-class is suitable. However, this is a separate issue. We wish you a good car choice!