Item: Used Mercedes-Benz M-Class 4x4 1998 - 2006
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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<p dir="ltr">Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.</p>

<p dir="ltr">As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.</p>


MERCEDES-BENZ

M CLASS

<p>The Mercedes M-Class may look attractive on paper, but it's not everything a Mercedes should be</p>


Used Mercedes-Benz M-Class 4x4 1998 - 2006

<p>If you just want to get into a 4x4 with a prestige badge, the M-Class makes a lot of sense financially. Because it's been on sale longer than the BMW X5 or Volvo XC90, the cheapest M-Classes are several thousand pounds less than the cheapest XC90s or X5s.</p>

<p>There's not much to choose between these three cars for running costs, though. Insurance groups for the M-Class are almost exactly the same as those for the X5, and no more than a group higher than the XC90's. Fuel economy and servicing costs look very similar, too. However, it's worth bearing in mind that a four-wheel-drive estate car such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/estate/review/n17864">Audi A6 Avant Quattro</a> will cost much less to run.</p>

<p>You can also expect high bills if you need unscheduled maintenance. Hourly labour rates and average repair bills for Mercedes are among the highest around, although the bills are no worse than those for Jeeps and Land Rovers.</p>

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The Mercedes M-Class may look attractive on paper, but it's not everything a Mercedes should be


<p>M-Classes are now widely available, but avoid Mercedes dealers to find the keenest prices, especially on older models.</p>

<p>If you can, go for a face-lifted model from a 51-plate onwards. Although the car didn't drive much better after these tweaks, the improvements to the materials and layout in the cabin went a long way to answering the criticisms of the original model. With any age of car, the 2.7-litre diesel is the best engine to choose, and preferably with the automatic gearbox. As we've said, the car's chassis is not the greatest, but its limitations are least obvious with the less powerful engines.</p>

<p>The diesel also has other advantages, such as its better fuel economy and strong low-rev pulling power, which is great for towing. There's a wide range of petrol engines, too, with the less powerful versions the best. Avoid the ML500 and ML55 AMG, which are too dear, and much too fast for their own good.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

<p>We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.</p>

<p>The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.</p>

<p>A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;</p>

Large SUV

<p>This version of the M-Class has been the subject of two recalls, the first affecting nearly 4000 cars built in 1997, and issued because the driver's seat belt could disengage accidentally. The second affected almost 30,000 cars built in the four years from April 1998, and concerned a possible loss of power steering fluid.</p>

<p>Perhaps the biggest worry for a potential M-Class buyer is the damning reports from owners: the M-Class finished in the bottom five overall in the 2005 JD Power customer satisfaction survey, a very poor result for a company such as Mercedes. The biggest problems were the suspension and brakes, but faulty seats were also reported.</p>

<p>However, figures from Warranty Direct in fact show that the M-Class owners make fewer claims than average, although the bills on those occasions can be rather high. In Warranty Direct's experience, the electrics are weakest point, responsible for more than a third of all claims.</p>

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<p>The Mercedes M-Class was one of the earliest prestige 4x4s and is built with a separate chassis, like a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/land-rover">Land Rover</a>. The result is that it has a more equal blend of on- and off-road abilities than many of its later rivals. So, whereas the M-Class isn't as good as the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a> on-road, it can show them a thing or two away from the Tarmac.</p>

<p>This means that, if you spend a lot of time on the road, you'll be disappointed by its low-speed ride, obvious body roll and cumbersome handling. However, if you want a genuine off-roader, you may be willing to put up with its shortcomings. What there's no doubt about is that the M-Class has one of the most spacious cabins of any of its rivals. It's on a par with the X5 for passenger and luggage space, and much better than a contemporary <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/review/n17342">Land Rover Discovery</a>.</p>

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Used Mercedes-Benz M-Class 4x4 1998 - 2006 review

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What to look for when buying a Mercedes M Class 1998 - 2006, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

This version of the M-Class has been the subject of two recalls, the first affecting nearly 4000 cars built in 1997, and issued because the driver's seat belt could disengage accidentally. The second affected almost 30,000 cars built in the four years from April 1998, and concerned a possible loss of power steering fluid.,Perhaps the biggest worry for a potential M-Class buyer is the damning reports from owners: the M-Class finished in the bottom five overall in the 2005 JD Power customer satisfaction survey, a very poor result for a company such as Mercedes. The biggest problems were the suspension and brakes, but faulty seats were also reported.,However, figures from Warranty Direct in fact show that the M-Class owners make fewer claims than average, although the bills on those occasions can be rather high. In Warranty Direct's experience, the electrics are weakest point, responsible for more than a third of all claims. 

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