"M" class Mercedes
Anyone got an "M" class Mercedes and use it to tow with? I have been looking at diesel and around the 3litre version but have recently looked at a 5.5 litre. Economy is not really a consideration as long as it does the job. My caravan weighs 1800kg and is single axle
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We bought an ML320 cdi last year to tow our new (to us) Unicorn Barcelona , twin axle . its the perfect outfit , love it to bits . wife uses the car as her daily drive .
the only down side is running cost but you are not going to tow a twin axle with a cheap to run car!
just paid £950 at a specialist for service , gearbox service , wing mirror motor replacement. bit of a shock but hey!!
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I've paid for my car's servicing as I've gone on .... no way will I pay main dealer labour rates for an oil change & someone with a tick list. My car was bought from a MB main dealer at around 42000 miles & when I asked if it'd had an ATF change, the reply was a vague 'it should have had'
so I paid an independant to do it for me. It was nothing like £800 😊0 -
You didn't mention if you were buying new. If you do, make sure you specify the Mercedes tow pack as it includes the additional cooling equipment that may affect warranty later down the line if you use the car in a very hot/high altitude condition.
I have an E350 diesel towing 1500+ single axle with no problem. mechanical components are very similar to M class. Real difference is that I only have 85Kg nose weight capability, I believe the M class is around 140Kg. I am led to believe that the M class is more stable at 65mph+ speeds where of course this is permissible.
I will be changing my van to a heavier one. If it is twin axle, I will probably keep the current car. If it is single and 1800Kg+ I will get the M class or VW Touareg - subject to the deal on the tow pack.
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Applause,
Yes I have an ML300CDI which I have used to tow my Coachman 565/4 Pastiche. I bought it new in March 2011 and she has now done 71K. In nearly 40 years of Caravanning the ML 300 is probably by a very long margin the best tow car that I have ever owned. And that includes a Shogun, a Toyota Colorado, and 3 Toyota Landcruisers.
The Secret of the M series is that in V6 form it has a fantastic and pretty unburstable engine. But it also has a road wheell at each corner with very little rear overhang. That means it is very stable when towing, and has very little sway even when towing a heavy caravan. I get 35,000 per set of tyres and the same per set of brake pads. I have just fitted new discs at 70,000. Those have been my only heavy expenditure. Fuel consumption (solo) on the Blue Efficiency model like mine is averaging over 30 and often well over that, she tows a heavy van at 24 mpg. As I said the best car I have had.
Sadly I am now in failing health, and I think I will have to give up caravanning as I can no longer manage the setting up. So she will soon have to go. But I doubt that I will find a better one.
TF
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I think that you will find that the "Blue Efficiency" M class models are significantly better on fuel than the earlier models. They were built after fuel prices had rocketed and fuel consumption had become an issue. Mine cruises on the motorway at 35 mpg and lightly loaded has even recorded 40 mpg on a couple occasions. I never get less than 500 miles on a tankful and usually about 530 -540. Certainly I have never gone as low as 20 mpg towing. Its always 23/24.
I'm fanatical about record keeping and my log book records every tenth of a litre of fuel that has passed through her since the day that I took delivery and all incidents etc like wiper changes or a bulb failure.
With the Blue efficiency models it is important to stick to original equipment tyres when changing, OR to ensure that you fit low rolling resistance tyres, they do make at least 3-4 mpg difference as I found out on my first tyre change at 35,000 miles. the dealer fitted the wrong ones and my fuel consumption went up markedly. I complained and the tyres were changed back to original spec. Fuel consumption returned to the previous level.
TF
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I too have been on a service plan so all maintenance has been done by a Mercedes main dealer. But I have not thought them overly expensive. Indeed I have not found the Mercedes overly expensive to service. Its always been about what I expected, and about in line with My Toyota Landcruisers that I used before.
My only beef is that now that i am down to about 11,000 miles per annum, I have to have an annual service instead of the prescribed 15,000 miles that the schedule says. But for me maintenance has to be done on the dot. I got used to aviation practise and almost feel that to go beyond a service date should be an offence. In reality i know that could never enforced but thats what i got used to.
TF
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For what its worth if it assists with anyone searching for a review of a 2013 Mercedes 250 Sport 2.1litre.
Review of my car on Caravan Talk is here :-
Very very pleased with my ML 250 for economy & towing after 20 months of ownership now.
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ML420CDI V8 twin-turbo diesel and is the fastest car I've owned. Solo at a steady 64mph on my 82 mile motorway commute, I manage to hit 40mpg (car's readout) but never more. Long-term is 36mpg. Towing twin-axle Buccaneer I am now getting 23mpg. It tows like a dream and the power is never-ending. It is extremely quite when cruising with engine purring at 1700rpm. Strangely, and I don't understand why, it has intermittent V8 growl when accelerating gently (like the typical sound of a petrol V8) but only intermittently...
Last service with a few bits to repair was £1500 at MB. 4 X new tyres being fitted by Hometyre this Friday is £640. They are not expensive to pick up. I will consider a used GL450CDi, when it's time to change.
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@ Rod
You've a pretty rare car there ...... a very nice car.
As for a GL ...... have you actually seen how big they are? They're HUGE! At least youd always be able to find it on a car park ...... assuming you've found somewhere big enough to park it the first place.
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Hi everybody, after caravaning for nearly 40 years, the Mercedes 420CDI sport 4 matic, is by far the best tow car that we have every owned.
We have had it for a little over 2 years, and its power when towing our 2200 kgs Vanmaster is just none stop. when towing i have the cruise control on, set at 60, and its effortless, even on the steepish hill it might change into 6th. But with 700 nm of torque, its very easy towing.
Just like TF, i keep very accurate fuel / used consumption records, brim full to brim. sticking to 70mph 33-35.Town work 25-28., Towing varies subject to conditions, windy, etc worst ever 19.8, best 22.7. considering what its pulling, I'm very happy with it. Apart from normal servicing, its only fault has been a ABS lead on OSF, 23500 miles covered, most of it mileage is towing. You will never get tired of the power. Enjoy.
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A long time ago on Top Gear in the Clarkson era they towed a 747 with one
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You really have to drive 1, to experience the 306 bhp, and the really impressive wall of torque. The Auto box learn how you drive, and also knows when the van is connected up. It alters the gear change positions slightly on the up changes. Its doing 1550 rpm in 7th gear @ 60 mph.
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Thats exactly what I have been saying, its all about that lovely Torque.
The pressure mounts on us all to dump our diesels, and I might just do that -- WHEN someone produces a so called green petrol engine, that will deliver all that Torque at less than 2000 RPM and has an un refueled range of over 500 miles! And at a price that I can afford!
Until then I stick with my 3 Litre V6 ( Or if I can find a nice one a V8)
TF
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Ive been a diesel convert for approx 30 + years, back in the days of Mercedes W123 240, the old square taxi shape one with only 82 bhp.
Then a Vauxhall Carlton 2.3 Turbo diesel Estate, now back then that was a brilliant tow car, i believe it won Tow car of the year, i covered over 240,000 with that one.
Following on with W124, 300. Then several E class 300s, then a few years with a Kia Sorento Mk 1 2.5lt, with the 138 bhp.
For the last 2 years, its being the Mercedes ML420. The trouble is what can we ever replace it with, thats gives you the same grin factor, when driving it.
In another year our so, i will start looking for one of the last 420s made which will be on an 11 plate
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I tow a twin axle bessacarr with my ml300.. Best tow car I've had. We are currently looking at a newer one.
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