Used luxury SUVs can be a bargain buy thanks to their stereotypically rapid depreciation rate, meaning you get a lot of SUVs for not a lot of money. Depending on what you look at, you could get a very cheap used luxury SUV with a powerful engine, a lot of techy goodies, oodles of comfort features, and bundles of street kudos.
- Base Trim Engine
-
3.5L V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
-
7-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
302 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
273 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
But all that glitters is not gold. Some luxury SUVs may look the part, and yes, they may have a cheap used price, but they are not always worth getting involved with. We are going to take a look at an SUV line that ceased production a decade ago, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, and will look into and discuss whether their alluringly cheap used prices are worth the punt.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book, and fueleconomy.gov.
The Evolution Of The Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Debuting in 1998 and only ending in 2015, the three Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV generations have seen a huge number of changes as tech, powertrain progression, and styles took on new faces throughout their 17-year run. What you get from a 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class is at the other end of the spectrum from what you get from the final MY 2015 M-Class.
- 1998-2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class W163 – 1st Generation
- 2002-2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class W163 – 1st Generation Facelift
- 2006-2008 Mercedes-Benz M-Class W164 – 2nd Generation
- 2009-2011 Mercedes-Benz M-Class W164 – 2nd Generation Facelift
- 2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class W166 – 3rd Generation
Originally built on a rugged body-on-frame construction as Mercedes-Benz’s first mid-size SUV, the M-Class got its first glimpse of the limelight as a movie model in the Jurassic Park sequel, The Lost World, as a rugged, jungle-worthy SUV. The second-gen models were then built on a refined unibody platform, which helped the M-Class gain a sleeker reputation, while a 2009 facelift gave it a much-needed styling upgrade.
By the time the third-gen models were released, luxury, relative efficiency, and cutting-edge driving aids were the name of the game. 2015 saw a final facelift for the M-Class, but also saw the model line rebranded as the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class.
M-Class Generations, Years, And Their Engines
In its 17-year run, the M-Class has been equipped with a huge array of powertrains. We will mention all the engines that have sat under the hood of the M-Class, but will only table the most powerful engine of each generation.
The first-gen comes equipped with a 3.2-liter V6 (215 horsepower) as standard in the ML 320; you get a 2.3-liter inline-four mill under the hood of the ML 230, while higher trims of the first-gen boast a 4.3-liter V8, which is good for 268 horsepower in the ML 430 and a 5.0-liter V8 under the hood of the ML 500. There are also some diesel engine options in the form of a 2.7-liter inline-five (163 horsepower) in the ML 270 CDI and a 3.0-liter diesel V8 (250 horsepower) in the ML 400 CDI, but at the top of the tree is the ML 55 AMG, which boasts a 5.4-liter V8.
Most Powerful Mercedes-Benz M-Class Engines
|
First Generation |
Second Generation |
Third Generation |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Model |
2001-2005 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG |
2006-2011 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG |
2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG |
|
Engine |
5.4-Liter V8 |
6.2-Liter V8 |
5.5-Liter Bi-Turbocharged V8 |
|
Transmission |
Five-Speed Automatic |
Seven-Speed Speedshift Automatic |
Seven-Speed Speedshift Automatic |
|
Horsepower |
347 Horsepower |
510 Horsepower |
518 Horsepower (Standard)/550 Horsepower (Performance Package) |
|
Torque |
376 LB-FT |
465 LB-FT |
516 LB-FT (Standard)/561 LB-FT (Performance Package) |
|
Driveline |
All-Wheel Drive |
All-Wheel Drive |
All-Wheel Drive |
|
0-60 MPH |
6.8 Seconds |
4.8 Seconds |
4.3 Seconds (Performance Package) |
|
Top Speed |
146 MPH |
155 MPH |
155 MPH (Standard)/174 MPH (Performance Package) |
|
Towing Capacity |
5,000 LBS |
5,000 LBS |
7,200 LBS |
|
Payload Capacity |
1,422 LBS |
1,410 LBS |
1,544 LBS |
The second-gen M-Class is available with a 3.5-liter V6, good for up to 302 horsepower in the ML 350, and a 5.5-liter V8 that pushes out 382 horsepower for the ML 500/550. Diesel engine options were also expanded in the second-gen with a 3.6-liter V6 turbo-diesel available for the ML 320 CDI and 350 BlueTEC. A hybrid V6 also became available, which is good for 335 horsepower, while, again, the most power is available for the AMG option. This time in the form of the ML 63 AMG.
The final generation of the M-Class opened with the ML 250 BlueTec, which boasts a 2.1-liter bi-turbo-diesel inline-four (204 horsepower) and the ML 350 BlueTEC, which boasts a 258-horsepower 3.0-liter diesel V6. Gas engine choices include a 302-horsepower V6 for the ML 350, a 3.0-liter bi-turbo V6, good for 329 horsepower in the ML 400, and a 4.6-liter bi-turbo V8 that kicks out 402 horsepower under the hood of the ML 550. Once again, though, the AMG option, the ML 63 AMG, takes the power crown for the generation with a 5.5-liter bi-turbo V8 under the hood.
Rebranded In 2015, But Still A Popular Choice
The M-Class was rebranded in 2015 and became the GLE-Class, but it hasn’t stopped a lot of people in the last five years from buying them. You do get a lot of luxuries in the final generation, engine choices across all generations are varied and can be very powerful, and the size and comfort of the M-Class are impressive, so we are not surprised.
According to Classic.com, in the last five years, there have been 298 sold, generating a dollar volume of a still-luxurious $4.1 million. So, there must still be something about them that makes us want to drive them.
The M-Class can be seen as a bit of a luxury SUV pioneer, as it was the first true mid-size luxury SUV that combines comfort, style, and some good off-road chops. If you go for one of the AMG models, there is obviously a lot of performance grit behind them; it boasts a now-iconic design (especially the first generation); you get all-wheel drive on all models, and they are pretty versatile in terms of towing and lugging.
Value Retention Is Not In The M-Class’ Wheelhouse
With all of these accolades, you’d expect that they’d hold their value as well as models from the likes of Lexus. Unfortunately for owners, not so unfortunate for people wanting to buy a used model, they do not. According to Car Edge, models produced by Mercedes-Benz depreciate at pretty rapid knots; up to 34.4 percent over two years, up to 51.4 percent over five years, and up to 72.6 percent over 10 years.
There isn’t any data on Car Edge about the depreciation rate of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, but its successor, the GLE-Class, doesn’t boast a stellar depreciation rate and is one of the luxury SUVs that depreciate the most over five years. It is reported to be as high as 53 percent depreciation over five years.
The Cheapest And Most Expensive Mercedes M-Class You Can Buy Today
This is only bad news for people who own an M-Class and want to sell it later, but if you are in the market to buy a used model, the prices are very tempting. According to Classic.com, the average auction price for an M-Class (across all MYs) is a lowly $13,633. The most expensive example of an M-Class to be sold at auction crossed the block at $42,550 and was a 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG 4MATIC. The cheapest to be sold was a 2004 Mercedes-Benz ML 350, which fetched just over $1,600 at auction.
The good news is, though, that average used prices for the M-Class are slightly different away from the auction house, especially if you don’t want a very low-mileage AMG model. So, you won’t necessarily end up paying over $40,000 for one.
Mercedes-Benz M-Class Years And Average Used Price
|
Mercedes-Benz M-Class Generation |
First Generation |
Second Generation |
Third Generation |
|
Average Used Price Range |
$2,002-$6,533 |
$4,352-$14,048 |
$8,319-$17,835 |
How Reliable Is The Mercedes-Benz M-Class?
Luxury vehicles don’t have the best reputation for being dependable (unless you look at some Porsches, Lexus models, or Acuras), and the M-Class Merc doesn’t buck that trend. It is by no means the most reliable luxury SUV on the market.
There isn’t a lot of information on RepairPal about all the model years of the M-Class, but if you own an ML 350, you are looking at an annual maintenance bill of $1,020. Parts are not cheap, and while Mercedes-Benz gets a reasonable score of 3 out of 5 for reliability, they have to be taken to a garage for repairs, on average, 0.73 times a year, compared to 0.4 times for all other models.
The Most Reliable M-Class Model Years
Owner-rated reliability scores for the M-Class MYs vary greatly, but in general, owners seem to rate the reliability for the later years more than they do for the earlier MYs. With information taken from reviews of the M-Class on Kelley Blue Book, reliability ratings range from 4.2 out of 5 for the inaugural model to a very respectable 4.6 out of 5 for the final model year.
Mercedes-Benz M-Class Years And Reliability Rating
|
Mercedes-Benz M-Class Model Year |
1998-2005 |
2006-2011 |
2012-2015 |
|
Average Reliability Rating |
4.2/5 |
4.5/5 |
4.6/5 |
So, despite the reputation of luxury SUVs for being unreliable, the M-Class, according to owners, seems to be quite dependable. If you own a Mercedes-Benz M-Class of any year, we’d love to hear about how reliable it is in the comments section under this article.
What It Costs To Own A Used Mercedes-Benz M-Class
As we mentioned, it costs, on average, over a grand a year to maintain one of the less-powerful M-Class models. But that is one aspect of owning. Except for parts that are generally not that cheap, year-on-year depreciation, and the cost of buying one, it is the fuel costs that stack up high.
According to fueleconomy.gov, the most fuel-frugal model you can buy is the 2015 ML 250 BlueTEC, which can muster a combined mpg rating of 25 mpg (22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway). This diesel-engined M-Class will cost you, on average, $2,250 a year to fill up, or $2,750 more compared to the average modern vehicle over five years. If you go for something with a lot more poke behind it, it is going to cost you a lot more.
The most powerful M-Class models that were ever created were the 2012-2015 ML63 AMG. This beast of a performance SUV can only achieve a combined mpg rating of 15 mpg (13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway), and will cost you $4,150 a year on gas.
Top Speed’s Verdict On The Mercedes-Benz M-Class
The first generation is well-equipped with a rugged construction and full-time 4MATIC AWD, so not only does it look good, but it is good off-road, thanks to the two-speed transfer case and a central locking diff. But it is known for electrical bugs. The second-gen, unibody M-Class is a good middle ground for cost and some decent off-roading, luxury, and comfort features, especially models that are equipped with the originally available Off-Road Package. This gives you a low-range transfer case, underbody protection, and a locking rear diff. But, again, despite its good blend of more reasonably modern tech and ruggedness, it isn’t without its problems, and owners mostly complain about transmission and suspension issues.
The final generation of the M-Class is the most up-to-date, though it does cost the most on the used market, and still comes with a hefty annual running bill. You do get adjustable AIRMATIC suspension and a central locking diff, so it is still good off-road and still very plush. Plus, you get a better suite of infotainment and tech systems. The biggest gripes about the W166 M-Class are specific to the diesel-engine models, with owners complaining mostly about the AdBlue system. But, overall, it does offer a good deal of modernity, a classy design, and a lot of guts.
Which Buyers The Mercedes-Benz M-Class Appeals To
If you want a respected, iconic luxury SUV and are looking to keep an iconic model (especially the first-gen) on the road as a talking piece, then buying a used M-Class can be worth it. If you are looking for something that can tow well, handle itself off-road, provide you with some techy goodies (later MYs), and looks the part, then, yes again, the M-Class is still a good option. It is especially worth buying if you have the money for one of the AMG models.
But, if you are looking for a cheap used luxury SUV that isn’t going to cost a lot of money to keep going, then no, the M-Class is not worth it. You shouldn’t expect to get much of your money back after selling it (unless you get yourself a low-mileage AMG model, which can reach high prices at auction), and the average maintenance costs alone will mean you’ve earned the average price of a low-level 1998 model in the first two years. That’s if something catastrophic doesn’t happen.