2009 Mercedes-Benz M-class

Mercedes-Benz M-class

Mercedes-Benz’s M-Class made its name as a genuine contender among luxury SUVs, especially before the GLE badge took over. If you’re trawling the classifieds for a used one, you’ll find the pickings are slim—just two up for grabs, stretching from R127,500 to R279,900. That’s a gulf for what’s basically the same shape. It’s a tale of two cars: the more sensible ML 350 A/T at the bottom end and the unapologetically thirsty ML 63 AMG at the top. Both run petrol engines paired with automatics, par for the course with the W164s built between 2009 and 2011. These are SUVs whose looks still hold up in Fourways traffic, but the air suspension and electronics are notorious for bringing extra repair bills as the years stack up. There’s no middle ground in price, and that’s the point. The difference in running costs is as stark as the sticker prices—R127,500 buys you a ticket into Mercedes luxury, while R279,900 is strictly for those willing to stomach AMG-sized fuel and maintenance bills. Average mileage is a hefty 183,819 km, so you’d better be realistic about what you’re getting into. Buyers are drawn to the plush cabin and badge appeal, but age-related gremlins are lurking. The ML 63’s 6.2-litre V8 still sounds tempting on paper at least, yet you can’t ignore that it’ll demand a specialist’s touch (and budget). These cars are firmly in second-owner territory now, so a thorough inspection should be non-negotiable for anyone serious about avoiding a wallet-draining surprise down the line.