/\/ / & E wrote:

None specific to the M-Class.  It's the basically the same engine and
transmission used in other MBZ 430 models and in fact is built in the same
plants in Germany.  The only M-Class specific changes to the engine deal
primarily with the intake manifold being "reprogrammed" to provide a
different torque curve better suited to an SUV over a passenger car.  As for
problems, the transmissions seem to be very reliable.  You should make sure
the harmonic balancer has been replaced with the latest updated part,
otherwise it's prone to self-destruct, taking about $2K worth of other parts
with it.  Of course you can also count on the "usual" engine maintenance
items like bad MAF and O2 sensors, but like I said, nothing ML-specific.