I've had a pro for a couple years. The springs in the 3 drops initially needed shortened to make sure drops dropped, but since then I haven't had any issues. It's been very solid. Premium owners have more issues simply due to a couple extra features. I definitely recommend metallica either table. I didn't find the extra features worth the cost in the premium BTW. Great game all around.

I got a pro specifically to avoid the hammer issues. I've heard about them enough that I just didn't want to bother. The pro still plays amazingly, and you can add spinners if you're crafty or order from Pinball Refinery. My pro has had next to no issues. My left slingshot would sometimes fire randomly. I opened the switch up a little bit (bent it gently) and now have zero problems at all.

Regarding new or used; I like new things so I bought new. Went with Pinball Refinery because I wanted a ton of mods but didn't want to do all of them myself.

3+ years with a pro...one line out on DMD when unboxed, got replacement from stern...no issues since

Broken trough switch upon arrival. I also had to bend the Spring in Sparky's head a bit. Nothing else.

Bought mine in July 2016. Broken leaf switch in the scoop on arrival.

My NIB LED MET PRO was delivered late July with a stamped April 01 2016 playfield. Backbox dated June 15th 2016. I have clear chipping at around shooter lane and also at outhole. 548 Balls played and 178 total plays. I am waiting to hear back from Stern.... I am also working through Stern on Grave Marker in-line drop targets not resetting properly. Stern supplied a replacement mech that is having the same problem as my original.
At the very least do not play one game without all the cliffy protectors applied, as I kept putting it on the back burner due to being out of town.
My HULK has zero protection, tons more games, and zero issues, so I think 2016 is a bad year to buy NIB. I dumped my GBLE and GBPREM, thinking I would avoid any issues by going MET, well that didn't work.

Stern has been silent on all issues after the replacement drop target mech didn't help.

I signed KPG petition...

3 years a huo pro.

Only issue was a coilstop of which the center became loose, causing the flipper to stick in the up position sometimes.

The infamous disintegrating coil stops!

Rob

This happened to my pro early on at around 500 plays. Easy fix but something to be aware of.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/metallica-sparky-short-warning

Pro

1. DMD went bad in about 3 months.
2. Front drop target sticker is coming off at bottom.
3. Flipper coil stops left gold 'dandruff' in the cabinet and caused the flippers to stick. (Replaced with WMS stops. Seriously)
4. Mystery switch needed adjustment (wouldn't always register)
5. Snake switch needed adjustment (wouldn't always register)

The snake head can be problematic. Had to adjust it several times before it worked right.
The left upper lane was too narrow for the ball to fit through. Had to bend the right rail a bit to make it wider. You think they would test each lane before they box it up. Apparently not.

I bought a NIB LED Pro in early Dec of 16 and currently have about 300 games on it. The only issues I have had were:

1) High number of jump balls after striking Sparky. This was fixed with a Pinbits sparky protector. I cannot recommend enough that you install this day 1!
2) Loose play field spotlights. Simply had to re-tighten, no issues since.
3) Snake initially shot the ball SDTM at a rate of 2 in 5. Had to loosen the mech and twist slightly to aim more toward the left flipper.

Other than those minor issues been very reliable.