Why is bottom oven very slow to heat up?

SOURCE: bottom oven element on Model MER5552BAW

magic, start with the basics first. See if you have the right power going to the oven. At the terminal block on the oven, where the cord attaches, you should have 120V from the center terminal to each end terminal. You should have 240V across the 2 end terminals. If you don't have this, there is your problem. If that's ok, check the voltage at the bake element terminals in back. Should be 240V when in bake. If that checks ok, then it would be the element itself. Check it, with power off and wires disconnected from the element it will ohm at approx. 20 to 22.6 ohms. If you don't have the power at the element then I would suspect the oven controller. The fact that it's heating to 170 degrees leads me to believe that you are missing a leg of power. Catriver.

SOURCE: Maytag Gemini Double Oven-bottom temp problem

after power outage clock on oven will not set unless the oven itaelf is on unable to set clock

SOURCE: lower element of top oven does not heat on Maytag Gemini

replace the control

SOURCE: Baking Element Caught fire

funny same thing just happened to me and it all seams to be the bottom element of the same ovens around the same year, I bought mine in 99 also, I keep my oven very clean becasue i know the dangers it may cause, I think this is a major problem and it needs to be addressed.

SOURCE: Have a Maytag MER5730 oven and the oven stopped

your element is bad replace element.