Like the title says. I'd like to know when my 2013 ML350 Bluetec is about to do a regen cycle on the DPF. I'd like to know when a regen is happening. I'd like to be able to push it into a cycle if I know I'm going to be driving for a long enough time to make it happen at MY convenience, not the car's.
Any thoughts on gaining this knowledge and ability?

ScanGauge has X-gauges for regeneration monitoring for years. I am testing Vgate for the function and if it will work, that might be the best deal at $31.
For forced regeneration you'd have to go to high end scanners and frankly with monitoring scanner, you never suppose to need it.
There is nothing wrong with aborting single regeneration. It is doing it several times in the row and then ignoring warning lights that can lead to hard troubles.

I'll have to plug in my Launch tablet and see if it is able to push the ECU into a regen. So far, it has always been able to do those things that I've needed it to on all the cars/trucks I've used it on.
I might get a scangauge for the ML; I'll be using it (hopefully) to tow our 5000# camper and I'd like to keep an eye on things while doing so.

For towing, what ScanGauge has is load %. Pretty handy when climbing as you might help TCU in gear shifting.

Do you know if it shows things like exhaust gas temperature and boost pressure?

You have list of X gauges for MB here https://www.scangauge.com/support/x-...cedes-xgauges/
Be sceptic about it as DPF regeneration status did not work well neither on my Sprinters, nor on Ford Powerstroke. It did work on my sedan though.
But the DPF fill was coming to 100% and then start dropping, I knew regeneration is pending.
You can also figure out regeneration by monitoring exhaust temperature.
I tried to use Vgate and my app can't connect with the reader so far. Need to dit into manual a but deeper to see if I am doing something wrong, or the unit doesn't work.

Wondering if your test of the Vgate worked to force regeneration of the DPF?