Baron11

I was wondering if anyone installed running boards themselves and if they could pass along a synopsis on the install process. I am interested in installing the GL550 rbs, not the tube style. How do you remove the stock trim beneath the doors? ( I don't remember what it is called)

TIA

Bryan

wlee69

I'm about to try the install myself this weekend. I couldn't find anything written up but I believe that in the wheel wells there are screws to undo...but the main rocker just pulled out with some force.....I'll let you know if I find anything different!!!

oknish

Search the forum. There is an old posting on DIY install of Running Boards.

All the best.

wlee69

Oknish - Do you know what keywords to search on? I've tried combo's of running boards, DIY, installation and cannot find any writeups/descriptions. I looked at the pieces tonite and its not as obvious as I thought it would be!

Brocktoon

Haha! that's for Nish to know, and you to find out!

Other than Nish, I tend to think God (gods?) has set aside a special place in hell for those that say things like "search is your friend!" and other such things. It's easier for existing users, as they may recall some of the memebers involved, etc.

That being said, I have no interest in helping you find the thread, nor do I recall it. I think you are either all on your own, or I understand Nish is open to bribes & stuff. I hear he wants a Blackberry Bold.

Brocktoon

This thread will give you a clue: https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...nerf-bars.html
...it's on another forum.

HJZ06

I installed running boards on our GL purchased in 11-06. Took 4 months to get and 2 hours to install. Easiest install. Dealer wanted $450, told him I'd do 2 a day for him. If I remember, screws in front wheel wells need to be removed and the rocker trim pulls out after lower screws removed. The other side took 30 minutes.

Brocktoon

Har! Foil'd Again...

oknish

Mea culpa.....I confused an old post on another board. Linked below.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/gl-c...rd-std-gl.html

Stop twisting my arm like that, Brock And, just got an iPhone so now am looking for a Blu Ray (Pio or Oppo, only, please) player in bribes

wlee69

No problem...I actually put the board on tonite and it was pretty straight forward. Baron11, I'll try and write up directions in the next couple days...if you need immediate questions, just PM me.

wlee69

So here are some helpful hints when taking off the existing rocker panels and then installing the new boards...

Taking off the old rocker panels
- there are 2-3 push in plastic fasteners both in the front wheel well and the rear wheel well
- then under the car, you'll find a bunch of plastic 10mm nuts to take off
- to begin taking off the rocker panel, start from the rear and pull the bottom out over the bolts (from the 10 mm nuts taken off) - along the top edge of the rocker panel, be careful as you pull away from the car. With a flashlight you should be able to see the first fastener - use a screwdriver and push down on the hinge and it should release very easy from the rocker panel. There are 6-7 of these hinges as you work your way up the front
- once the rocker panel is removed, there are 10mm nuts that hold the plastic retainer (where the hinges attached to the car). there are two plastic retainers along the sides
- underneath the car you also need to take off the two jack mounts. Be careful on the screws that hold the jack mounts...very easily sheers because its just plastic. Then put in the rubber plugs into the existing holes

Now you are ready to put the new running boards on. Each side has three pieces...a metal structure, the cover over the metal structure, and then a plastic channel that gets mounted under the car

- First fit the metal/alumium structure along the side of the car. All 10mm screws that come out the side will hold the piece in place. Under the car, you'll see the black ends (around the jack mounts) and they should fit right over the rubber plug that was put in.
- Tighten up all the 10mm nuts to hold the piece in place
- Under the car, tighten the black ends to that piece (mine came mounted, but loose to adjust)
- Now that the metal structure is in place, then mount the cover - under the car, the cover slides into a channel - on the top, the clips attach to the metal structure.
- There are 5-6 bolts on the top of the running boards to tighten down the top of the boards. Do not tighten too tight...they are just plastic
- Finally mount the new jack mounts into the blackends under the car.
- The plastic channel goes under the car, inside of the running board. It mounts up under the car, and then you use the plastic 10mm nuts to attach the channel, and also to hold in place the black ends of the running board.
- Last piece of advice is when putting the rear push pins back in, the wheel liner sits into a plastic channel on the running boards...mine was tough to get it to slide in nicely so I had to do a little cutting of the liner to get it to fit correctly.

Whole thing should take like 3 hrs...1.5 a side!

Hope this helps....

atwal

Thanks for sharing your experience and great writeup.

Baron11

We appreciate the write-up. Thanks,

Bryan

robalo220

What is the cost of the boards?

wlee69

I just paid ~800 for the set from Mercedes of Anapolis

MB500

Wlee69,

When you installed the boards did you take the wheels off? Also, did you have to jack the car up or just used that raise function of the Airmatic?

I received my boards today and paid $944 for the set. This is going to be my weekend project.

oknish

Can any of you DIY'ers post some pics of this surgery? I am thinking about doing this myself too and looks like these running boards have come down in price so the time now might be right.

Baron11

I ordered my boards, 870 plus tax. The prices really seem to be all over the place. I will try and take some photos this weekend if all works out well.

Bryan

wlee69

MB500 - I didn't take the wheels off...there's really no need as the only thing you need to get at inside the wheel wells are the "pull-out" fasteners which you can just use a screw driver and pry out the centers. I did jack the car up from the rear to make it easier to get under the car - don't think its an absolute neccessity, but it makes it easier to work.

A couple pieces of advice to both you and Baron11

1) It will go faster with a power drill to take all the 10mm nuts off (both under the car, and on the sides) - for the sides, you need a deep socket
2) Be careful taking off the existing rubber jack mounts. I sheered the plastic nut when taking it off (it was on really tight!) and spent a good 10-15 minutes finagling a way to get it off - on both the rear mounts I had problems and finally used a knife to cut my own slot, and then used a flat metal file as the screw driver
3) Don't overtighten the plastic bolts that go through the top of the board to the bottom. I broke one of mine that way!! Ended up having to glue it back to together before re-mounting it

Good luck guys, and if you have any questions just pm me or write back to the thread. Without pics, I know my description is tough to understand, but when you open the box and see all the pieces, it will all make sense!

Baron11

I remember reading where there may be an issue with the tire jack on cars without RBs from the factory not working correctly due to interference with the running boards. Have you checked to see if this is an issue? Hopefully my RBs will come in tomorrow, I will check it out myself.

Bryan

wlee69

I've never used the factory jack for the car, so I can't comment - but do believe I've seen the same posts of needing a different jack.

The jack mount is the same jack mount with the running boards on...just about 3 inches lower - so perhaps its a shorter jack to thats needed?.

If I have time tonite, I'll pull out the factory jack and see what the real issue is as I've never even seen what the factory jack looks like!!! I've always used my own floor jack...

MB500

wlee69,

did you have any problems aligning the plastic cover with fenders and the wheel liners? I just started on working on one side of the car and got stuck on sliding the plastic cover over the metal structure. I know it sounds unreal but the cover seems to be half inch short to align perfectly with fenders. The very last clip on the back doesn't want to snap in either... Something is wrong.

How was your alignment with fenders? Did the board come out perfectly aligned? Just like the old rocker panel?

Thank you.

wlee69

MB500 - Something does sound wrong, my plastic covers fit like a glove and aligned to both the front and rear wheel wells just like the old rocker panels did. Are you sure you have the right metal structure on the correct side? Maybe try mounting the other one on the same sideand seeing it the plastic cover fits better - I remember that the blackend are difference between front and back, so there sides are not interchangable. Other thing is that the ML running boards look similar, but are shorter - wonder if they shipped you the wrong ones?

MB500

Okay, I just finished the job. The first side took about three hours and one trip to the dealershp. The other side took about 45 minutes. This is a very straight forward install but here is my observation:

The length of the running boards is slightly shorter that the length of the original rocker panels. The difference is about 1/4 of an inch and this is what really threw me off. I went to the dealer and we looked at the running boards on three GLs and five MLs. They all seemed to be a bit misaligned with fenders -- some could be less than the others but still they weren't as perfect as my original rocker panels. I think this is the way the boards are made and there isn't much you could do except maybe adding some mud guards.

I ended up 'playing' with the metal piece and made sure that it was perfectly centered. After that everything went really smooth and, like I mentioned above, I did the other side of my car in less that an hour.

Best of luck to all of you!

MB500

Purely out of curiosity -- what did you guys do (or going to do) with your rocker panels one you installed the running boards? Are you throwing them away or keeping them just in case? I was going to put them into recycle today but thought I would check on this forum first. Do you guys think there is any resale value for these?