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I successfully made a trade a few years ago on a ML. Try to do it as local as possible. Shipping the running boards is almost as expensive as their original cost as an accessory.
I switched the running boards with rockers that I found on eBay. There are two kinds of rockers, one is for Sport series, ie they are painted body color and have a little flair to them but no chrome. They were hard to find and too expensive for me so I found a standard rocker that had the black grained plastic and chrome strip and put it on my car. I had a body shop paint the rocker the same color of the car, one other options would be to have it wrapped in color to match the car.
The running board jack pads are two piece to make up the the lower running board where as the standard rocker has a single pad. You can pull them apart and use them on the rockers but they only way I could re attach them was to glue them back on. Just put strong glue and put my car jack on to hold them secure over night. They still work that way for over 3 years.
I then sold my running boards to a local guy who wanted them. I don't miss them a bit.
Just picked up a very nice 2018 GLE 43 AMG and yes, the running boards are useless. Their the one thing I don't like. What Rockers did you buy off of Ebay? I would think leaving them unpainted would also look okay.
Last edited by gle43FL; Jul 25, 2021 at 09:51 AM.
Reason: grammer
I'm thinking they also might be good for ding protection. If I removed them I might have to put some kind of rub rail on the side along the crease on the doors. Maybe I'll get used to them.
I found a set of rockers panels on eBay used from a wrecking yard and had them shipped. I then had them painted to match the body color. Sold the running boards to a local guy who wanted them. There are two different types of rockers ,
One which is the standard (ones I got) They are black grained plastic with chrome strip
The other one come on ML/GLEs which come on an option package, I not sure what you call it, but its more aero dynamic looking and is always painted the same color as the car. It does not have a chrome strip.
You should be able to use any rockers from 2012 ML through GLE models.
Sounds good. I will look for them used on Ebay. I'm seeing them listed as a left or right, haven't found a matched pair yet. Another thing is my running boards have lights on them to I guess light up the ground when you get in and out of the car. I don't really need them, but wondering if removing them might be an issue.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
