Performance Upgrades for ML 320

Apr 18, 2005 | 12:46 AM

blkandblu

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From: Newport Beach, CA

2002 Blue ML 320, 2002 Black ML 320, Black 2005 ML 350 Special Edition

Performance Upgrades for ML 320

Hi im new here, i just picked up a 2002 ML 320 on friday and i was wondering if there were any performance upgrades available besides the renntech and brabus kits, i dont have $32,000 for a supercharger, thanks.

Apr 18, 2005 | 01:16 AM

Bigdot

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some

try Ebay, and talk to Younyer (jr).

Apr 18, 2005 | 08:37 AM

sosh

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From: Philadelphia area

2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2

Best performance option is to trade it on an ML500 or ML55

Apr 18, 2005 | 02:51 PM

blkandblu

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From: Newport Beach, CA

2002 Blue ML 320, 2002 Black ML 320, Black 2005 ML 350 Special Edition

Well, being that ive had the car for less than 48 hours, that isnt a viable option right now. Lets try and keep it under 50,000.

Apr 18, 2005 | 02:57 PM

ML God

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dont waste your money.....you should have bought a 500....drive it like it is..you will casue more headaches for yourself

Apr 18, 2005 | 03:04 PM

blkandblu

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From: Newport Beach, CA

2002 Blue ML 320, 2002 Black ML 320, Black 2005 ML 350 Special Edition

Dont waste your money? Wow im 16, sorry my budget was 30 K not 45k.

Apr 18, 2005 | 03:06 PM

Bigdot

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MLGOD you dont have to be an *** to the 16 year old!! im sure he will be happier with the MPG in the 320 than in the 500.

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Apr 18, 2005 | 03:41 PM

ML God

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I agree, look i wasnt being an *** I am a tech at a dealer and i see a lot of half baked performance mods that are not worth a damn. they give the customer more promblems than it is worth. As far as you RedMongoosE if you have a promblem with me send me a PM or something there is no need for name calling in a public forumn

Apr 18, 2005 | 04:35 PM

#10

pointman

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From: nj

a car that can't do the throttle reset.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedMongoosE

MLGOD you dont have to be an *** to the 16 year old!! im sure he will be happier with the MPG in the 320 than in the 500.

MLG is the man around these parts, no need for ridiulous name calling.

Apr 18, 2005 | 05:40 PM

#11

GregW / Oregon

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From: Lake Oswego, OR

2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe

ML 320 performance

Quote:

Originally Posted by blkandblu

Probably not worth trying to get more speed out of it. You can improve handling & looks with new shocks and wheels/tires. Wheels depend on your preference, but I think 18x10s w/ 285/50s are a good compromise. Anything larger turns the truck into a boulevard cruiser. For shocks, the regular Bilsteins will firm things up a bit.

Apr 18, 2005 | 07:02 PM

#12

ViKTORiOUS

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From: NYC/NJ.

W209 - W163

Evosport pullies can get you about 13HP gain... Also an exhaust, from Remus, Supersprint, or Weltmeister, also experiment with the K&N or BMC Air Filters, some people on the board have the Weapon-R intakes, and they claim there is better response, you wont get any incredible gains but you will find noticable ones.

-Evosport Underdrive Pulley Kit
-Remus, Supersprint, or Weltmeister Exhaust
-K&N or BMC Air Filter
-Weapon-R or Gruppe-M Air Intake
-Powerchip, UPSolute, or Renntech ECU Chip Upgrade

These are the only performance gains I can list that are off the top of my head. If you search on the forums, you can get a more detailed answer.

Apr 18, 2005 | 07:49 PM

#13

Bigdot

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some

i want to apologize for my name calling. it was out of line. but it seemed like you were telling him that his car was a POS when he just got it 2 days ago. I know blakandblu personaly and he is not over endulged. the car he was previously driving got totalled and the 30K was from his insurance. but im sorry for the name calling

mark

Apr 18, 2005 | 10:57 PM

#14

Darkmann

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Quote:

Originally Posted by blkandblu

You really will not get any performance upgrades for the ML320 without spending a lot of money on engine mods. Then, by the time you're done, you'd wish you'd just got a ML500/ML55. So, do very little things on power mods, very little if any. Now, you can do something about handling. First off, upgrade the 17" rims to a 18 for a much nicer ride. Even if you move up to the wider ML500 tires, you get a much improved ride - and better looks also. B4 doing this, go test drive a ML500 first to appreciate the difference. Trust me, I used to own a MY02 320 and now have a 500.

Then there are mods like the sway bars for better cornering, lowering springs, etc, etc. Personally, I'd avoid all that becasue this is a truck and with your budget, it'll always handle like a truck.

Apr 20, 2005 | 02:21 PM

#15

paulzale

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How hard would it be too....

put a used ML55 engine in a ML320? Considering my labor is free to me, what would this take. Probably not worth the headaches, huh?

Apr 20, 2005 | 05:58 PM

#16

Darkmann

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Quote:

Originally Posted by paulzale

put a used ML55 engine in a ML320? Considering my labor is free to me, what would this take. Probably not worth the headaches, huh?

No, don't be so perssimistic, it may be worth it, depending on your sense of adventure. You may have to replace the tranny to AMG ML55 tranny though and may have to update the oil cooling lines as well as the system computer - I'm not sure if there's a dedicated tranny computer for the ML, but that's usually the case with other cars. Then you have to get that as well as do some upgrading/calibration of the engine computer. You may also have to replace the engine and tranny mounts due to the higher torque rating of the ML55. You need to look into all these before you start this project. All this will cost you, a lot, but you'll have a smile on your face when it's all done. Even if someone donated the engine, at the end, I believe you'd have spent enough to buy a decent used ML55.

Apr 20, 2005 | 07:03 PM

#17

ML God

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Yes the tranny has a seperate control unit, it isnt just a simple drop in procedure. i can go on and on and bore you with everything you will need to change or replace. in the end it would not be worth it.

Apr 20, 2005 | 10:22 PM

#18

Militant-Grunt

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From: New York City

95 Audi urS6 Quattro

Quote:

Originally Posted by blkandblu

Dont waste your money? Wow im 16, sorry my budget was 30 K not 45k.

Speaking as a 17 year old, you could have put that money to better use. For 30k, you could have gotten your self a 2000-2001 Ml55.. or a 2004-2005 C230K, or a 2004 BMW 325ci or 2002-03 330i or ci, as a teen, you could have had an awesome ride... not a shoddy Ml 320 =/, personally i will have around 5-6 grand to spend on my first car in the fall, most likely a 1991 BMW 535i, and in comparison even that seems like a better choice. Im not trying to bash you or anything just saying for 30k you could have done sooooooooooooo much better.

Apr 21, 2005 | 06:51 AM

#19

jenz benz

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i got the lowering springs for sale for the 320!!!!

Apr 24, 2005 | 09:21 AM

#20

55fanatic

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From: Boston, MA

00 MB ML55, 91 Toyota Supra Turbo(sold), 06 E500(gone), 03 BMW M3

save your money on the performance stuff, do some nice wheels and drop it if you like but dont go crazy. Now stereo equipment... you can still make a 320 bump like a 55, lol