fuel filter
 

is it hard to change ur fuel filllter can u diy or do u need to take it in

if u do take it in what should be a resnable cost

how often do u need to change them

Fuel Filter
 

Just got quoted a price from an MB dealership here in Cleveland.
Said I needed it based on age of vehicle (2000 ML320 - 6 yrs old next month).

Fuel filter and lines (parts + labor) - $623. :(

"They no longer make the filter so the lines need to be replaced too."

Truck has just 53k miles.
Bought it 2 years ago this month with 25k miles on it.

Nothing is ever inexpensive.

Not going to do the fuel filter service at this time.
I am having the dealer replace the plugs.
(Brakes I can do....plugs on an ML, over this guy's ability.)

I've done the fuel filter on my '99 ML 430 and I would not recommend doing it yourself. It was about 2 years ago so I don't remember alot of the details, but I do remember that I to had take out the driver's side rear wheel well lining and even than the access to it was an pain (mine had already been upgraded with the extended lines so I had a little more room).

It is kind of tough to get at. I did mine last year when I replaced my fuel pump, so I already had the seat out and the floor open, giving me access to both sides of the filter and lines. I had to do the line upgrade, too. Not too technical, but pretty tedious. And Billiken, the plugs aren't that bad to do. I did mine a few weeks back. And you only have 12! I did 16!

Here's a list of what I would recommend DIY and otherwise...
 

If you are an average Joe with some basic mechanical skills and an interest in working on your car

The following things are a DIY
1. Spark Plugs - Easy but labor intensive - spare at least a full day
2. MAF - Easy and 5 minute job
3. Brakes - Easy and 2 hour job (excluding rotors add 2 more hours)
4. Oil Change - @ A Service - easy half an hour job
5. Brake Flush - Easy 1 hour job
6. Bulbs - Dashboard & climate control a bit tricky to replace
Otherwise all others are a piece of cake
7. Fuses/Relays - Some basic knowledge of electronics will help

The following things are not a DIY
1. Fuel Filter - Tricky, not easy to get at..
2. Fuel Pump - Difficult and labor intensive..
2. Transmission Flush - One every 100K miles - bulk of the money the dealer
charges is for the oil anyways...
3. Coolant Flush - Dealer does some voltage tests on the engine block
Don't know what those are but does sound something
highly technical.
4. Body trim - The ones that require gluing stuff - dealer does it best
and warranties all the work

It's a pain in the ass to get the fuel lines off the filter! I even bought the tool for it, but still couldn't get them off. :smash:

straightSIX

Can you tell me the name of the tool and where you got it? Before changing my filter I had never seem that kind of a fitting before and wandered what it was called. I ended up getting the connectors off by pressing on the tabs with my fingers and pulling them off (after none of my pliers worked).

Thanks