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

 

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!

 

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 *** to get the fuel lines off the filter! I even bought the tool for it, but still couldn't get them off.

 

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