Swiss Nick

I have a 2002 ML 270 CDI. Sice new I have had problems with the fuel gauge. It either doesn't move, or I loose 1/4 of a tank over a 10 mile journey. I have sent it back to the Merc garage several times, and I am really getting pissed at it now. Does anyone have the same problem? Mercs say they have changed everything. Please help!!!!

GDawgC220

I had this problem about a month ago where the gauge just stopped responding after I re-fueled. It would just stay on the reserve light and that was it. Few days later, re-fueled for the sake of not running out, lo and behold, when I started 'er up, the fuel gauge popped back into action.

I brought it in just to have it checked out anyway and they said it was the gauge itself, meaning I would have to replace the cluster ($500), but it was working, so I said leave it for now until it acts up again. So far, it's been fine.

Also a common problem on the ML's are the fuel sending units where it reports to your cluster and computer how much fuel is left in the tank. I also had that problem where it would register the incorrect amount of gas after refueling, it would only go 3/4's of the way up. had that replaced when i had warranty and it registered the correct amount of fuel after that.

Good luck!

Stiggs

Ditto here!
I was told that I have a bad fuel sending unit. The darn thing drops from 1\2 full to 1\4 full in the same day I fill her up! I didn't want to spend the astranomical amount to fix it...so now I fill 'er up and keep track of how many miles I go on the tank....sure sounds like a pain in the ****, but so is spending almost $800 bucks!!!
I'll keep that money thank you......of course this happens just when the warranty runs out. Its almost like the damn thing knew!

GDawgC220

lol, yeah. good thing ours was replaced under warranty but now it's the gauge itself that's acting up, but hasn't happened since...hopefully it won't come back!

mihir_d

I have a long standing annoyance with my dash cluster...one of the bulbs in it has blown...dealer quoted me 1.5 hours of labor (%145) to get a damn $1 bulb inside...

Does anyone know, how to get the cluster out?

azinn

Yes,
I'll give an outline of what is involved and you can decide to try it or not.
The 2 dash colored panels on each side of the steering column need to be removed first, then the dash colored strip at the top of the steering column. With these removed, the black frame that surrounds the cluster is removed by pulling out on the 2 tabs at the bottom of the black surround and pulling downwards on the frame.
Next, the cluster itself can be removed by loosening the 2 black plastic fasteners at the top and removing the 7mm screws at each side of the cluster. The cluster will come out quite easily without removing the steering wheel. There is one electrical connector that will need to be removed from the cluster, it is a locking swing-latch that is pretty easy to figure out.
The bulbs are easy to replace by using a small screw driver, they are 1/4 turn to remove. The bulbs most likely will need to come from a dealer or mercedesshop/fastlane I'm sure sells them as well. I recommend doing at least the 3 behind the displays (clock, temp, odometer) since you are going through the trouble to remove the cluster. You may want to replace the illumination bulbs as well, but not the bulbs for the warning displays, I've never had one of these fail yet.

Good luck

Stiggs

I have this awesome new system now. I only fill up with 10 gallons of gas at a time. then I assume I get 17MPG...I estimate on the low side (I hope). Then I reset my trip meter. When it gets to 170 miles on the trip meter then I know its time to put 10 more gallons in!!
So far so good!!

I know this system will screw me the one time I forget to reset my trip meter!! LOL

mihir_d

I have got until removing the colored side panels below the cluster in the past and did somewiring with the ignition for an extra set of driving lights.....I'll try to go further with the instructions you have written up...

Yet another weekend project, I guess...will post the outcome...

Chip

The fuel gages on the ML have always been a problem. My works sort of. When the light comes on it will take anywhere from 13 to 20 gallons to fill it up. The range is 200 miles city to almost 300 highway depending on how fast and which way the wind is blowing. I use that to help me plan my fuel stops. On a ML 500

XyKo

Damn, my 99 ML430 guage have always been messed up. Why does it always happen just when the Warranty is up?! Now, I don't know how much it cost, but I know it'll be a couple of hundreds. Well, no matter how much I pump, the gas meter go down like 1/4 a day just for driving for 10 miles! I can never reached the full meter status!

Also, what gas do you guys use? I used 93 all the time, but Mercedes recommend 91 which in MA, we don't have!. Thanks

Swiss Nick

Gasoline?? Horrible stuff!! You want some nice diesel- much cheaper and lasts longer (us europeans can't afford gasoline). In Europe the gasoline is 95 or 98

GDawgC220

Yeah, we use 93...i wonder if MA had 91, would it be cheaper...

ghitos73

I have a 98 ML320 with the same fuel sending unit problem. Has anyone here replaced it yourself? The dealer wants $600 to replace it.

Stiggs

Man that sounds like it would be hard to do. But then again I don't know how to do too much on this truck.
My dealer quoted me a price for my fuel sender unit....unfortunately I can't remember what he said. I want to say it was up in the $800's. I quickly forgot about getting it fixed!! I also quickly forgot about the price!

pointman

how many gallons does the ml take? im only getting 175ish out of a tank!

ghitos73

Date Miles Gal Cost Miles MPG Comments
28-Mar 75871 10.506 $20 210 19.99 Hwy only
27-Mar 75651 10.506 $21 221 21.05 Hwy only
26-Mar 75430 11.442 $21 178 15.60
20-Mar 75251 12.008 $24 184 15.35
11-Mar 75062 14.007 $28 162 11.57
3-Mar 74900 13.597 $28 245 18.02
22-Feb 74655 14.007 $28 316 22.56 Hwy only
11-Feb 74339 15.515 $29 169 10.89
29-Jan 74170 14.155 $28 234 16.53
24-Jan 73936 12.113 $23 165 13.62
15-Jan 73771 15.767 $29 269 17.06
5-Jan 73502 7.516 $15 103 13.70
29-Dec 73399 14.553 $24 221 15.19
23-Dec 73178 13.700 $23 205 14.96
12-Dec 72973 15.160 $25 242 15.96
3-Dec 72731 15.008 $25 222 14.79
24-Nov 72509 15.212 $26 226 14.86

GDawgC220

Um...i think the earlier w163's take 16 gallons, the new ones a little more? We usually get 250 / tank

mihir_d

The tank capacity is 18.2 gallons...with reserve...on all MLs except the AMGs...

I had clocked slightly over 300 the time I ran out of gas on the road...

JoePaluch

The tank on our 2003 ML320 is 22.x gallons.

My gas mileage from 15,410 miles when we purchased

269.1 Miles - 14.448 Gal - 18.6 MPG
341.0 Miles - 17.630 Gal - 19.3 MPG
402.8 Miles - 20.601 Gal - 19.6 MPG

All of this is mixed City Freeway / City Street Driving.

BTW... In Phoenix the best we get is 91 Oct and it is still $2+ per gallon.

Swiss Nick

It breaks my heart listening to you guys having to pay $2 + for your gas. In Switzerland we have to pay $1.00 PER LITRE!!!! Work that one out. However that is for RON 95 or 98, but hell, I would take a lower RON to save some money!!

ghitos73

Wow you pay $3.79/gal (3.785 gallons = 1 Liter) for gasoline in Switzerland! That's outrageous!

Swiss Nick

That's cheap., the UK price is $1.44 a litre!!! or $5.45 a US Gallon.

GDawgC220

I heard that Australia pays even more than that? I think somewhere around $8 U.S. dollars / gallon???

Swiss Nick

Ouch!!!!

ghitos73

I apologize for the wrong conversion ... I goofed ... you're right ... (1 Liter = 0.26417 gallons or 1 gal = 3.785 L). I had it backwards, but my calculation was correct about the cost of gas (US) per gallon. Still outrageous! I am so glad that we're not paying that much in the US ... yet.