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I just picked up a 2003 ML320 with 162,000kms around the middle of July. I used to own a 2003 ML320 and ML350 and sold them when the ML320 hit 400,000Kms and the ML350 when it hit 340,000Kms.
In any event, I missed driving the W163. Had a Jeep Grand Cherokee for a couple of years but wasn't the same. So I went back to the 2003 ML320 and paid $3000 CDN for it.
The following was done by the previous owner before I bought it from him.
New BFG Long Trail Tour, new brakes (pads and rotors) all around, new battery, new water pump, new power steering lines and new coolant and radiator.
It now has 165,000Kms on it.
This is what i've done to it so far since I bought it last July.
New front shocks - new steering rack - new tie rods - new bosch platinum spark plugs - AC service - Four wheel alignment (all these done in July)
New Mann air filter - new Mahle charcoal cabin filter - transfer case fluid (1st fill using dexron III - 2nd fill using Castrol Transmax Synthetic) - differential drain and fill using Citgo Premium 80W90 in both front and rear (all these were done in August)
New Mobil 1 0W-40 oil and Fleece oil filter - done in September
So far - I've spent $3000 CDN in this project ($1500 alone was on the steering rack including labor and MB power steering fluid)
I know I might have to do the transmission fluid drain and fill soon (that will be my mid-September early October project) and I also have a small hole in my right outer cv joint boot (might just change the boot cover if possible).
I have this brake wear lining light that comes on once in a while but not often - it just started a week ago and it comes and goes - brakes are 80% all around (had it checked when I did the oil change).
Having said that, would there be something I should be inspecting or changing before the snow hits the ground? In my mind, I think I covered the basics.
Any comments or suggestions are welcome.
Last edited by The Sailor; 09-08-2018 at 12:37 AM.
The brake wear signal could be that the previous owner replaced the brakes which were worn down, but did not replace the wear sensors, which is a must.
The brake wear signal could be that the previous owner replaced the brakes which were worn down, but did not replace the wear sensors, which is a must.
Same thing I would have suggested. They are cheap& easy to replace. Did my rear brakes last fall and should have swapped the sensors at that time, but they didnt arrive in time when doing the brake job.
Kept the previous sensors on, however, "knock on wood" no problems of using them so far.
The brake wear signal could be that the previous owner replaced the brakes which were worn down, but did not replace the wear sensors, which is a must.
Just bought a couple of those wear sensors from Germanparts.ca for $5.00 each and was headed to my mechanic to have them replaced when the lights went out and never came back.
Did a nice 120km trip and never came back on - oh well, at least I have the wear sensors on hand in case the lights come back on.
One issue left - cd changer is stuck on CD3 track 4 with no CD's inside and it ejects fine. Not really a big issue since I have a working CD in the front, but it would be nice to have a changer working. Any suggestions?
Mobil 1 0W-40 European Formula still on sale today for $25 - Ended up buying 4 more jugs for future use.
Last edited by The Sailor; 09-08-2018 at 01:51 PM.
09-08-2018, 12:34 AM
