why doesn't anyone lift an M?
 

unlike the X5, this german SUV isn't a grocerry getter; it has some balls offroad. so, coming from a 20 year old who's into raised trucks (ford, chevy, dodge and jeep), why hasen't anyone put a moderate 6-7" lift with some decent 33-35" tires on one of these bad boys?

and save the "you're a kid, this is a benz" reply. i used to drive one (300e). benz, ford or toyota, trucks are trucks. i personally think they're meant to be taken offroad.

and on a side note, laszlo, beszelsz magyarul? ;)

anyone gonna respond?

i just bought a 02 320 and i am very interested in lifting it about 2 in. please let me know if anybody knows how or where i can find a kit.

By lifting you will change many of the dynamics of the vehicle. You will then become a test pilot and we will hear you crying on this board because nothing works right. Want to lift, buy a Chev or Ford

i photoshopped this in 5 mins, what you think?

http://members.cox.net/westcoastca/i...iftedml320.jpg

looks ready to off-road on the moon, cool :cool:

for a hefty SLK, check out http://www.jimrogers.com

probably hard to lift an ML very much due to its independent suspension. Most trucks i see that are lifted have a solid axle setup.

I imagine it could be done, but it would be very expensive. The bigger tires would wreak havok with the ESP, for instance. Those other vehicles typically have leaf springs, as well - you'd have to figure out how to handle coil suspension. Maybe another subframe? Very expensive.

And I doubt there is much out there as far as parts. Ford/Chevy/Dodge/Toyota make a LOT more vehicles than MB, so an aftermarket supplier is not going to be interested in tooling up for the relatively few (one?) that want to jack up their ML.

And, of course, it looks ugly! ;)

Has been done before
 

I remember seeing a few pics and info about a lift & 35" tires, etc. on a ML - so it has been done. I'm sure it would mess up ESP, etc., but it's possible. I'll try to post the link if I can find it.

Why the hell would you want to raise an ML!!!!!!! Raising the car will make the ride terrible...not to mention the look of the car.

And so what if you're a kid (I'm your age). If you drive a car like the ML, you're not that interested in the off road experience. The cars you listed are geared more toward the clientele for what you are talking about. And German cars are much harder to simply just raise than American cars (much more electronical complications).

I'm a huge participant in the BMW X5 meets (I've spent way too much extra money modifying my car) and I've never heard of anyone trying the raise their German SUV/SAV...HA! Sounds so silly. I can't even picture an ML raised.

I don't drive the ML, but I do own an X and it's lowered with H&R springs and I love it because it takes corners much better at 60+ mph. And my last comment is that the X is for people who are really into modifying their car to have the sportier look while being able to have a car that can handle the winter weather. So if you think the X is a "grocery getter" I think you're mistaken. Go test drive one!

Some major mods to my 4.4 X5:

eisenmann race exhausts
20inch Mutec rims
H&R springs
zex nitrous system
custom painted trims
carbon fiber exterior
AC Schnitzer pedals/brake
neon kit (used for car shows only)

I think the particular one I saw was for off-road purposes. The ML is not as capable in certain situations off road as the G-class, but is able to do a lot. Certainly more than an X5 could. My point is that some people might want to take their ML's offroad with higher clearance.

About not seeing any X5 lifts, that's because the X5 isn't capable of anything much off the roadway - it's not meant at all to do that, and is meant more for performance than off road.

Anyway, and yes the ML looks very weird lifted.

personally I don't think the ML or the X5 or the RX was ever meant to go off road. I think they were just meant to be a stylish mini van. I really don't know anyone who takes their utes off road. I do know people who take their landrover disco's and defenders off roading.

this is probably why you don't see these trucks lifted... also if someone wants to go off roading, i don't think the ML or the RX are going to be their first thoughts

my bad if i offended any of the hardcore ML fans..this is just my 2 cents.

We took our '00 ML320 off road up in Montana - we have a ranch with no paved roads for the last 70 miles (and no roads at all for the last 10 or so).

My brother brought his Toyota FourRunner - neither vehicle had the slightest problem - even though we got into some foot-deep mud in spots. I watched the ESP light come on and we just powered right on through.

Of course, we were both being pretty careful - me in particular since the nearest MB dealership was in Denver!

i don't want bigger wheels nor off-road capabilities. i just want to lift/raise the body of the car about 2 in. for the looks. any info will be appreciated!

lifting an M-Class
 

For those who might be interested in M-Class off-road information, check-out this link: (http://www.whnet.com/4x4/ML320BFG.html)

The nice thing about the M-Class, is that all the fragile, important parts: Transfer case, driveshafts, differentials, brake lines and gas tank are all tucked nicely up into the very subtanial frame.

I have done lots of off road "rock crawling" (such as the Rubicon trail) in a highly modified jeep. So I know what can and cannot be done with a vehicle. A lifted M-Class has the potential to be a very good contender, as long as body damage doesn't bother you.

Even my ML55 has been off-road, in mud and snow, and handles quite nicely.

I've got an honest 12" clearance under the front skid plate on my '99. The 255/75s are way too big though. (just trying some out) 255/65 or 70 max for me. The body can be lifted easily enough but the fuel tank is going to stay right where it is without reworking the mounting hardware. On the rear irs one needs to think about camber or wheel spacers vs. some light body work. I can hardly get the chains to clear between the tire and the lower inside finder liner. As for off road? it could use the larger 13" rotors like whats on my wifes 500 so the traction control will do what it's told. Extreme off road? Sure it could use a locker, or two, but for crawling around most of Moab, spend the ten min and take off the sway bars so your tires will stay on the ground where they belong.

Off road?
 

By the way, as I read more 'posts' here,
The body on frame ML's have more meat and steel in the suspension and drive train, in the right places, than most 3/4 ton trucks. The only thing "smallish" that stands out is the ZF Diff's. (of course the fuel tank needs covered) It's too bad (too late) that the monster GL's have the locking diff's option. I don't know if they use ZF or not but it's likely bigger. Maybe to push around the extra 980# ~ 1200# without heating up, (or fragging out).

Can you post up some pics! I am highly interested in lifted MLs. it is mainly the reason i bought mine. I have been researching different tire sizes but i am unsure of what size to go with.

Photos
 

I would, but this thing asks me for a URL back slash bs I know nothing about. If someone sends me a step by step, 1, 2, 3, on how to send s photo, gladly.

I did it!
 

I'll try another. This is the skid plate whilst I was fitting / forming it.

Is the skid plate aluminum? Looks real good. I don't know how to post pics but I am interested to see more

'99ML 430 lift
 

Ok, here we go.
For all those "Thinkin' about", "What if"? "Should I?" questions out there, Here's my '99 430 with BF muds @ 255/75/17s, tortion bars cranked all the way up, no wheel spacers or camber adjustment, and about 1/2" total rubber spacers between the "road soft" portion of the three lower windings, (that are smashed together anyway), on the rear springs.
>>(A note on the rears, I need to take one of the rears out of my wifes 500 to check the top shock mount. When I do that, I can take some serious measurements of the spring, test the spring rate, and shop for a good replacement, without the progressive, "road soft" portion. Like the Old Man Emus on my Land rover and every other heavy duty 4X4 spring here on EARTH. That being said, we can forget about any MB dealer or those mega chain so called 4X4 shops that only deal with about 5 truck brands and thier bolt on part #s.)
Photos Fallow

'99ML 430 lift
 

Front & rear finder / tire.
Rear spring rubber spacer.
Skid plate detail. Front plate is 3/8", dif cover is 1/4". Used existing holes. Don't kid us here, this is stout shtuff. 25 tons to put those two bends in it. Yes I could have left a little more space for those sway bar mounts but so far no interferance, they only move about 1/4" ~ 1/2" at most.
The front of the front plate bolts to the under side of the front steel bumper frame thing. It's not an impact (5mph) bumper so movement isn't an issue.
The BF muds are 31" dia. new and again, TOO TALL for the gears/power this thing puts out. They're fine for snow, which is mostly what I need it for, and for creeping around Moab. (I steal the stock wheels off the wifes 500 for the drive there)

OOps, it 11 & change"
Sikd plate fits up nice and tight, covers the good stuff.

..nice and tight
This is looking slightly forward, back side, at the lower rad guard thing.