Hi Folks,
I just picked up a '07 ML350 to replace my wife's 9 year old W163.
It's overall a very nice car, but I need to do several things that the dealer blatently ignored. The dealer is 250miles away so I hope some of you can help me with DIY advice (yes, I tried the search function first).

HEADLIGHTS: the driver's side points up and to the left (surely blinding oncoming drivers), and the passenger side points downward to the right. WHERE are the height and lateral adjusters (are they manual or self leveling?)?

Steering: Dealer claimed the car was perfect. Of course, they claim not to have noticed the modest gouge in the front right rim (pretty hard to do with the 235/65 tires). Driving back to Boston, I noticed the steering wanders quite a bit more than the W163. It's not loose, just very sensitive on-center. Ruts in the road or just the current windy conditions blow the car off track more easily than our W163. I'm hoping it's just an alignment. Do any of you feel your W164 has a bit less straight-ahead stability than your W163?

Otherwise, I think my wife is going to be very pleased. It's night and day quieter and more comfortable than our W163. Much peppier, but MPG was a bit lower (22.1 from NYC to Boston, the old W163 would do around 24.5mpg).

The rear seat has a bit less leg room, but I'm used to the kids always complaining about something. Maybe the rear seat heat/AC/ and RSE will quiet them down.

I thought the multi-contour seats were a gimick, but I actually liked the lumbar adjustment a lot. The old w164 Nav, as many have said, is pretty lame and quirky too. I do feel the difference between MB-Tex and leather and I'm not sure I like the 'stickyness' of the MB-tex. Well, I got a seatcover for the kids and we might get sheepskins for the front.

Per everyone's advice, the dealer threw in BLACK all-season mats, and I bought the running board kit (prices just went up for '09). Valley Motors is selling them for $880 now.

Well, I hope the next 8 years are as good with this W164 (it's a 1 year old dealer loaner car) as the last 9 were with our W163.

Thanks in advance for any help!

John Feng

 

If they're not Xenon, here is the location of the screws.

 

I just got around to reading thru the 500page manual and the adjustment was right there. Sorry for wasting bandwidth.

John

 

That's just one of the manuals you have to read... Wait till you get to the COMMAND book.

I did not own a 163, but my 07 sits really steady on the roadway. Have that alignment and wheel damage checked pronto.

The multi-contour seats are a blessing on long trips, though it takes a while to find the perfect adjustment for you.

There are a few things that you need you make sure has already been resolved. First, make sure the tranny upshift/downshift issue is fixed, and also the trailer hitch recall, if it has one. The Continental tires seem to wear much faster than others, so keep that in mind. There is also a TSB for front end clunk/steering noise when moving off.

Otherwise, sounds like you bought a nice truck. Enjoy!
Greg.

 

My Conti's went 30K. I replaced them with Michelin Latitudes which now have about 17K on them. They don't look like they'll make it to 30K.

FWIW, they're rotated every 5K, pressure is checked and adjusted to spec regularly; and the alignment is right on.

I'll probably go back to the Conti's when it's time. They seemed to have better rolling resistance (better fuel mileage) and a better ride.

 

Thanks to all of you for your help. What a great forum!
I'm ordering new tires for the ML today.

Conti CrossContact or Bridgestone Alenza's (which we have on the W163, but they're getting noisy at 30kmiles old).

John