mverta

We just got delivery on our ML550. As multi-generational MB drivers, we love the car, but are disappointed by the little quality slippage indicators - cheap door locks/seatbelt buckles, that sort of thing. Plastic just creeping into the interior...

Anyway, we've decided to give our ML a little love, find some nice upgrades for things, potentially, just to offset that a bit and make it feel special. One thing we definitely want to do (the car is black, by the way) is put black 20" Brabus rims on it. We're getting a mod for VIM and we're getting FLIR, because my wife and I both have night-restriction drivers licenses, plus with infrared display in-dash, I can pretend I'm, like, James Bond or something. That one is for my 5-year-old self who would've crapped his pants at the very idea of that.

Anyway, we're also taking the ML550 letters off the back. Ditto this stupid, giant sticker the dealer put on our $70k car like we paid for the privilege of being a mobile commercial for their ****ty dealership. Also, we're factoring the cost of traffic tickets for not having a front license plate into our yearly budget. No, we're not ****ing up the face of the car with a giant white rectangle; the rear's bad enough.

Our ML550 is the P2 package plus a few other things - we deliberately didn't get leather this time, got MB-Tex and don't want to change that, but I'm curious what else you guys would do to give her some bling-factor?


_Mike

AMGTTV8

what dealer did you use that you are bad-mouthing it so much?

congrats on the purchase - fantastic machine...

I would say xenon fog lamps, window tint and x-pipe for exhaust - let me know your thoughts!

Chris

mverta

We bought it from Loeber in a suburb of Chicago. Nightmare.

I'm with you on the xenons, actually, we got them! In addition to the P2 package, we got the optional xenon/headlight washer system/corner-illuminating fog light package, and the sport package with the aluminum/rubber running boards and 19" AMG 5-spoke wheels. But, man, 20's look way better, and I absolutely love the look of the black Brabus 9-spokes:



I mean, come ON now that's sexy...


I'm going to go check out the x-pipe. Tint-wise, California forces totally different standards on the windshield and driver's side window, so you always end up looking like you got about halfway done and changed your mind. At least, it looks like that to me. If I could get a good tint all-around I'd be totally with that.


_Mike

AMGTTV8

Sorry to hear that - I know the Loeber's..

I agree, wheels do look good..

I just moved away from Chicago but am pretty sure that they just lifted the ban on front window tint - check it out, but I'm pretty sure I'm right...

Throw some 20 or 30% all around and it will look sexy!

Oh, and I know you got xenons (saw your P2 in first post), but I'm talking about thowing an HID kit in the fog lamp housings...

I bet you love your full-led rear tail-lamps!

sosh

Sport package with running boards is standard on the ML550. Can't get it any other way. As for your choice of wheels my personal opinion is that they are terrible and do not befit the appearance of the vehicle. If you must change the wheels keep looking for others and not black ones.

mverta

You don't like the black, huh? Well I'm with Brabus on this one; I dig it. I've never liked black rims before, either, but this combo works for me. Who knows; I like to give myself time to get over it, but that first impression was good, and that says a lot.

Oh, by the way, first thing we did today was take the ML550 and 4MATIC emblems off.


_Mike

mverta

We brought the car home to California, where you're only allowed the top 4" of non-reflected tint on the windshield, the driver/passenger windows must allow 70% light in. The rest can be whatever. 30% tint... I dunno...


_Mike

Godfather@ONE Autosport

Get the chrome fins that go right over the hood fins. I had those on my ML350. I'd also get some wheels and maybe a mild suspension drop.

AMGTTV8

Gotcha - thought you lived in Chi...

I still say go for it

sosh

Well its more than the black but the entire styling of the wheels.. As for removing the emblems thats a personal decision. My take when I see that is that the car had been hit and repaired and the body shop neglected to replace the emblems. As for tint, cops hate that and around here even though its legal you will have a high likelyhood of being pulled over particularly downtown. Seems that many dealers in illegal stuff do that. I personally like the AMG wheels that are standard and the rear light tint thats standard. Don't make your ML look like the operative word in your title "pimp"

mverta

There's definitely that line - taking a carefully planned an engineered $60-70k vehicle and just putting plastic crap on it, and generally disregarding its vibe and intent, and then there's realizing that that same carefully planned and engineered vehicle was consciously made to appeal to the widest possible target demographic, which means nothing too bold or aggressive; often the very things which make something exceptional.

I remove the emblems for philosophical reasons. Stuff like rims, I'm letting myself sit with my ideas to see if I get over them.


_Mike

CDNROCKIES

I also like the black wheels.

We'll be putting on a similar set (ie. black face/chrome lip) in the spring...just can't decide whether to go with 20's or 22's.

MB Dave

Ive had nothing but good experiances with Loeber, the service dept is great I get my ML500 and my CLK500 serviced there, imo they really know how to treat you right in the service dept. My ML500 is due for service in 1k so I'll see if they slipped and yes tints are legal in chicago to an extent, if the car came with no tints all over you can go up to 35% but on the other hand if the car came with tints from the factory your are only limited to 50% in the front.

mverta

Our experience was bad; comically bad. So bad it'd be funny except it's not. Maybe I'll be able to talk about it in awhile without wanting to break things. One of the highlights was where a salesman was actually screaming at my wife over the phone. Anyway, we got the car, and got that Loeber sticker off the back within 24 hours. Next time we need a Mercedes, instead of going to Loeber, I'm going to push my ***** into a Cuisinart. It'll be less painful.


_Mike

MB Dave

hahahaha lmfao!!! Ouch, salesmen are pigs. I had issues with Autohause on Edens, I knew the GM really well theyre and they still treated me like crap, but thats life.

bogeyh8tr

What brand of X-pipe is recommended and who has done it and what kind of gains are noticed by doing this?

Let's Roll

Any special technique for removing those emblems?

kjmurphy

You can use a hair dryer to warm/soften the adhesive on the back of the letters. While doing this, have someone take a piece of dental floss (unwaxed works best) and gently slide it back and forth underneath the letters and they should come right off. You can remove any leftover residue with rubing alcohol and a microfiber towel. Be sure to turn the towel frequently or you will end up smearing the residue instead of removing it.

Kevin