How Would You Pimp your ML?
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w164
How Would You Pimp your ML?
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
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
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,027
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From: Orlando, FL
2026 AMG GT63 Pro
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
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
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
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w164
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
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
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,027
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From: Orlando, FL
2026 AMG GT63 Pro
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
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
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!
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
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
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
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w164
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
Oh, by the way, first thing we did today was take the ML550 and 4MATIC emblems off.
_Mike
Last edited by mverta; Nov 28, 2009 at 09:37 PM.
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w164
_Mike
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From: Orlando, FL
2026 AMG GT63 Pro
I still say go for it
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
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
Oh, by the way, first thing we did today was take the ML550 and 4MATIC emblems off.
_Mike
Last edited by sosh; Nov 29, 2009 at 04:23 PM.
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w164
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
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
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From: Chicago
Suzuki Burgman Executive
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.
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w164
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
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
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From: Chicago
Suzuki Burgman Executive
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
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
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From: Virginia
'04 E55 - Brilliant Silver; '22 RAM TRX - Granite
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
Oh, by the way, first thing we did today was take the ML550 and 4MATIC emblems off.
_Mike
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2010 ML350
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
Kevin
