M-Class (W164) Produced 2006-2011: ML280CDI, ML320CDI, ML420CDI, ML350, ML500, ML550

2011 ML350 Appearance Upgrade Suggestions...

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Old Mar 14, 2012 | 08:20 PM
  #1  
EkremGee's Avatar
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2011 ML 350
2011 ML350 Appearance Upgrade Suggestions...

Hi People,

Need some comments/suggestions.

Looking to keep my 2011 ML350 Classy, but want to add a bit of an aggressive edge to it.

so....

1. Purchased an ML63 AMG bumper
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170618853903...8#ht_860wt_698

2. Purchased an ML63 Grille
http://www.ebay.com/itm/230757713642...ht_7018wt_1182

3. Purchased a ML63 Chrome lower shield from dealer

4. Purchased ML 63 Fog lamps from dealer with Chrome covers

5. Purchased Black Plastic Mesh air grille for ML 63 from dealer

(on a budget so very lucky to have gotten 3,4 and 5 at only $760.00...great deal i feel)

Things done already to the car:

1. Darkened rear tail lights and bumper markers


2. Powder-coated black the factory rims


3. Tinted Windows (35%)

4. It has the factory Chrome Appearance Package

5. HID Conversion to 8k's


Current Concerns

1. Dont like Orange Marker on the side of the head lamp...thinking about adding a sticker tint...dont know how to go at this...

2. Have stock tail lights...want to add aftermarket LED Tail lights....but getting mixed reviews about them...

Let me know what you guys/girls think on everything PLEASE...

Criticism is encouraged....
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 08:43 AM
  #2  
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2009 ML350
"Looking to keep my 2011 ML350 Classy"
Too late...
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 08:49 AM
  #3  
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2011 ML 350
Too aggressive?
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 03:24 PM
  #4  
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I think it will look cool with the AMG package. I did the same thing to my ML 350:
https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w...g-package.html

...and I love it.
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 03:40 PM
  #5  
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From: N.Jersey and New York, stationed in Germany
W164 ML500,SMART For two,1994 C280(5speed manual) 1999 C230k station wagon
Originally Posted by Sharkster
I think it will look cool with the AMG package. I did the same thing to my ML 350:
https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w...g-package.html

...and I love it.
I like your hood the most...... How much did you shell out for it ?
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 03:47 PM
  #6  
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From: N.Jersey and New York, stationed in Germany
W164 ML500,SMART For two,1994 C280(5speed manual) 1999 C230k station wagon
Originally Posted by EkremGee
Hi People,

Need some comments/suggestions.

Looking to keep my 2011 ML350 Classy, but want to add a bit of an aggressive edge to it.

so....

1. Purchased an ML63 AMG bumper
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170618853903...8#ht_860wt_698

2. Purchased an ML63 Grille
http://www.ebay.com/itm/230757713642...ht_7018wt_1182

3. Purchased a ML63 Chrome lower shield from dealer

4. Purchased ML 63 Fog lamps from dealer with Chrome covers

5. Purchased Black Plastic Mesh air grille for ML 63 from dealer

(on a budget so very lucky to have gotten 3,4 and 5 at only $760.00...great deal i feel)

Things done already to the car:

1. Darkened rear tail lights and bumper markers


2. Powder-coated black the factory rims


3. Tinted Windows (35%)

4. It has the factory Chrome Appearance Package

5. HID Conversion to 8k's


Current Concerns

1. Dont like Orange Marker on the side of the head lamp...thinking about adding a sticker tint...dont know how to go at this...

2. Have stock tail lights...want to add aftermarket LED Tail lights....but getting mixed reviews about them...

Let me know what you guys/girls think on everything PLEASE...

Criticism is encouraged....
I have smoked tailights that I got from eBay and they are high quality and perfect fit. I have the same problem with the headlight orange marker (U.S. spec) but have a brand new set (Euro spec) waiting for install. Are those stock wheels that were painted black and what size are they?
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 03:49 PM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by AMGC60-3
I like your hood the most...... How much did you shell out for it ?
The hood was around 1,000 EUR If I remember correctly. But that's not all... it's a little tricky to get it, as it can only be ordered if you have a model that has it equipped originally. It is not supposed to be retrofitted and your dealer will need to "prove" that you have an AMG ML.

I know, this sounds like nonsense... but try to order it and you'll see how tricky it is. BTW.: The hood was only used on the 10 years anniversary ML63 and later on all MY2011 ML63. ML63 before MY11 do not have that hood.
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 03:53 PM
  #8  
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From: N.Jersey and New York, stationed in Germany
W164 ML500,SMART For two,1994 C280(5speed manual) 1999 C230k station wagon
Originally Posted by Sharkster
The hood was around 1,000 EUR If I remember correctly. But that's not all... it's a little tricky to get it, as it can only be ordered if you have a model that has it equipped originally. It is not supposed to be retrofitted and your dealer will need to "prove" that you have an AMG ML.

I know, this sounds like nonsense... but try to order it and you'll see how tricky it is. BTW.: The hood was only used on the 10 years anniversary ML63 and later on all MY2011 ML63. ML63 before MY11 do not have that hood.
Thanks for the tip, I may have to look into that in the near future.
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 04:01 PM
  #9  
EkremGee's Avatar
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2011 ML 350
Originally Posted by AMGC60-3
I have smoked tailights that I got from eBay and they are high quality and perfect fit. I have the same problem with the headlight orange marker (U.S. spec) but have a brand new set (Euro spec) waiting for install. Are those stock wheels that were painted black and what size are they?
Great. Send me the link on those taillights...

They are stick 19" rims powder coated black.
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 04:20 PM
  #10  
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From: N.Jersey and New York, stationed in Germany
W164 ML500,SMART For two,1994 C280(5speed manual) 1999 C230k station wagon
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Mercedes-M-Kl...item2eb7cb8258

They have these tailights all over in German eBay. I thought those were stock wheels that were powder coated.
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 04:22 PM
  #11  
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2011 ML 350
Yes yes. Stock.
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Old Mar 17, 2012 | 12:56 AM
  #12  
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2011 ML 350


pic of te wheels
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Old Mar 17, 2012 | 11:38 AM
  #13  
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2008 ml320
Originally Posted by catbert
"Looking to keep my 2011 ML350 Classy"
Too late...
Nice first post. You can only go up from here.
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Old Mar 17, 2012 | 11:56 AM
  #14  
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2011 ML 350
Maybe I'll do better next time. as you can see I'm new to this.
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Old Mar 17, 2012 | 05:13 PM
  #15  
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'03 A4 2.0 Stroker, '14 E63 S AMG, '10 E550, '10 S550, '03 C240
Not bad so far. However, I must admit, I do not like the black wheels thing, it's played out and it looks cheap IMHO.

Also, remove the HID kit, 8000k HIDs are horrid for the road, they project less than some good halogen bulbs. The higher in Kelvin(k) you go(i.e. 8,000k, 11,000k), the less light is put on the road. Get yourself some OEM Bi-Xenon headlights(~$800/pair from ebay) and retrofit them. You don't need the whole curve-illuminating feature or the auto level feature to function, they are still adjustable manually. This way you get the REAL benefit from HID headlights as the projectors in those housings are specially designed for HID usage.

Also, the orange corner markers can be disabled via MB Star Diagnostics in Developer Mode. If you code the lighting module for Europe, the corners will no longer illuminate as markers, only as turn signals.
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Old Mar 18, 2012 | 10:08 AM
  #16  
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2011 ML 350
Originally Posted by AudiA4Turbo22
Not bad so far. However, I must admit, I do not like the black wheels thing, it's played out and it looks cheap IMHO.

Also, remove the HID kit, 8000k HIDs are horrid for the road, they project less than some good halogen bulbs. The higher in Kelvin(k) you go(i.e. 8,000k, 11,000k), the less light is put on the road. Get yourself some OEM Bi-Xenon headlights(~$800/pair from ebay) and retrofit them. You don't need the whole curve-illuminating feature or the auto level feature to function, they are still adjustable manually. This way you get the REAL benefit from HID headlights as the projectors in those housings are specially designed for HID usage.

Also, the orange corner markers can be disabled via MB Star Diagnostics in Developer Mode. If you code the lighting module for Europe, the corners will no longer illuminate as markers, only as turn signals.
I feel the color of the wheels is more of an opinion thing. And maybe I am a little cheap (probably why I went for the 350 rather than the 550, 63, brabus, kleeman etc.). But it's new and I like the look. I didn't like seeing soccer moms having the same car as I had so I went for the minor cosmetic upgrades.

As for the lighting of the 8k's, I feel that yes, it is a better light than what I previously had. And I like the look to it. It's not a dark blue or anything. It's a white with a little bit of blue in it.

I was looking at a eurospec bi xenon headlight with led drl's integrated with the headlight. I'll throw an example in when I find I again. What do you think?

And I agree....at this point I'm throwing "classy" out the door and going full on aggressive.
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Old Mar 21, 2012 | 11:17 AM
  #17  
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Kia Sedona
Originally Posted by EkremGee
Maybe I'll do better next time. as you can see I'm new to this.
you are too nice and catbert is too much of an ***. thank you for sharing your mods. this is what the forums are for.
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Old Mar 21, 2012 | 05:32 PM
  #18  
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2011 ML 350
Originally Posted by V12toHybrid
you are too nice and catbert is too much of an ***. thank you for sharing your mods. this is what the forums are for.
Thanks brother....I'm not too nice, I'm just not a "computer tough-guy" haha

Im happy with it...still working on it...got my bumper in, grill still hasnt come in...

This was not completely installed, i just wanted to see how it would look before i changed the bumper supporter as well...

I was also thinking LED DRL in the black mesh area vertically...now i understand it might very well be too much, but i can be easily convinced
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Old Mar 21, 2012 | 06:28 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by EkremGee
Thanks brother....I'm not too nice, I'm just not a "computer tough-guy" haha
that's so true "computer tough guy"!!!

btw, the bumper definitely sets it apart from the soccer mom crowd. are the AMG grill needed to fit the new bumper or you just got it for the looks? if just for looks, couldn't you just paint it and save some money?
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Old Mar 21, 2012 | 06:34 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by V12toHybrid
that's so true "computer tough guy"!!!

btw, the bumper definitely sets it apart from the soccer mom crowd. are the AMG grill needed to fit the new bumper or you just got it for the looks? if just for looks, couldn't you just paint it and save some money?
No need for the AMG Grille... but what tempted me to do the upgrade was a freak traffic accident that damaged the grill... So I saw opportunity...

And Yes...Im 6'4 300 lbs never really needed to be aggressive in real life, let alone on an internet forum... hehehe
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Old Mar 21, 2012 | 08:26 PM
  #21  
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2008 ml320
Originally Posted by EkremGee
Maybe I'll do better next time. as you can see I'm new to this.
not you, the guy posting that your truck was not classy.
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Old Mar 21, 2012 | 08:29 PM
  #22  
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2011 ML 350
Originally Posted by Sammydavis
not you, the guy posting that your truck was not classy.
no worries buddies...thick skin lol...im just excited working on my car....
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Old Mar 21, 2012 | 11:24 PM
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The AMG bumper just looks awesome on the W164!
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Old Mar 22, 2012 | 07:45 PM
  #24  
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Looks like it's on it's way to being a head turner to those that know.

Mark
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Old Mar 22, 2012 | 10:39 PM
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Thanks Mark...And all the supporters.

Im really in love with my car, and others like it. I love to log on to these forums and see everybody's work on them. It kind of sets your car apart from the rest...I finally finished installing my grill and bumper...

ladies and gentleman. I give you...the finished product... separate before and after pics will follow on a new thread...



https://mbworld.org/forums/members/e...re26786-67.jpg

https://mbworld.org/forums/members/e...re26785-65.jpg


I know there are much nicer ones out there...as ive seen simply in the forums...but Im REALLY happy how mine came out.
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