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

Oil level on instrument cluster

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Old Oct 25, 2018 | 07:24 AM
  #1  
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Mercedes Benz ML350 4MATIC W164
Oil level on instrument cluster

As far as i know oil level can be checked via instrument cluster as well. But on my car it does not show oil level(picture below). Am i doing something wrong ?
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Old Oct 25, 2018 | 02:59 PM
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Funny, I was just reading the same thing on the W203 forum.
Strange, but apparently it doesn't work on all vehicles, which leads one to believe it's probably related to the ECU software version. My lowly prefacelift 02 C230 has menus that tell me, and even you can check the oil without even popping the hood through the normally available menus.(Though most often it gives you a cryptic message 'perf serv on time' which means it needs to sit longer after stopping or you didn't run it 1st) Which is why it surprised me on our 06 ML350 you can't read the oil with the computer,only check via dipstick though it will tell you to check it at the next fill up when it's low.
You know damn well the car knows exactly how much oil is in it, but they put that feature (checking oil with the computer in the menus) only in the more upscale V8 versions on W164. Why? Who knows.

Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Oct 25, 2018 at 03:05 PM.
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Old Oct 25, 2018 | 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Elchins
As far as i know oil level can be checked via instrument cluster as well. But on my car it does not show oil level(picture below). Am i doing something wrong ?
I believe only the ML500s had that feature. Look at the Owner's Manual index under Engine Oil. If it doesn't have checking with control system, you do not have the feature.
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Old Oct 27, 2018 | 09:06 PM
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In early 2000s MB eliminated dipsticks but received too many customer complaints.

The ML 500 would have the older M113 engine without dipstick.

350 and 550 are the newer engines (M272 an M273) with dipsticks.
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Old Oct 28, 2018 | 03:19 PM
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Mercedes Benz ML350 4MATIC W164
Originally Posted by lkchris
In early 2000s MB eliminated dipsticks but received too many customer complaints.

The ML 500 would have the older M113 engine without dipstick.

350 and 550 are the newer engines (M272 an M273) with dipsticks.
I know the way of checking oil level by using dipstick. Question is with how to check on instrument cluster.

Thanks
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Old Oct 28, 2018 | 07:49 PM
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Answer is ... to repeat ... you can’t.
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Old Oct 30, 2018 | 12:52 AM
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Even my 08' ML63 AMG it is only with dipstick. Sometimes the analog way is still better as it makes you look under the hood.
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Old Feb 22, 2020 | 12:49 AM
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These are both 2006 ml500. The one with oil level displayed is a later build date.
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