Front nudge/bull bars
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Sydney, Australia
'13 ML350BT, E280CDI, C220CDI
Hi,
Photos of ML with 18" rims and of the raised rear floor are attached.
After much indicision I chose Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season tyres and was very happy with them. Good handling and quiet. While we didn't do much off road, they handled it without issue. Wear was good, we did 14k and the tread depth changed from10.5 to 8 (using an old tyre depth gauge that is in 32nds of an inch)
The rear floor frame is 100x30 made of two sections of 50x30 RHS Aluminium then covered in black carpet. The frame uses the standard floor.
Yes, the ML was a joy to travel in. It ran without any issues. Heaps of get up and go when needed, very quiet, comfortable and Command was great especially as we preloaded our music and audio books on 64gb Ultra SD cards. I needed to do some review of the off-road controls and when the right mode was selected all was very easy.
While it wasn't due for a service I had an early service done at 12k before we left with oil change and new filter and a top up of adblue. The ML didn't use any noticeable amount of oil.
Overall a great vehicle for what we were doing.
Photos of ML with 18" rims and of the raised rear floor are attached.
After much indicision I chose Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season tyres and was very happy with them. Good handling and quiet. While we didn't do much off road, they handled it without issue. Wear was good, we did 14k and the tread depth changed from10.5 to 8 (using an old tyre depth gauge that is in 32nds of an inch)
The rear floor frame is 100x30 made of two sections of 50x30 RHS Aluminium then covered in black carpet. The frame uses the standard floor.
Yes, the ML was a joy to travel in. It ran without any issues. Heaps of get up and go when needed, very quiet, comfortable and Command was great especially as we preloaded our music and audio books on 64gb Ultra SD cards. I needed to do some review of the off-road controls and when the right mode was selected all was very easy.
While it wasn't due for a service I had an early service done at 12k before we left with oil change and new filter and a top up of adblue. The ML didn't use any noticeable amount of oil.
Overall a great vehicle for what we were doing.
Last edited by ChristoFir; Oct 30, 2013 at 04:23 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 4
From: Western Australia
2013 ML350 W166
Thanks Benz Werd for all your info. Also been trying to get a nudge bar for my W166 ML350. Have spoken to 3 different bar manufacturers here in Australia and none want to touch it. No reasons given apart from one that casually mentioned the ML350 W166 did not have a full chassis like the W164. I an clueless about this but others may know how true this is. I think the sensors are a big concern as well as the airbags. I used my "profound knowledge" and non-degree in engineering, (ha ha) to investigate myself and decided that it was very tight under there and would need some work and designing to make it useful as well as look reasonable. I currently have it being looked at by a Mercedes Benz service company here in Perth. Not holding my breath.
As for your mount did it fit between the grill ok and not rub. Do you think that your mount would handle a 3ft aerial with a spring base? Every time I have used a fixed base aerial it has been either hit by a bird or been deliberately broken. I had a good look at my car and you must have spent some time and "patience" getting yours done.
Anyway I will update this post IF anything eventuates. Thanks again for your input and I liked your spare wheel mod too. Mine has what I believe is an air bottle under the skinny wheel so not sure if that would affect doing something similar to your setup. Maybe using a roof pod to carry a full wheel could be my answer for my long trips.
As for your mount did it fit between the grill ok and not rub. Do you think that your mount would handle a 3ft aerial with a spring base? Every time I have used a fixed base aerial it has been either hit by a bird or been deliberately broken. I had a good look at my car and you must have spent some time and "patience" getting yours done.
Anyway I will update this post IF anything eventuates. Thanks again for your input and I liked your spare wheel mod too. Mine has what I believe is an air bottle under the skinny wheel so not sure if that would affect doing something similar to your setup. Maybe using a roof pod to carry a full wheel could be my answer for my long trips.
Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 99
Likes: 26
2002 Ml320, 2012 ML350 & Slk55
I use a magnetic base for my CB.
I do Oversize load escort work for a relative (he doesn't pay me I do it for fun) and the reception is good and no holes drilled and the cable just passes through a rear door.
The Benz door rubbers are soft enough to not damage the cable and also keep water out.
I used the same setup on my W163 and did many thousands of K's with it and it never gave trouble.
Sometimes I wish I'd kept my W163, I far preferred it to drive.
I do Oversize load escort work for a relative (he doesn't pay me I do it for fun) and the reception is good and no holes drilled and the cable just passes through a rear door.
The Benz door rubbers are soft enough to not damage the cable and also keep water out.
I used the same setup on my W163 and did many thousands of K's with it and it never gave trouble.
Sometimes I wish I'd kept my W163, I far preferred it to drive.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne, Australia
'24 GLB250. Previously '23 GLB250 '17 GLS500 '14 C250 '13 ML500 '12 C250 '08 ML500 '07 E500 '03 A160
Thanks Benz Werd for all your info. Also been trying to get a nudge bar for my W166 ML350. Have spoken to 3 different bar manufacturers here in Australia and none want to touch it. No reasons given apart from one that casually mentioned the ML350 W166 did not have a full chassis like the W164. I an clueless about this but others may know how true this is. I think the sensors are a big concern as well as the airbags. I used my "profound knowledge" and non-degree in engineering, (ha ha) to investigate myself and decided that it was very tight under there and would need some work and designing to make it useful as well as look reasonable. I currently have it being looked at by a Mercedes Benz service company here in Perth. Not holding my breath.
As for your mount did it fit between the grill ok and not rub. Do you think that your mount would handle a 3ft aerial with a spring base? Every time I have used a fixed base aerial it has been either hit by a bird or been deliberately broken. I had a good look at my car and you must have spent some time and "patience" getting yours done.
Anyway I will update this post IF anything eventuates. Thanks again for your input and I liked your spare wheel mod too. Mine has what I believe is an air bottle under the skinny wheel so not sure if that would affect doing something similar to your setup. Maybe using a roof pod to carry a full wheel could be my answer for my long trips.
As for your mount did it fit between the grill ok and not rub. Do you think that your mount would handle a 3ft aerial with a spring base? Every time I have used a fixed base aerial it has been either hit by a bird or been deliberately broken. I had a good look at my car and you must have spent some time and "patience" getting yours done.
Anyway I will update this post IF anything eventuates. Thanks again for your input and I liked your spare wheel mod too. Mine has what I believe is an air bottle under the skinny wheel so not sure if that would affect doing something similar to your setup. Maybe using a roof pod to carry a full wheel could be my answer for my long trips.
I ended up selling my W166 ML around 2.5 years ago now without ever getting any type of nudge bar fitted. I gave up in the end as I wasn't able to find anything suitable either.
Best of luck to you though, and please post some pics if you do end up getting something fitted!
Cheers from sunny Melbourne!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne, Australia
'24 GLB250. Previously '23 GLB250 '17 GLS500 '14 C250 '13 ML500 '12 C250 '08 ML500 '07 E500 '03 A160
tigertas I didn't have a UHF antenna bracket. Perhaps this question was for another member who posted in this thread?
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
ML350
BUMP.
I bought a bull bar for my W166 during the pandemic (too much free time on my hands, I guess), but have no idea how to install it. I've seen mentions of bolting directly to the frame; does anyone have SPECIFIC install instructions? Also, since it was an eBay special (and 3 years ago), I don't recall if I was provided with mounting brackets. ANYONE who has experience installing one of these unnecessary add-ons to a ML350, please share!!! Thanks!
I bought a bull bar for my W166 during the pandemic (too much free time on my hands, I guess), but have no idea how to install it. I've seen mentions of bolting directly to the frame; does anyone have SPECIFIC install instructions? Also, since it was an eBay special (and 3 years ago), I don't recall if I was provided with mounting brackets. ANYONE who has experience installing one of these unnecessary add-ons to a ML350, please share!!! Thanks!
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 4
From: Western Australia
2013 ML350 W166
Interesting news. Be very keen to know more about your bull bar as I still haven't made any progress my end. As I have not seen a fitted bar I cannot advise of how it is mounted to the ML. What could be a start though is to see if you can jig it to emulate the bar on the ML. That way you can see is it is built properly to accommodate front sensors and lights. Fudging it into position also may help decide if it actually bolts directly on or needs brackets. Another thing that has always concerned me is the front clearance once after it is fitted. Sorry I cannot be any real help but wouldn't mind a pic and possible seller info if you can please. Good luck.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
ML350
Here's a link to the A Bar I purchased:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254570757542
Additionally, I've included the PDF for mounting instructions.
I've now confirmed I didn't receive any mounting hardware, as I found the original box. Both AutomotivepartsUSA on eBay & Black Horse haven't been helpful to this point. Because of that, I can't say I'd recommend doing business with them. The A Bar seems to be high quality, but it's just taking up space in my garage until I find out how to get my hands on the hardware.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254570757542
Additionally, I've included the PDF for mounting instructions.
I've now confirmed I didn't receive any mounting hardware, as I found the original box. Both AutomotivepartsUSA on eBay & Black Horse haven't been helpful to this point. Because of that, I can't say I'd recommend doing business with them. The A Bar seems to be high quality, but it's just taking up space in my garage until I find out how to get my hands on the hardware.
