Hello , just want to share my recent experience with my ML350 Bluetec DPF delete. To begin, I would like to share few information

 

That is right, for the price of $1,699 plus labor and parts(approximately $2,500), you can have your ML350 push with 330HP and 530 TQ This is my first time posting in the ML forum section but I am not new I had a great success on my GLK DPF delete and always being a active member. How I call myself had a great success with the GLK DPF delete? what if I tell you I can achieve 4.8L/100km (49mpg) and probably better mpg with my GLK since I had changed with few things. If you want to know more, come check out my post in the GLK forum.

 

Ok, back to the ML350 , I really dont like my ML350 stock before the tune - Lack of power! I have no idea what MB are thinking. It such a big suv with a heavy price tag, how can we(the owners) lack of the power when we needed! I know the new W166 has few different mode that can choose from, but whatever, I can deal with my ML350 with one driving mode, the mode that I LIKE it. The mode that SAM helped tuned it to Honestly, after the tune, I LOVE my ML350! It powerful!, acceptable fuel efficient and fun to drive.

I picked the stage 2 tune with the DPF/SCR/EGR delete. The ML felt like day and night after the tune. The power it just so amazing! Like so powerful! it will definitely put a smile on your face. Because there is no driving mode to select for our ML, I reset the transmission learning software after the tune and drove SUPER aggressive (max rpm to shift every time and kick down every red light for few trips). Now my transmission is smart enough to keep the RPM if i needed, and if i want to drive like an old man, it can do that without any problem. Sam asked me if want to add a resonator for approximately $100, I denied. I am happy with my decision. It is little louder than stock when you cruise, but it acceptable. When you floored, it sounds awesome Almost like a sport car It loud enough to get people's attention. Honestly, the 530 TQ REALLY makes the ML fun. If you are having problem with your bluetec BS, dont replace the part, get it delete! This is the way to do it and have a very nice vehicle with a very low maintenance. I know there are a lot of company offer DPF delete for our ML, but if you live in Calgary area or you can find a shop to install the piping for you, there are no reason not to go to Sam's shop! I mean seriously, which shop wont charge you if you not happy with the tune(retune until you are happy) and guarantee without a check engine light on your dash board after the tune .

For people that live in Calgary Here is the bonus I had issue with my actuator motor and the dealer recommended me replaced both sides of the intake manifold. Sam helped me fix with a software tune by unplug the manifold when the swirl flap when it open. I honestly don't know many mechanics nowadays willing to repair a part instead of replace it. Sam is the type of mechanic willing to help you repair the part/ fix by tune before it break your wallet. If I get enough feedback from this post, I will post a start up video and 0-100km video. if you want to know more about the tune and dpf delete please contact SAM@ (403) 891-3179 or visit http://www.ecuprogram.com/mercedes-benz

You can also PM me as well let me know what questions you have from a user perspectives.

 

Recently had to replace EGR valve, got code P0405 and many limp modes. The new EGR solved the problem, but I wasn't sure it would. Wish I would have just done this instead!

Still driving okay? Any problems following the tune and emissions deletes?

 

Yes. It still drive awesome. No problem so far. Just did a mileage test yesterday and was able to get 5.5L/100km

 

WOW!

 

WOW!!!

 

I have a few questions

is there any visible soot if you rev the engine, or watch it accelerate from behind the vehicle?

i would assume most of the performance increase is due to egr and dpf delete. Do you know if that’s true and did you consider leaving the scr in place?

 

If you floor the gas pedal, you will see the black smoke, but not as bad as the diesel truck. Most power coming from the tune and delete. If you leave ur emission stuffs on, you won't get as much power

 

No smoke here. Nothing different from stock, really.

 

I definitely will recommend Ecuprogram Sam from Calgary AB.
Recently had my BT done and it's literally flying.

 

Yep!! Like flying!!!!!, So fasttt

 

Can you flash it back to stock in case you need to go to dealer?

 

I don't see why not. Ideally, it'd be best to have a 2nd ECU but that can be a pricey option

 

@GLK Super Fan how is your car smell wise after this modification?
I had a stage 1 malone tune done with the full delete like yours with a buzzken pipe, and I even got the optional buzzken DOC Cat too (which I dont believe you have from what i see in the photos).
Loving everything about it, but the exhaust smell bugs me a bit and bugs the spouse a lot. It's only noticeable when at a stand still and the wind blows just right and it happens to blow back in the direction of the cabin.
It's not a huge priority for me but I've been searching around for a possible fix, just not sure if i should be looking at software (different tunes) or hardware (different pipe or something added on to my buzzken pipe).

peter2772000 mentioned he has no smell problem, but he also didnt do a full delete like us iirc so that would make sense.

Also, wow on the mileage, i think the best i have seen on mine after the modifications has been somehwere around 6.8L/100km on a long trip with a lot of highway driving.

 

Hey bud!

I did a full delete, I did not do a performance upgrade. I now have a very very slight ammonia smell if I run her in the garage. Otherwise no issues to speak of.

 

Hey! hope all is well with you and your family given the new lockdowns in Mtl.

we chatted about this looking at parts diagrams and i remember we couldnt 100% identify what was what on the pipes even with help from others (this thread).
you mentioned you only had the DPF removed (left the stock Cat) with some custom pipe the shop made and attached for you, i believe GLK Super Fan and i have more removed because of the buzzken pipe (DPF and Cat probably). Maybe software wise we all have a "full delete" but i think you have more original parts in tact than we do (thats why i didn't think yours was a full delete), and maybe that is helping the smell not be as bad?
or the alternative is that the Malone tune is just bad, maybe it runs really rich and that contributes to the smell being worse and the mileage not being as good as GLK Super Fan?

If GLK Super Fan's smell is very minimal like yours, I'd be up for trying the same tune and see if that improves things.

looking at GLK Super Fans photo, on my car the red circled section is bigger, im assuming that is the extra DOC Cat i wanted, so im assuming without that DOC Cat the smell would be worse for GLK Super Fan.

 

Yes, but you can't do it yourself. Need to bring it back to ecu program

 

Hey man, my car still have the diesel smell. I am sure you can get a tune without/ minimize the smell, you really have to talk to your tuner. For my ml, i am more focus on the power and torque, don't really care about the smell/smoke. I think some of the new tune, you can keep your dpf and all the emission hardware in place, you just do a software tune. I believe that your best option if you don't want any smoke or smell, but i think the dpf will eventually plug up.

 

You're right ,Babukb2, I didn't do the other exhaust delete. Completely forgot about that.
Everything else was deleted and the one thing my shop insisted on making me understand is that bypassing both systems in the exhaust pipe would lead to a terrible smell.

 

@GLK Super Fan smell like a diesel is fine. I've been around other diesels and sure they smell different, stronger than a gasoline car, but what im smelling with mine and what some others have also complained after a delete is more than just regular diesel car smell. It's stronger and most people relate it to a pungent ammonia smell. Would you say what you smell with your car after the delete is a much stronger smell than you had before the delete, or would you say its about the same as before the delete or only a little bit stronger?

@peter2772000 i wonder why some shops take out both cans while others (like yours) only take the one off. For you since one was left, is there no possiblity of adverse effects down the road (like if a dpf was left it would eventually get plugged)? I could always have my OEM Cat put back on if that is whats making the difference.

 

No idea bro. And the shop has since changed ownership, so I can't call to find out. It is strange though...

 

I also had our 2013 ML350 diesel fully "deleted" and tuned by the same shop as GLK Super Fan in Calgary. I do have a very strong diesel smell, stronger than you would get from a typical diesel Jetta or Golf. I also have a faint blue color, not black, diesel exhaust while the engine is cold. The other day I almost gassed-out the attendant in a drive-through! I could be wrong but I believe peter2772000 did not remove the SCR (selective catalytic reducer/ reaction) which is the cat AdBlue gets injected into. My SCR was also removed, that is the bigger cat you see above in GLK Super Fan's pictures, the one on the ground by itself without any pipes. I was told by the shop that when you delete and code the AdBlue off, you have to remove the SCR as it will also get plugged overtime. Perhaps the deletes that leave the SCR in place smell less?

 

thanks for your input. this is what im hoping to figure out.
if GLK Super Fan has the same much stronger smell after the delete then it clearly isn't the tune thats the cause and it would be a waste of money to try different tunes. unless i want to try to achieve the much improved mileage he gets!

So then the question is if the 1 OEM can is left on like peter2772000 has, will it plug up or cause problems, and if it does how long for that to occur and what would the costs be to repair/replace once it occurs. maybe its worthwhile to replace/fix it once in a while and not have the strong smell.

I don't recall older diesels (pre dpf/adblue) smelling quite this sharp, so what did they have that didn't plug up and kept the smell to a minimum? If the OEM can would plug up if left on, maybe there is something that could be retrofitted onto the exhaust to reduce the smell.

 

Mine was that bad. I believe has to do with fuel and air mixture, which the tune definitely has something to do with it. I know for a fact that a 2016 GLE350d had bad smoking problem after the dpf delete and a tune. After he adapted the tune from Sam, the smoking problems got solved.