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Hello All Recently picked up a ML350 Bluetec and I decided to start a built thread. I am a long time forum member and very active in the x204(GLK) section. Now i will be checking the w166 section as much as the x204 on my daily basis.
Here are few pictures of my ML, i think i got a really good deal. I paid $20.188 (tax and dealer fee included) with first free oil change and 90 days powertrain warranty.
I was purposely looking for one without the airmatic and 360 camera since i do not want to deal with the airmatic issue. Plus, this one is going to be my daily drive, so i want to be as much as reliable. In terms of the 360 camera, the rock chips are so bad in where i live. I really don't want to deal with a cracked front camera. I think it about $600 CAD for front camera replacement. Other than the above two options I don't have, i think mine ML really loaded, except the leather package. Push start, pano roof, navi, back up camera, white exterior with black interior (personal preference). There are few minor problems with the ML, nothing major. All services work was done at Mercedes dealership. The downside is the vehicle has 170 000 km when i brought it. The good thing is, no accident in the car fax, lot of paper work from the dealership, oil cooler seal was recently replaced by the dealership All Bluetec equipment was at working condition without any check engine light. I couldn't find a better deal than this, so i pulled the trigger. I really enjoy the ML so far, special the extra space compare to the GLK. Anyway, nice to meet you guys all
Let do some modifications to improve the look of the ML.
Brought a new GTR grill and led star from eBay. The seller accepted my offer:
$150 USD for GTR grill
$50 USD for led star
Both items arrived really fast, like less than 3 weeks and the quality are really amazing.
I am surprised even the grill and emblem are from two different manufacture, they fit really well.
To install the emblem, you have set it in the follow angle, twisted clockwise to 12 o'clock position, then place the star. Took me a few try to get it perfect
I added some 3m tape in the back since there is a little gap and it doesn't feel as tight compare to the OEM
To remove the grill, please refer to the following link
Here are some pictures after i took over the cover. Dead bugs every where. I don't think it ever being cleaned before
Overall the installation is simple and it really updated the look of the ml. I will take some more pictures tomorrow before i go to work. Really happy with my purchases.
Time to get the second mod going. One of the small problem when i purchased the ml was the hood vent was faded. It didn't look too bad, but it really showed the age of the vehicle
I found a pair carbon fiber cover from ebay for $50 CAD and the quality of the product was actually pretty good. The installation was easy, just clean it with alcohol and apply pressure to the 3m tape that came with it. The outcome looks amazing
Now i am thinking doing the carbon fiber mirror housing since most of the new GLE have the black mirror housing.
Hopefully i will remember to take some pictures tomorrow before i go to work.
Carbon vents do look good for that price point.FWIW the white looks to be residual wax, not plastic fading. And for any fading trim, megures made a spray "ultimate black" that works really well, i use it mostly on the lower trim pieces. hides the stuck on wax too.
Got any pics with the GTR grill on?
I also suggest replacing the incandescent parking lower bulbs with white LEDs (can bus of course), updates the look if you dont already have the upgraded headlights.
Carbon vents do look good for that price point.FWIW the white looks to be residual wax, not plastic fading. And for any fading trim, megures made a spray "ultimate black" that works really well, i use it mostly on the lower trim pieces. hides the stuck on wax too.
Got any pics with the GTR grill on?
I also suggest replacing the incandescent parking lower bulbs with white LEDs (can bus of course), updates the look if you dont already have the upgraded headlights.
I am pretty sure those are not residual wax. Is the megures ultimate black spray are permanent fix?
My ml came with the bi-xeon headlights, i don't have the parking bulbs, only the led strip
My next mod is the pedal. I can't believe they didn't put the aluminum pedal on the ML. Both of my w204 and x204 have them, so i guess i have to put it on my ml. The good thing is only cost $30 from eBay. No idea how much OEM will cost, but the set i got from ebay was really good quality, well worth the money. Installation was super easy, fit is perfect
It time to get the wheel done. I really not a fan of the stock wheel, special the size. I honestly don't know why the factory will use 19 over 18, the 19 inch tire are even more expansive than the 20. It just doesn't make sense to me. Oh well, time for some new replacement.
i got the above wheel from Tire Zone@Calgary. The offset makes almost flush to the car.
I got the Bridgestone Duler H/L Alenza Plus 255/55R18. I am not a fan of the big wheel because it expansive and not practical. I hate seeing rims getting scratched. With the high side wall, most of time it pretty safe for me and my wife even park very close to the curb.
You can get the above tire from Costco for $215 per tire. Ali from Tire Zone price matched for me, so my entire set up comes to around $1800 CAD installation and new set of lug nuts included.
Last edited by GLK Super Fan; 09-30-2019 at 08:28 AM.
Load carrying capacity of the wheel would be my main concern. I would certainly be looking at that very closely.
The different wheel offset will also effect the handling and tyre (tire) life.
You can name the wheel to"any" class u like. Lol My wheel are rated at 790kg, which are more than enough to handle the weight of the ml. I don't know how people can have the mind set that C class wheel cant fit e class because e class is a bigger vehicle. To me, as long as the wheel meets the spec and clear the caliper, it will work just fine.
Not saying i am a tire expert, the difference on the wheel off set has probably very minimal effect on a vehicle like ml in terms of handling and tire life
There's an item called scrub radius that has lots to do with wheel offset.
As long as you don't mind upsetting that all good.
Of course it does affect the vehicles response in an emergency but with luck you won't ever find out how it affects the vehicles steering or handling.
And you wheels are only 50KG from there ultimate load when the vehicle is fully loaded. Heaps of margin there.
Honestly, defensive driving will probably be a better option than relie on the better handling with the low profile tire. I understand it a trend that people love to put bigger rims with lower profile tire, but just not my style if i can run 17 on my ml, i will definitely do 17
I was trying to find the oem wheel specs to compare, but couldn't find the weight rated for the oem wheel, so i have no base data to compare. But whenever i work at the wheel and tire shop, even the guys drive truck are not complaining having issue when hauling their trailer with after market rims.
You can restore old plastic with ceramic coating. Look up LegitStreetCars on youtube. He does it with Avalon King. If you have not used a coating like this you are missing out!
You can restore old plastic with ceramic coating. Look up LegitStreetCars on youtube. He does it with Avalon King. If you have not used a coating like this you are missing out!
I am actually alex YouTube subscriber as well i haven't really try the ceramic coating, but will probably do when next summer comes.
As i mentioned before, there are few small issue with the vehicle when i brought it, one of them is the broken Engine Cover. I honestly have no idea how the engine cover was broke, but the vehicle had all services work done at the dealership... Oh well... It is what it is. Lesson learned, maybe i really should pop the hood next time after the service was done at my vehicle.
I found a replacement engine cover from a ebay seller in Germany, it worked out about $220CAD included shipping. The engine cover was a lot more heavy than i expected. I didn't brother to call the local dealership and see how much it will cost, but i assume is gonna be higher. I took pictures of the part number if anyone else need to replace their engine cover
Another small problem that came with the vehicle was the Tire valve cap are not all the same i believe i havw 2 oem and 2 additional after market style
Found a spare set tire valve caps from my garage, grey color, which looks ok, but who care. Just gonna be a temporary fix since i am planning to sell the stock rims
They look ok. At least they all the same now
And the winter is here i was hoping i can keep my summer setup till early Nov, but didn't happen.
Will probably replace the center caps since some of them are worn pretty bad.
Lately was really busy with work and family, didn't have much time to work on the ML
Ordered a trailer hitch cover from ebay and quickly wrapped with my left over carbon fiber film. It turns ok, will probably re do it once i have more time
Lately has been really busy with work, so didn’t get much time to keep update my post. Recently I did an engine flush with Liquid Molly Pro Engine Flush. I first drained all the old oil, then added 1 bottle and 300ml engine flush alone with 7L of oil. I let the car ran for about 15 mins, then drained all the oil again. The oil came out peach black even the oil just been in the car for 15 mins. I am doing this engine flush because I am not sure if the previous owner did the oil change on time or not.
After the engine flush completed, I added 7.2OEM MB oil 229.52 along with Liquid Molly Ceratec 1 bottle and 180ml into the engine. I really like the Liquid Molly ceratec product. I had great success with my GLK. Engine run a lot more smooth and the knocking sounds was greatly reduced.
Now I have hard time reading my dipstick because the oil is like so clean. I have to drive maybe few hundred kms and wait till the oil get darker by the soot, so I can decide whether I need add more oil or not. When I try to do research online, some site said our OM642 takes 9L and some said 8L. I hope I am not running my engine like a liter of oil short right now, but in the same time, I do not want to overfill. If you done oil change before on your OM642, how many liters of oil you guys put in?
I really liked my vehicle ramps from Canadian Tire and the $10 ebay filter wrench. It really makes the job so much easier.
Lots of oil. Very expansive oil change The vehicle ramps makes the oil change so much easier. Lots of room under the car Super easy to locate the drain plug ebay oil filter wrench works perfect. I believe they are 84mm, Really like this CERATEC product
09-23-2019, 04:25 PM
Recently picked up a ML350 Bluetec and I decided to start a built thread. I am a long time forum member and very active in the x204(GLK) section. Now i will be checking the w166 section as much as the x204 on my daily basis.
i believe i havw 2 oem and 2 additional after market style
