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How's it going guys I'm trying to get my truck back rolling after about 3 years of being parked in my driveway. We got it started today , I got the usual lifter tick @ startup/ idle but my friend says I might need a valve job due to blue smoke emitting from both exhaust pipes. I was wondering if this motor is even worth the trouble or should I just order a whole new engine? & would it have to be the SAME exact year for everything to be 100% compatible? I uploaded a video on YouTube the link is
How's it going guys I'm trying to get my truck back rolling after about 3 years of being parked in my driveway. We got it started today , I got the usual lifter tick @ startup/ idle but my friend says I might need a valve job due to blue smoke emitting from both exhaust pipes. I was wondering if this motor is even worth the trouble or should I just order a whole new engine? & would it have to be the SAME exact year for everything to be 100% compatible? I uploaded a video on YouTube the link is https://youtu.be/YY0LCARqtV0 , any advice would be greatly appreciated! - thanks guys
hey im also in the process of getting my new to me ml55 project back to its glory. If you need a new motor, you can use any ml55 year engine or other m113 5.4 engine (w210 e55, w208 clk55, w220 2000-2002 s55 engine) should be jus to plug and play. Do not attempt to slap in anything else but a 5.4 m113. As for needing a valve job, it's quite likely but these things are diy friendly and you can get it done in fair amount of time for cheap. You can order a whole engine and then salvage yours for parts or precious metals. I personally think you should get it running on the same engine unless it's got real high miles (even more of a reason to keep it running). I have a lot of work to do on mine but it's got under 116 k on it so it's worth it to fix it back up. Let me know what you end up doing or if you already went ahead and ordered a new one.
i am in the same boat - however, my 2000 ml55 is mechanically sort of sound - running decently. my interior is shot and i'm putting in replacement seats today YAY !!!
i am in the same boat - however, my 2000 ml55 is mechanically sort of sound - running decently. my interior is shot and i'm putting in replacement seats today YAY !!!
what does it need? I'm the opposite of you. It's got a damn good interior but it's driving poorly. Since you have a 2000, which headlights are installed? Regualr xenons or bixenons?
i assume this vehicle has regular xenon headlights.
cosmetically the front seats are shot. i have gotten replacement seats from a junkyard which 'almost' match the dark charcoal original seats. these seats are a medium gray and very nice condition. i removed the seats from the truck and and currently removing the cushions to replace on the existing frames. on the drivers seat i need to replace the forward/back seat motor.
the radio needs to be fixed - the volume control is bad,
the 'wide' side of the rear seat does not fold down ...
someone 'pinstriped' the roof rack and rims - red. they painted the AMG rims black.
2 window regulators don't work, 2 interior door covers need repair.
a cup holder is broken.
the glove box is broken.
i could go on .. a previous owner recovered the interior camo. i have removed almost all of it ;.. i could go on.
i assume this vehicle has regular xenon headlights.
cosmetically the front seats are shot. i have gotten replacement seats from a junkyard which 'almost' match the dark charcoal original seats. these seats are a medium gray and very nice condition. i removed the seats from the truck and and currently removing the cushions to replace on the existing frames. on the drivers seat i need to replace the forward/back seat motor.
the radio needs to be fixed - the volume control is bad,
the 'wide' side of the rear seat does not fold down ...
someone 'pinstriped' the roof rack and rims - red. they painted the AMG rims black.
2 window regulators don't work, 2 interior door covers need repair.
a cup holder is broken.
the glove box is broken.
i could go on .. a previous owner recovered the interior camo. i have removed almost all of it ;.. i could go on.
If you are planning on restoring it somewhat or fully, please do go on. It seems this forum is dead. I get the ml55 isnt something to boast about and most people had their fun when it launched and continued to enjoy the truck for a decade after but there seems to be little activity now. The argument can be made that most things have been covered but that doesnt mean new things cant be discovered or shared. It'd be beneficial to future readers to read about your process. I'm waiting for my parts to come in to document my process. I'll probably make some youtube vids.
Depending on where you are located, you can pick up a fair cond. 55 for under 3000 and swap parts. Buying things individually just adds up to the cost of a whole one. A bumper is 300 plus and i need the amg hood, rear and front which amounts to 800+ or I can put in 1500 and get a whole w163. I just don't want to go through the hassle of dismantling it and parting it. It also overkill.
Seems like yours requires a lot more work than mine but we are still in the same boat. Whats your milage at? These are totally worth restoring and keep running. I was reading older threads about people asking which is better the ml55, cayenne s/turbo, or the x5 4.4, 4.6, 4.8 and it seemed like some were bashing the ml55 because of its appearance and drive feel. Some years later and the ml55 seems to be the most reliable regardless of its look. I see more x5's on CL than w163's and the same for cayennes. The parts are still far more expensive when compared to the 55. I've also had the pleasure of driving the x5 and cayenne and to be fair they do drive nicer but at a cost. The ml55 is the best bang for your buck IMO. I hope you post more of your ml55.(sorry for my little rant)
my truck is at 134K. i bought it for next to nothing ... picked it up in Florida. one of my requirements was the capability to drive back to Louisiana from Florida ... which it did nicely. it is the right size for me - i no longer need a full-size truck and have an e320 for a daily driver. what turned me on to these in general was that i got a '05 ml350 for my daughter and love it - except it's a little underpowered for what i need which includes towing a boat. the idea of having a hand-built engine, best transmission MB has made, and a heavy heavy vehicle in case of an accident just makes sense. i'm not a show car enthusiast. i do traverse junkyards every 2-3 weeks much to the consternation of my girlfriend who goes with me too.
i've driven BMWs and they break in spectacular fashion. not as heavy feeling as an ml. porsche - no chance. not big and heavy enough to handle what i throw at a truck. it's not a car to me. when i get a few more things situated, it may be my daily driver - gas prices don;t mean anything to me based on other issues.
i am waiting on a lower radiator hose - mine blew out a week ago ... LOL !
i will keep adding as i get a few things done - until i get that hose i'm immobile but i will try to get additional replacements from a ml500 which hit the yard this week.
my truck is at 134K. i bought it for next to nothing ... picked it up in Florida. one of my requirements was the capability to drive back to Louisiana from Florida ... which it did nicely. it is the right size for me - i no longer need a full-size truck and have an e320 for a daily driver. what turned me on to these in general was that i got a '05 ml350 for my daughter and love it - except it's a little underpowered for what i need which includes towing a boat. the idea of having a hand-built engine, best transmission MB has made, and a heavy heavy vehicle in case of an accident just makes sense. i'm not a show car enthusiast. i do traverse junkyards every 2-3 weeks much to the consternation of my girlfriend who goes with me too.
i've driven BMWs and they break in spectacular fashion. not as heavy feeling as an ml. porsche - no chance. not big and heavy enough to handle what i throw at a truck. it's not a car to me. when i get a few more things situated, it may be my daily driver - gas prices don;t mean anything to me based on other issues.
i am waiting on a lower radiator hose - mine blew out a week ago ... LOL !
i will keep adding as i get a few things done - until i get that hose i'm immobile but i will try to get additional replacements from a ml500 which hit the yard this week.
roger
Do you mind if I ask what you paid for it? I only ask because the only very cheap ones that I've come across were trucks with milage over 180k. Actually most of them were like 230k. No doubt they are still worth driving but they stay at around 3000. I bought mine with under 116k miles, a salvage title, and 4 owners for 800. This is absolutely the best trans made. Parts are readily available, cheap, and the trans is diy friendly. I also bought it to tow a boat (in the future when I buy a boat) because my main reason for buying it was to take it on fishing trips. Since youre using ml500 parts, do you know if 430 parts are also ok to use? Maybe parts from an s class or e class? It seems like the s class shares part numbers but I havent found much help within the forums. Let me know if you happen to know anything since youve more experience with the w163.
Do you mind if I ask what you paid for it? I only ask because the only very cheap ones that I've come across were trucks with milage over 180k. Actually most of them were like 230k. No doubt they are still worth driving but they stay at around 3000. I bought mine with under 116k miles, a salvage title, and 4 owners for 800. This is absolutely the best trans made. Parts are readily available, cheap, and the trans is diy friendly. I also bought it to tow a boat (in the future when I buy a boat) because my main reason for buying it was to take it on fishing trips. Since youre using ml500 parts, do you know if 430 parts are also ok to use? Maybe parts from an s class or e class? It seems like the s class shares part numbers but I havent found much help within the forums. Let me know if you happen to know anything since youve more experience with the w163.
frankly, i traded some stuff that was worthless to me for it - in the end he paid me $300 to take it. that sounds ridiculous, but it is what it is.
i have noticed that the 'external' engine parts are identical - the lower radiator hose i ordered fit 500 and 430 motors too. the seat controllers are completely different between the 99 ML430 i harvested and my truck - so instead of swapping the entire seat i've replaced the cushions/seat cover combo - they are medium gray and very close. as soon as i finish the seat install and put in the radiator hose - my next project will be replacing the bumper with something from a ml320 ... if it fits for install, i will cut for exhaust and roll with it. going to look at a ml500 in the yard today - if the colors are lose may get the front door interiors since these are shot. it's an 02. i think the model year changes have a lot to do with the non-mechanical stuff. i did notice that my driver seat has a W220 part number ...
frankly, i traded some stuff that was worthless to me for it - in the end he paid me $300 to take it. that sounds ridiculous, but it is what it is.
i have noticed that the 'external' engine parts are identical - the lower radiator hose i ordered fit 500 and 430 motors too. the seat controllers are completely different between the 99 ML430 i harvested and my truck - so instead of swapping the entire seat i've replaced the cushions/seat cover combo - they are medium gray and very close. as soon as i finish the seat install and put in the radiator hose - my next project will be replacing the bumper with something from a ml320 ... if it fits for install, i will cut for exhaust and roll with it. going to look at a ml500 in the yard today - if the colors are lose may get the front door interiors since these are shot. it's an 02. i think the model year changes have a lot to do with the non-mechanical stuff. i did notice that my driver seat has a W220 part number ...
roger
Damn that's quite the deal. I see why it would be worth it to fix it up. If you could find an inspiration edition w163, they have the black leather seats which would be an upgrade and I think its plug n play for the most part.
Funny you mention the hoses from the 500/430 it because I talked to a "specialist" who happened to see me working on it and offered assistance at low rates. Good guy and seemed knowledgable but he just kept repeating this bs about the ml55 not being part friendly/compatible with lower tier w163's (320,350 is obvious). I didn't want to be rude so I just kept telling him its a project so exact parts aren't a concern for me. Apparently to him, the ml55 needs ml55 specific parts which I do agree with to a certain extent. For the most part, the ml55 shares major components with other platforms so I do understand why he would be a bit pushy on major parts. Luckily things like radiator hoses are pretty general and affordable.
Since I need to replace the bumpers, I was also thinking of going non amg bumpers because theyre in abundance and significantly cheaper. Youre right that the 02 and 03 only had non mechanical changes, such as climate control additions and mirror options and also had an increase in weight something like 400 lbs or more. I'm sure there is more but not much different than an 00-01
here is an overview of the first gen ml55 which is 00-01 which are basic in options but still pretty nice considering we attained our for very cheap compared to they go for on the market. These videos helped me figure what is working in my ml55.
My ML55 is still running strong, but looking for Driver Side Door Panel, and Driver Side mirror.
Also my ML55 tends to overheat if I run it hard then get stuck in traffic. Any advice on this would be helpful.
Thank you
My ML55 is still running strong, but looking for Driver Side Door Panel, and Driver Side mirror.
Also my ML55 tends to overheat if I run it hard then get stuck in traffic. Any advice on this would be helpful.
Thank you
My 2000 ML55 was overheating too when stuck in traffic. Back in February on my winter break trip to Canada, it started overheating at the boarder while I was waiting to cross into Canada (Yikes!). It was fixed by replacing the radiator fan. I got replacement on Amazon (Depo 340-55013-000) for $141.00. I got luck with some kind of a brief sale because after I purchased it the price went up to $369.
For any w163 ML55 owner who's interested in replacing the stock air box with DIY custom cold air intake. I finally found a K&N air filter system that works with the w163 V8 motor. The K&N (57-3035) Air Intake is actually made for Chevrolet Corvette but I figured out that this shape of the intake can fit between the headlight and radiator and place the air filter in front between the radiator and the front bumper/grille. It was a challenge figuring it out. Initially, I ordered a different model (63-3052) and the filter was too wide to fit in that front end space. Other parts I got for this mod was 2 feet of 3" carbon fiber pipe (you'll actually only need 1 foot), couple of silicone reducers and elbows. To install the intake I had to remove the top cross bar that holds the radiator and holds the hood latch. I definitely noticed a slight increase in performance/power, especially at highway speeds. The intake is not cheap at $432, but I think it looks cool and will help for sure, especially after I do the ECU tune (another +20hp/16tq) which is coming up next. Check out the pictures and let me know if you have any questions/comments.
04-09-2018, 05:02 AM
2000 ML55 project
