ML write off rebuild

Steve@Avantgarde

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Messages
7,314
Reaction score
1,955
Location
Bristol/Somerset
Website
www.avantgarde-automotive.co.uk
Your Mercedes
E300 Coupe AMG Line PP/NE, SLR McLaren Roadster, SL55 & C32AMG
I would change that MAF intake. That seal will end up getting sucked in the turbo charger when the oily fluid attacks it. The VVT vanes will then end up in the engine bores.

Trust me, seen it countless times.
 
OP
Tom-B

Tom-B

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2019
Messages
58
Reaction score
84
Location
Warwickshire
Your Mercedes
ML320 CDI Sport - W164 2008
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #102
I would change that MAF intake. That seal will end up getting sucked in the turbo charger when the oily fluid attacks it. The VVT vanes will then end up in the engine bores.

Trust me, seen it countless times.
Hi Steve, do you mean replace it with a new one? Or is there a new part number that supersedes the one that I have?
 
OP
Tom-B

Tom-B

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2019
Messages
58
Reaction score
84
Location
Warwickshire
Your Mercedes
ML320 CDI Sport - W164 2008
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #104
Have been getting a lot of crashing from the back end and rough ride over speed bumps so replaced the shocks with some new Bilsteins. I had originally ordered Sachs as they were cheaper, however... they are not supplied with the top mounts and you cannot buy the top mounts separately for love nor money.
They also don’t include the dust covers and bump stops.
I didn’t fancy re-using mine, and the combined Bilstein units we roughly £40 a corner more.

91794880-4F95-451C-9FC6-8639CF254655.jpeg 392FF0A7-A8C3-44D6-A357-A75F3578EEBD.jpeg 9597CE29-EECA-4D20-B3D5-124B43ECF2AB.jpeg 251B9AF1-E086-4249-AE8A-30DDFB32EC18.jpeg EFAAD2AF-D7CD-467C-9785-B4F158BA6B57.jpeg CC57E172-B535-49AC-A013-3D419A6FAAC7.jpeg 6DF2D114-3129-411A-A637-5C634255B338.jpeg 9E7FC281-7602-487F-8AAC-C4B284E54E99.jpeg

Huge improvement in comfort and driving dynamics, the old ones must have been totally shot.. the back end is so tight it’s now showing that the front will need a refresh sooner or later.
The combination of Sachs springs and Bilsteins seems to be a good one.
Had I planned on changing the dampers in the first place I would have gone for Bilstein springs too.

Brake fluid was due replacement so got that done with some fresh MB dot4.1 and also treated myself to some Mann frescious plus cabin filters as they were cheap in the Euro car parts sale!

8095D964-52CB-4753-B5E7-C056DCF6E41A.jpeg
Old one top (Mann standard), new one bottom (Mann Frescious Plus)
 

davemercedes

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
4,345
Reaction score
2,099
Location
Glos
Your Mercedes
2007 Merc 220 CDi Est Auto Av (s203)
Tom, this has been a hugely enjoyable thread and I'm sure it's been thoroughly enjoyed by forum members. I am very impressed - you turned a potential junker into a superb road-going car that anyone would be proud to own and drive.

It was interesting to see how you attracted advice from our Indie members (Alex Foti and Steve @ Avantgarde) who have helped our members so many times before.

Very well done and thanks for your time and the extra efforts!
 
OP
Tom-B

Tom-B

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2019
Messages
58
Reaction score
84
Location
Warwickshire
Your Mercedes
ML320 CDI Sport - W164 2008
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #106
Cheers Dave, in all fairness the car has been a pleasure to work on most of the time. I think I've only encountered one seized bolt so far.... which pales into insignificance when compared to my other cars!
The front bumper at a reasonable price vs condition is still proving to be elusive, but I can still play the waiting game and get on with other stuff in the mean time.

She's off at a local indie today for the alignment to be looked at again, this is the fourth place to look at with the previous three all claiming they don't have the right tools to adjust the front camber... so hopefully, this place being an MB specialist can solve it.
Probably have to give the rear end a tweak too following the damper change, as I'm pretty sure the rear sits a little higher now.

Plenty more to do, and I'm now into the chase for improved refinement which is always entertaining.

On another note, fuels....
I filled a half tank from empty of Shell V-Power diesel to see if there was a noticeable difference vs supermarket diesel, and I've been quite surprised so far.
I do a 40 mile round trip twice a week, and according to the computer I'm getting a good 2-3mpg more without trying.
55-60mph drafting lorries in the slow lane and I hit 36+mpg, when I tried on regular diesel I could hit just over 32mpg at the very best.

The computer is surprisingly accurate, as I completed a full to empty test and calculated just over 31mpg average. Other cars I done this on have been miles off.
 

Conor

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
2,521
Reaction score
1,604
Location
London, UK
Your Mercedes
2010 S212 350 CGI // 2004 R230 500
I do a 40 mile round trip twice a week, and according to the computer I'm getting a good 2-3mpg more without trying.
55-60mph drafting lorries in the slow lane and I hit 36+mpg, when I tried on regular diesel I could hit just over 32mpg at the very best.

Interesting.. how far back from a lorry would you be when drafting?

Obviously too close is dangerous so wondering what a reasonable distance is and if the drafting is still effective?
 
OP
Tom-B

Tom-B

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2019
Messages
58
Reaction score
84
Location
Warwickshire
Your Mercedes
ML320 CDI Sport - W164 2008
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #108
I was roughly two cars lengths behind, and was lucky to be following a very tall lorry on an empty motorway in good conditions.

I don't know if it's just placebo, but the general feel of the car is smoother and I don't feel like I need to work the engine and gearbox very much at all.
 

Brizzle

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2016
Messages
349
Reaction score
99
Location
Bristol (UK)
Your Mercedes
E220 AMG Night Edition Bluetec Auto Estate (Feb 2016)
I was roughly two cars lengths behind, and was lucky to be following a very tall lorry on an empty motorway in good conditions.

I don't know if it's just placebo, but the general feel of the car is smoother and I don't feel like I need to work the engine and gearbox very much at all.

Blimey, that's a bit close, isn't it? Should the unthinkable happen you will have hit the back of the lorry before your brain realises it's stopped.
 
OP
Tom-B

Tom-B

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2019
Messages
58
Reaction score
84
Location
Warwickshire
Your Mercedes
ML320 CDI Sport - W164 2008
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #110
Perhaps it was a bit more, it certainly didn't feel like an unsafe distance for the speed and conditions. I don't advocate tailgating at all, and wouldn't have done it unless it was safe to do so.
 
OP
Tom-B

Tom-B

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2019
Messages
58
Reaction score
84
Location
Warwickshire
Your Mercedes
ML320 CDI Sport - W164 2008
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #111
Been having a 3rd brake light error recently so whipped it out at the weekend to check it out. Even before stripping it down, it wasn’t looking too healthy.
The rubber seal had totally perished and the housing was cracked, had probably been getting water in for a while.
77552967-975A-46CC-A860-5EA762DF2D43.jpeg
Even before testing the circuit board I could see that the tracks had corroded in a number of places, no continuity and I could only get a few of the LEDs to illuminate so unfortunately this is only fit for the bin.
FBFC89D6-E748-4E86-AA97-F86C27FBE5B6.jpeg
F1FCAC78-659D-4A98-98DC-EDA1C720CB6D.jpeg
36D916FB-7DA7-4779-A543-42F52BB87ACB.jpeg
Was hoping to fix it as a new one is circa £80 and I’ve not had much luck sourcing a good used part.. I suspect most will suffer from the same issue.
One quick check with my source in China before I bite the bullet.

More importantly though are the underbody brake pipes which I’m going to have to replace, sprung a leak on the way home and throwing a check brake fluid light now.. off to find that pipe flaring tool that I’ve not used since around 2005!
 

grayb

Senior Member
Joined
May 16, 2003
Messages
1,350
Reaction score
631
Location
Kent
Your Mercedes
E350CDI (S212) 2010
On another note, fuels....
I filled a half tank from empty of Shell V-Power diesel to see if there was a noticeable difference vs supermarket diesel, and I've been quite surprised so far.
I do a 40 mile round trip twice a week, and according to the computer I'm getting a good 2-3mpg more without trying.
55-60mph drafting lorries in the slow lane and I hit 36+mpg, when I tried on regular diesel I could hit just over 32mpg at the very best.

The computer is surprisingly accurate, as I completed a full to empty test and calculated just over 31mpg average. Other cars I done this on have been miles off.
What price is diesel V-Power now? I seem to remember it being 15 or 20p a litre more than normal diesel. Would another couple of mpg pay for i?
 


AMF Automotive - We are an independent Mercedes-Benz and AMG specialist located in Paddock Wood, Kent, with full Mercedes Diagnostic equipment. We offer a full portfolio of tuning options for AMGs and can cater for all your Mercedes needs.
Tel: 0203 384 4644www.amfmercedes.com/
Top Bottom