ML500 W163 2003 Performance Questions?

TechnoWhizz

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Hi, I have a 2003 ML500 with a Petrol/LPG conversion. As a newbie I have a few questions for those more knowledgeable than I ! She seems to drive fine to me, but as I've got no comparison it's difficult to tell. My previous car was an SLK 230 and I do drive with a light right foot 95% of the time :)

1. In neutral when warm she won't rev above 3900 as if there's a limiter or she's been held back? Surely that's not the redline?

2. Is there a Winter/Summer setting on the gearbox as she seems sluggish through the gears unless I drive it manually.

3. The MPG seems low (at 12-13 average). No real difference on either LPG or Petrol. My SLK was similar until I ran a bottle of REDEX through the tank...

4. Should I get an ODB reader to see whats going on, if so where does it plug in?

I hope she doesn't need a visit to an MB dealer - I don't want to take out a second mortgage.

Many thanks in advance from a very happy MB Owner now realising his dream or owning 1. A V8, and 2. A stonking 5litre block. Fortunately, I don't do a lot of miles - Slurp....

Cheers

Chris
 

LostKiwi

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Hi, I have a 2003 ML500 with a Petrol/LPG conversion. As a newbie I have a few questions for those more knowledgeable than I ! She seems to drive fine to me, but as I've got no comparison it's difficult to tell. My previous car was an SLK 230 and I do drive with a light right foot 95% of the time :)

1. In neutral when warm she won't rev above 3900 as if there's a limiter or she's been held back? Surely that's not the redline?

2. Is there a Winter/Summer setting on the gearbox as she seems sluggish through the gears unless I drive it manually.

3. The MPG seems low (at 12-13 average). No real difference on either LPG or Petrol. My SLK was similar until I ran a bottle of REDEX through the tank...

4. Should I get an ODB reader to see whats going on, if so where does it plug in?

I hope she doesn't need a visit to an MB dealer - I don't want to take out a second mortgage.

Many thanks in advance from a very happy MB Owner now realising his dream or owning 1. A V8, and 2. A stonking 5litre block. Fortunately, I don't do a lot of miles - Slurp....

Cheers

Chris

Yes there is a limiter when in neutral or park.
Not sure about the ML but every other MB I've owned has had a switch labelled W S or E S where the W is winter, the S is summer or sport and the E is economy. W or E blunts performance.
I'd not expect a lot better economy from a large V8 dragging a big heavy body with the aerodynamics of a block of flats. It will depend largely on your journey and how you drive. For example if you do short hops in town you will use far more fuel than longer journeys at a moderate speed.
Code readers are always useful. The iCarSoft i980 or (more functional NB-II) are used by many on here and will talk to most modules in the vehicle (which generic bluetooth ones won't).
 
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TechnoWhizz

TechnoWhizz

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Yes there is a limiter when in neutral or park.
Not sure about the ML but every other MB I've owned has had a switch labelled W S or E S where the W is winter, the S is summer or sport and the E is economy. W or E blunts performance.
I'd not expect a lot better economy from a large V8 dragging a big heavy body with the aerodynamics of a block of flats. It will depend largely on your journey and how you drive. For example, if you do short hops in town you will use far more fuel than longer journeys at a moderate speed.
Code readers are always useful. The iCarSoft i980 or (more functional NB-II) are used by many on here and will talk to most modules in the vehicle (which generic bluetooth ones won't).

Thanks for that - I've got a i980 on Ebay being watched now thank you. There are no switches for the W/S on the ML unlike the SLK? It's like the headlamp adjust on an SLK is in the cockpit but on the ML there is no adjust? I do love MB for their idiosyncracies!! Thanks for help....
 

Craiglxviii

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Just buy the i980 (or even better the MB2 for an extra £30)- get it ASAP as it will immediately reward you.

As LK there is a rev limiter in neutral. Revving your engine in neutral will quickly knacker the torque converter anyway so do not do it on pain of open wallet surgery.

The W/S switch should be located next to the transmission control lever but as the ML is 4WD I'm not sure. Keep looking though, I think your main 'box is the 722.6 same as mine (and same engine as mine too).

If your engine is delivering shoite fuel efficiency are you by any chance noticing a lack of power? What's the 0-60 time like, 7 seconds or 12 seconds? I would expect 15-18mpg average from that engine.

You have an aging used MB- don't approach main dealers now, ever! Cost is way too much. This is now when some research in independents will pay off- literally. They charge on average ~1/3rd of the hourly rate of main dealers. In terms of independents, your nearest will be Jay @ Mercman in Nuneaton. If you can hold on a little bit our very own Malcolm Television is just getting all his stuff unpacked, he is just down the road from LK in Daventry and has full STAR and WIS and can pretty much do the same diagnosis as an MB dealership can.

However, with a capital H, you have to bear in mind one big thing here. You have an MB. Now, the number in an MB's designation isn't reflective of the engine size- I know that's what they say but it's untrue. It's actually an accurate description of the "Pound Sterling Single Item Fix Cost" :D thus anything with a 500 in it will be- yes you guessed it- in multiples of £500. I have a 220, 320 and 500 and they all bear this out pretty closely!!!
 

mercedes13156

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You say you're getting 12 - 15mpg on gas. Gas has about 80% of the calorific value of petrol. In other words for every mpg you should get with petrol, you'll get about 80% of that on gas. If you expect 15 - 18mpg on petrol, then 80% of that is about 12 - 15mpg, give or take a bit for driving styles.
 

Mark A

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No W/S switch on the ML. There is a switch for hi/low range, but you would know if that was activated.
 

LostKiwi

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Some folk have performed a reset of the parameters the gearbox has learnt.
Turn the key to position 2. You should see all the dash lights come on. ...
Press the gas pedal all the way. ...
Wait. ...
Turn key to OFF, position 0. ...
Release the gas pedal.
Wait 2 minutes. ...
Start the car and drive.

Not tried it myself (quite happy with how mine is as is).
 
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TechnoWhizz

TechnoWhizz

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Hi,
I've looked at the MBII, quick question... Do I need an adapter or does it just plug in. and.. where is the port?
 

Craiglxviii

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Some cars have a different shape port, my 211 for instance won't take the SCART sized plug on the 980 that my 215 (and the pre facelift 211s I looked at).
 
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TechnoWhizz

TechnoWhizz

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Hi,
Gearbox reset worked a treat, she feels as I'd expect now. Before it was like being in Winter mode! Cheers :eek:)
 

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