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Comments
spray/wash the undercarriage ?
TIA
dt77
I don't recall how much the 4-matic badge cost, but I do remember that it wasn't cheap for what you get, even with my usual discount. The fact that it had to come from Europe didn't help either. I guess they figured not many people would order it as spare parts (in fact, I was the first person that asked for it through the parts counter :-)).
Smoked taillamps/headlamps are counter-intutitive to me. Manufacturers are coming up with ways to increase the brightness of lamps/make them more conspicuous, and I don't understand why someone would want to make them dimmer. But that's just my humble opinion. I will say that I do like the lightly smoked taillamps of the VW Golf GTI though, but those have met motor vehicle regulations, so at least they're legal and meet certain lighting standards.
If the pipes outside are not frozen outside, I usually wash the salt (and other crud) off the surface of the vehicle immediately after I get home. I then wait for the truck to cool down first before spraying the under carriage. If the pipes are frozen, I fill up a few buckets of very warm water and splash it on the sides/wheels, etc. To properly rinse the underneath, I place a sprinkler - the kind that shoots a wall of water up and side to side - underneath and let it run for a few minutes.
Drew
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I like the smoked look. but light output will be decreased - something I don't want
so you ordered the 4matic badge thru dealer ?
I'm trying to go for this 'stealth' look on my ml=)
she is almost all decked out in black hehe. that is why i was looking into the smoking the tail lamps.
I have recently seen some GS lexuses with their badges 'blackened' instead of the usual shiny metal or watever most badges are made of. Not sure if they bought the car like that or they did something to it. Maybe they did what I did to my blackstar. Once I get around to getting them black, then she will truely be stealth hehe.
i ain't touching the rims. Is the star and the badge at the rear made of metal ?
The star in front is just plastic.
dt77
dt77
Yes, the badge was through the dealership. I think they're made of metal and not chromed plastic, but I'm not 100% sure. It may be the same as the front star.
Considering that the ML was designed for fording through up to about 2 feet of water, I don't think that you will have a problem with spraying the under carriage. :-)
Drew
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doesn't prove much really cuz nothing to compare to...just osmething to look at.
I didn't adjust anything to the pic after i took it. As far as exposure goes, the cybershot automatically did it. There was one pic I took standing further back and the glare was just too much. just two bright white spots.
drew, how do u stick a pic on HERE like you just did.? and wat car is in the back ground of one of your pics ? all suped up ..integra ?
dt77
http://fullspeed.to/ml
in fact, someone (Schätz in Germany - http://www.schaetz-tuning.de/schaetzallgemein/willkommen.html ) already does make an add-on chrome handle for the ML:
Price is 129 DEM. It's a simple stick-on affair that does not involve taking off the original handle.
Talking of rear logos, my Belgian-sold ML270 CDI proudly announces (in slightly smaller letters than the rest) that it has ESP. Left side of rear hatch, same level as the license plate.
Kind regards from Luxyland.
Birger
Birger
I hope this helps some of you that are being told to adjust your oil level.
AS: about those squeaky brakes...
Next time you bring it in, you should switch to 15W50 Mobil1. The 5W30 is too thin (and not recommended by MB) and may end up in the oil (one person on the m-class mailing list had this problem). It may be the problem if the sensor replacement doesn't fix it...
I now have the PIAA Hiper bulbs. They really mimic the HID's. Gotta get use to them.
Find them at the Auto Bulb Depot.
If any of you have them already...how do you like them.
Oh!, does anyone stateside carry the Schatz chrome hatch lift cover or a chrome exhaust tip for a 430?
Never thought of that since this happened before switching to Mobil 1, but seemed to get worse. A year ago the big topics include oil and Mobil 1. Posters seemed to use the 5w - 30 unless they lived in the south. Service mgr. did get a tech bulletin about replacing sensors...but not due to oil. But your point is well taken. Thanks
PS: Ken is refunding $ for all the Hella Optilux failures purchased thru him. An honest online business.
I've had my '00 430 ML for almost a year now. With 14,400mi, I still love it as much as the day I picked it up. However since the 5,000mi mark my "oil high" light kept coming on. Dealer fix was to suck out enough oil to keep the dip-stick mark between full & needs a quart. Light still kept coming on... but not as soon after starting up. I put up with this for a few months. No harm, no foul. Brought back for 2nd oil change @ 10k,(always Mobil 1 5-30, since 2k). Dealer said keep oil level just above low mark!!!! The sensor is a big deal to replace. Well that didn't work and low and behold finally the dealer admits to faulty sensors. New ones are on the way from the Fatherland and should arrive early March.
I hope this helps some of you that are being told to adjust your oil level.>>
...and after the dealer's first unsuccessful attempt at a fix was to just change the oil. I yelled at them for not fixing it, as the "Oil HI" light came on within 5 miles of leaving the dealership! They subsequently replaced the sensor.
I put a pic up in my gallery of the optilux bulbs in action.
doesn't prove much really cuz nothing to compare to...just osmething to look at.
I didn't adjust anything to the pic after i took it. As far as exposure goes, the cybershot automatically did it. There was one pic I took standing further back and the glare was just too much. just two bright white spots.>>
...pics don't prove a thing, as the camera automatically adjusts the exposure, so there is no objective way to compare light brightness by comparing pics. As for color, that's even harder to make comparisons, as different digicams will record color differently. Not to mention how each computer monitor is calibrated, or for that matter, uncalibrated.
I took these pictures yesterday, but they don't do the colour justice (it's much brighter in real life; the truck was also fairly dirty).>>
...but your description makes me think that it might be something like the very popular Topaz Blue that BMW 3-series owners are touting. Mine 330xi is steel grey.
what do some of you do after driving in snow/snowy conditions ?>>
...I shout a "YAHOO!!", or a "YIPPEE!!". I've heard some people like to just smoke a cigarette.
Hey, I didn't even notice that car in the background! It's a Honda Prelude with clear taillamp lenses and a weird paint job. I'm not sure if it's actually souped up though, or just all show (possible). To get a closer look, click here for the high resolution picture.
Drew
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Anyone have their CFA designation? Currently studying and have a couple questions. >>
...A financial advisor? I'm not a CFA but I'm sure there are people here that are more than willing to hazard a guess at your questions.
The skeptic in me wonders if Exxon/Mobil paid MB to "recommend" their oil:-)
Steve
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As to oil sensor, I just had mine replaced, in my case, the orange oil light in the dash came on and where the digital mileage is posted in the dash, the mileage went blank and an -2.0 flashed.
I also had a new fuel sensor installed as the fuel gauge was not working properly. Quarter down and it would take only three gallons to fill to full. My brakes also squealed when backing up, don't know what they did to rectify that problem, first time it was attributed to brake dust, this time unsure. I haven't gotten the paperwork mailed to me yet as the ml was delivered back to me late in the evening and the paperwork was not finished yet.
I am very picky with my vehicles and I must say I never have a problem with my dealership not acting on my requests.
BTW, Sick in bed today, time to kill, so I finally viewed the video that came with the ML, informative but really surrealistic. It sort of reminded me of "Tron" or "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" It combined real characters with animated backgrounds along with wierd actions and music. Any other movie critics out there?
nothing to compare to - something to look at.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/michaelab/carcare-newsection/print_carcare.php3?id=84 did a great review on H7s. Of which, stock H7 and piaa superwhites failed to meet thier standards.
dt77
I have the AC control chrome rings from them.
dt77
dt77
From previous discussions on the M-Class list, it's one extra bulb on the left side...
dt77
dt77
Yep. Misremembered. Must be old age ;-)
Here's a link to a description of it: http://www.escribe.com/automotive/european/mbmc/m3620.html
dt77, if you search for "rear fog light", you'll get a few more hits on how it works.
Here're a couple pictures (notice the halogen backup bulb) that I took while doing the Parkpilot installation:
Rubber grommet temporarily removed to run the Parkpilot power wire (though that top hole):
Here's basically what the wiring looks like:
Parkpilot control unit:
Drew
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Nice Parkpilot install! Looks very professional. What does the kit cost? Where did you purchase?
Neil
drew_ Feb 17, 2001 10:32pm
No, the "ESP" badge is standard on every Mercedes sold in Belgium - and if I remember right, also in Italy.
My dealer initially also offered, at a reasonable price even, the Bosch ParkPilot like the one you have - but without color-coordinating the sensors. This would have looked awful on my Desert Silver ML:
so I decided against it. It was also a question of time, as this install would have pushed back delivery. Meanwhile, I've dug an old Proron 2-sensor system bought several years back, but never installed, out of its basement hiding, and am contemplating an install.... - after seeing the pain you went through, I don't really want to get the Bosch outfit.
dt77:
Thanks for the link to the bulb test - very informative, especially for us Euros. My current Osram Super H1's will be swapped for a set of Philips Premiums later this week. I wonder if there's a similar comparison for the H3 bulbs??
Birger
Yes, I noticed that European MB dealerships offer the Bosch system (it's advertised in the accessories brochure). Installation was indeed painful for a beginner :-) While I like the system a lot and have absolutely no regrets, I do wonder if whether I would sacrifies the exclusivity and the some of the integrated look for the Poron system, especially now that I know it can be fitted with 4 sensors.
Here's something I just noticed. Many bulbs sold in N.America have the words "Not for use in Europe" stamped on the box. I wonder if your EU bulbs are built to different specifications (ex. different cutoff, etc.). Any ideas?
No mudflaps (after one day of driving; no rain!):
Ken, this is what the "Stop" sign is for :-)
Eons ago when I first contacted Hella for the retrofit kits, I was told that they would have integrated foglamps. However, this was later changed, and I thought that my contact had made a mistake. But, maybe not...
Drew
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If there are integrated foglamps in the housing, where would the standing lamps be since there are no orange corner lamps
On the other hand, the hole in the Xenon's highbeam compartment...is capped off. This is unlike the hole in the Halogen units, which is left open.
Robert