I wanted to finish the story for anyone interested... the striking the ball joint, joint, under stress with a pitman puller didn't work. Certainly part of the issue was the style of puller I was got in the way of hitting it.

Took it to a machine shop and they succeeded at separating the upper ball joint using a pneumatic pickle fork but failed at either ball joint removal or separating the lower ball joint.

Then I took it to an independent Mercedes shop and 1 hours worth of labor later ($130 at Calif prices) it was done. Ball joint separated and ball joints pressed in. I believe they heated it up or at least that was the option discussed when I dropped it off. If I was going to do this more than once in my life it might be worth buying the special ball joint tool JTC ball joint tool JTC #1849 referenced in :

Write up - Ball Joints & Lower Control Arm Bushings & Tool Review (PICS!)

The thought also occurs to me that it some piece is giving one too much trouble there's alway pickn'pull. I don't know what their prices are but it's an option.

As always thanks to everyone for their help and input!