ML320 Fuel Filter

[jayhawk]

You know I've got to express my frustration with the Fuel Filter on the ML's. I've done alot of complicated work on my 3 Mercedes but the engineering that went into the ml320 - I just don't understand it. I mean a fuel filter is a part that has to be replaced during routine maintenance, just like an oil filter or an air filter. Why make this filter access so difficult. Maybe I'm not going about it correctly.

I removed the wheel and fender well cover and have access to the filter. I've removed the hose clamp that holds the filter in place and the vent hose. It appears to have had the filter update because it has the long filter in it. However, the two rear fuel connectors have the new releases but it appears that whoever did the upgrade did not install the new line and connector to the front fuel line and just plugged the old line into the front of the filter.

My question is how to remove this connection. I do not have the special tool and even if I had it I cannot see how you could get it around the fuel line, the access is so tight. Also, even with the new connectors on the rear of the filter, access is so tight I cannot even get a finger on either side of the connector to release the line. Am I missing a step here?