I'm new to this forum, but have been trying to find answers to the questions below for a while. Hope you can help. TIA.

I did not get the sport handling package with the ML, but would like to make the ride a bit stiffer - not lower.

Anyone know what partnumbers the factory sport package included?

Can I install the ML55 sway bars on my 430?
(I think yes, but what's the part numbers?)

What shocks should I get?

Anything else I should consider?


Thanks,
Nimo
ML430, 2001

he recently upgrade to aftermarket suspension =)

Raise your tire pressure to 35 DPI. It makes quite a difference between 32 and 35.

Try it, it costs nothing!!

Did that and it makes a differance, but I'm still not happy with the leaning in curves and nose-dive when breaking or back flip at acceleration.
- So I hope that shocks and sway-bars will be enough.
Or I just have to cut back on my coffe;-)

Thanks,
Nimo

Hi Nimo
I got my 98ML320 installed 02ML55 rear sway bay last week.
torsion bar 1633231965@$ 53.1
I feel a little firmer than stock rear torsion bar.

Good - then it should fit mine as well.
Are you looking to install the ML55 front sway bar as well?
Is your care at standard hight or lowered?

Thanks,
Nimo

I had been looking for latest PN# of front sway bar for 02-03ML55, bot I could not find out it.
Now I'm planning to have my ML installed 03ML320 front sway bar tomorrow.

torsion bar 1633231765@$ 104.6

some pic of my ML

http://groups.msn.com/Kanagawasphotoalbum/page8.msnw?Page=2
http://groups.msn.com/Kanagawasphotoalbum/page8.msnw?Page=1

nimo,

Bilstein shocks made a much welcomed improvement to my ML320. I'd planned on retaining the stock rear springs until finding one of the coils in two pieces. It made financial sense at that point to go ahead an drop it with aftermarket springs (H&R) courtesy of Tire Rack.

Will be checking into the ML55 sway bar... (Been outta the Benzo loop for a while)

Hope this helps.

__________________
Fast Robert

Robert,
Did you first swap only the front shocks?
- If so, how was the ride at that point?

Is it possible to swap only the rear shocks and keep the old springs? Or is that as complicated and still require spring-compressors?

Thanks,
Nimo

Taiichiro,
Very nice ride - where did you find the door-handles?

I learned that there are two sway bars for the ML55 and that it initially had the same as the ML430(?)
Older:
F: 163 323 1765
R: 163 326 0165
Newer:
F: 163 323 1865
R: 163 323 1965
Switch was made somewhere in 2001-2002.
Anyone able to confirm this? And what the change was.

Anyway, my bars are F: 35mm and R:20mm and they should be the older ones according to above.
As the newer ones was said to be 36/20 - I might have miss-measured my front bar and get no gain with the newer ones?

Thanks,
Nimo

>Very nice ride - where did you find the door-handles?

Hi Nino

Chrome door handles PN# are
1637600170
1637600270
1637601059
1637600959
2107660119
2107660219
1637660156
1637660056

PN# of sway bar for ML430 is same as ML320's.
F163 323 0465
R163 326 0165

03ML320's
F: 163 323 1765
R: 163 326 0165
0203ML55's
F: 163 323 1865 ??
R: 163 323 1965

The weight of 163 323 1865 is 3.5kg as same as R: 163 323 1965(3.5kg) on the MB catalogue.!!! Unbelievable!!! The front sway bar must be heavier than the rear one.
So I could not confirm and order front sway bar PN# 323 1865 of 03ML55 and order 323 1965 and 323 1765("(^_^) "jD

The weight of 1631965 is 3.5kg and that of 1633260165 is 3.2kg. ML55's rear sway bar is a heavier than our ML320 430's.

Thanks

The fronts were swapped initially and were an EASY swap. Noticible improvement but accentuated the need to address the rear shocks.

You could swap just the rear shocks and retain the stock springs (it is a challenge and spring compressors are mandatory). I'd give it a 7 out of 10 on the difficulty scale however it was done in the garage, sans lift, and without dissassembling the rear lower control arm assembly. heh heh heh

Changing all four shocks would be the way to go. They aren't that expensive and are better than OEM fitment IMHO.

FR

Thanks for the advice.
I'll tackle my sway bars first and then try to figure out how to swap all 4 shocks.
/Nimo

Lebenz,

A disclaimer probably should have been added in my first reply.

With over 100K miles on the odo when they were changed, regular OEM shocks would have been an improvement. However, seeing as how Bilsteins are priced the nearly the same as OEM fitment (springs tacked on an extra $150), 'upgrading' was a no-brainer.

As for welcomed improvement specifics:

1. A LOT less nose dive under braking
2. Reduced body roll under normal and spirited cornering.
3. Bumps are less annoying.

The replacement coils lowered the rear ~ 1.75" so the front was adjusted accordingly (FREE).

To top off the project, a set of seven-spoke ML430 wheels were added to give the truck a aggressive stance/look. The wider and slightly taller wheels made an added improvement to items 2 and 3 above and give the truck a planted feeling.

OBTW, 35 psi in all four tires also..

FR

That is exactly what I'm looking for.

- Any pointer to someone who carries Bilstein's for ML430?
- Is there just one version?

Thanks,
Nimo