Thanks Neil,
Trust me I know all about the worn ignition barrel saga! My son's(Ps2cho) 300TE did that to us, and we learned the hard way... we had to drill/grind it out!
I just got a new master key, and it worked fine in all the locks... and I did wonder if the key was the issue... so I tried the new master key and it stuck too, and took me longer to get it back out!
I posted a new thread cos it just seemed odd how one min it was fine then it was stuck!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Just an update on the progress...
I have been working thru the list fixing and detailing..

A replacement drivers lock is on order...
I am hoping it will cure the odd locking situation that is going on. We will see.

All fluids and filters changed, even tho they looked fine.
The underside of the car looks amazing... Goodness, I had cars in Europe that looked worse than this in less than one year!
Front flex disc was showing signs of cracking, as were front strut mounts, so they were replaced.
Paint is all cleaned, scratches and chips touched in with the OEM Color.
Then it was a full claybar and double waxed!
The only issue I had was mercedes dont list a touch up paint stick for the cladding which is a different color... anyone solved that issue?

She is glowing!

Next I decided to replace those horrible looking OEM US spec lamps, and satin Black the grill!
Much better!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Looks great!

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1989 300CE

The hoodpad was falling apart, so today I stripped it and replaced the whole thing with a M?B OEM pad....
Looks bad...


Looks good I think!


The Valve cover is starting to peel, and I want to do the Idle/emission hoses..
They are as hard as rock!
I pulled off the Valve cover to do the gasket too..
The internals are IMO "stunningly" clean!




I gave the rest of the intake and FI a clean up and here is how it looked.


Its looking good, and I am pleased with my purchase!

Tomorrow I will do the Idle hoses, and check the FI pressures, now its cleaner.

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Nice find, looks to be good inside out.

I'm liking the wide angle lens too

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Thanks!
The camera is new(my other one failed the washer and dryer test conducted by my GF), and I had not spotted the fact that it as a wide angle lens!
Its a Sony H55 compact 14.1mp... I like it!

The hose from the Valve cover to the head was so brittle it snapped like candy when I pulled it off!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Look, the intake valve spring of cylinder 5 and 6, something brown looks like rust?

No, its the factory paint spot...
Speaks volumes that the whole thing is so clean inside you can still see them 20 years later!
Clearly the oil was changed regularly!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Better view of #6 intake spring..

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Stripped and painted Valve Cover with "Highlights"!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Pretty much all under the hood is sweet, neat and tidy now.
Did the idle hoses and learned another trick I will post!
Cleaned throttle body, and centered the throttle plate that was a weeny bit off.
Replaced the cap, rotor, supppressor cover and wire protector and guides. Double checked the plug wires, and cleaned the plugs.
Replaced the cracked fan shroud, and flushed the power steering fluid.

I am gonna replace the fuel filter before I check the fuel pressures, then I will check the Duty Cycle.
If all good, its Smog Time!
I still need to do the flex disc, so will get to the underside next week!
Here is how it looks today!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Man, that is a nice one for sure !! Lucky you.

I wished I never let my smoke silver 92' 2.6 190 go, I loved that car...been looking at them again but they are all beat up around here.

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

Thanks Jim!
Yeah, I got real lucky with this one.
I am told it was owned by a Hollywood Celeb for most of its life.
I cleaned the paint a little under the hood, now I will have to do it all!

Got a few things to figure out still, like the locking is still playing up.
Also there is an alarm under the rear seat and with the locking not working I have triggered it a couple of times, but it just flashes the lights... no siren. Looking under the hood, there is a "T" shaped rust stain and 2 holes next to the washer reservior that looks like there was a siren mounted... gotta figure out what to do with that!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Any idea who owned it? Gov. Arnold? just kidding... his S600 has been in the MB musuem in Germany for a while now.

...mine was affectionately called 'Smokey'... not because of the color but because it blew smoke on start up I still regret not fixing them leaky valves and keeping it.

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

Oh, I know who owned it, but if I tell you I would have to kill you!
Lets just say.... from the milage, she didn't M*A*S*H the gas pedal much!

Its funny how these Mercedes get under your skin...
Yes, they are well made, but for me, its the little things that make me smile... the switches that you can take apart and clean, and stuff.
The inbuilt safety, even the older ones is a comfort.
My one son has a '92 Civic... and I hate it. Its just a bean can.
I plan to get this one all dialed in for my Daughter who is just 16 to drive next year. I would have prefered a Diesel for her, but try finding a later one of THOSE in great shape and low milage! I wanted Airbag and ABS for her car, and this has them both.

My problem is that I am so "into" getting this 190E in great shape I might just not give it to her if I can find something else... she wanted a Jeep like we found for my GF's daughter a few months back. A super clean 2001 Cherokee Sport with 67k miles. It has Dual Airbags, but no ABS.

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec