ml 430 radiator and block drains
 

where are they? i want to replace the anti-freeze in my 2000 model which i just bought used with 32k miles on it.

i saw the post for the ml 230 v6 motor; is this set up similar?

there is a small knob you can turn on the right front of the vehicle. it can be accessed through the little slats in the lower part of the bumper. you'll need a hooked needle nose or something similar as it's a PITA to reach. i find it much easier to just undo the lower radiator hose. if you do try the knob method, it will only turn one half turn, and it will break if forced. the fluid should drain out of the right lower radiator mount.

For the block drain, yes it's like the ML320. It's on the right (passengers side) of the block. You need to get the right front wheel off and go at it with a long extension, inserting it between the frame rail and splash shield, with I believe it's a 6mm allen socket.

On the radiator, I'd recommend trying the drain, not the lower hose. Removing just the hose leaves a significant amount of coolant in the radiator. The drain is hard to see and also hard to operate. It's facing the front, on the right side of the radiator down in the corner. You can kind of see it through the one big gaping hole in the bumper in front of the right tire. You need to rotate the drain 1/4 turn and then pull forward on it, it will start draining out of a small extension tube on the side of the radiator.

Gilly