Dearest Azinn,

Pray tell of the letter! I am new to forum, old to problems with the 2000 ml320. Latest delima, the power steering leak. Started having problems 1/2007, tried to get appt w/ dealer, finally just showed up on last day of extended starmark warranty & was told warranty had expired 11:59 night before & entire rack & pinion needed to be replaced for $3500 & would not have been covered anyway. Finally got a tech to show me where to add PS fluid (that was their short term solution for me "keep an eye on it" and started adding stop leak, which slowed leak & worked untill about a month ago when the whole contents of the system took a dump onto my parking lot. Started looking up forums & found the recall, spoke to a tech at MB Miami who said I had to have it towed, at my expense (I live 100 mile from the closest dealership in the Florida Keys) and all cost would be out of pocket. After I gave him the recall notice #, he became a bit more empathetic, but offered no assitance. My local mechanic identified the leak at the forementioned recalled clamp and replaced it with an aeronautical clamp which is holding fine, but now have a new leak & after bleed, seems air has gotten back into the system, causing the familiar groan i used to remedy with a fluid top off. The pump still appears to be working as my last top off allowed the steering wheel to move freely, though the groan that it may need another bleed persists.

Next move according to mechanic, clean undercarriage & look for new source. I would love to have some kind of weapon to take to the dealership to encourage their participation in the repair ( since it was purchased, warrantied and maintained by them exclusively), even if I took it to the new Cutler Ridge dealership where they may be more amicable.

Any help of advise would be greatly appreciated. "till then, I remain, Seababe, Grounded in the Keys