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Sounds good, David. The filter actually is overdue to be replaced anyways, 60,000 miles or 4 years, so overdue on time. But I still would be rather insistent on the dang thing being replaced under the warranty due to the noise, and also as the filter relates to this Service Information Bulletin, I would kind of expected since it falls into the VIN Range of the Bulletin they'd go ahead and replace it while prepping the truck for Starmark. MB certainly would have "approved" of this being done at that time and paid the warranty claim to do it, if they would have read the Bulletin. Not enough techs really understand how comprehensive this inspection is supposed to be and they sort of need to think about the inspection in terms of "as if they were going to buy this vehicle for themselves" or a family member. I went through a class on doing the Starmark mechanical inspection and that was one comment an instructor made. Sure it's possible to "go overboard" with it, you have to draw the line somewhere, but to address some concern relating to a Bulletin, which MB will even PAY to have done just sort of makes sense, sometimes I think it's just laziness, y'know "Get this danged used car/truck outta my stall so I can "make some real money". It's not a real "fun" job. In case you didn't know or read it somewhere else, the left side of the rear seat needs to be removed and this glued-down sheetmetal panel has to be removed (usually using a hot-air blower to soften the glue, unless the fuel pump or sender has been replaced already, in which case it's even worse because you're dealing with whatever the previous tech used to glue it back down-YECH!) to access the top of the pump. It's the only way to install the modified hoses that are neccesary to accomodate the new long-filter. After this is done, the fuel filter should be a fairly easy DIY job if you are so inclined, no more seat removal.
Gilly
PS the filter itself is on top of the left frame rail inside the left rear wheelwell, hard to see without removing the LR wheel. There is a thread in the ML forum with pictures.
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