Found a sale on some parts !!! O2 / Fuel Filter

[osmosis]

I was looking for online "deals" on the 4 Oxygen Sensors I am getting ready to replace (100 k miles) and I found that
www.importec.com has Bosch stuff on sale. They are running a sale ( for how long I dont know ) on some stuff you may want. I have gotten brakes / rotors and some other parts from them before and have had great service and quick delivery. I AM NOT affiliated with this site or company other than being a satisfied customer. Anyway. @ the dealership 176.98 ea for O2 sensors. 144.90 ea. @ discount auto.
On sale for 64.26 each @ Importec.com - NEW BOSCH. I was going to order them last week from another online company @ 108.00 each, glad I waited.

Fuel filter was 69.89 ( 94.00 @ the local MB dealership.)

Sway bar bushing kit 25.25 ( 54.00 @ the local MB dealership)

Anyway for anyone needing to swap out the O2 sensors, this may be the time to do it.

[Ron in SC]

My vehicle is approaching the 100K mark.

Are the O2 sensors supposed to changed at that point?

[texasdanml430]

too bad their MAFs and fuel pumps arent on sale. from what i have read looks like it might be a good idea to keeps spares of both in the trunk!

[itb76]

O2 sensors should only have to be changed if a diagnostic scan indicates it's necessary. You would do the scan if your check engine light came on, or experienced fuel mileage or driveability problems. Same way you would find a bad MAF for that matter.

[tabo]

I heard you can use Fords O2 Sensors to save money.. for the Mercedes.. Not quite sure you will have to compare their bosch part numbers.. You will need to swap the wire connectors thou in order for it to work...

[osmosis]

I'm not sure what the "recommended" is for the ML320. I however swapped out my sensors last week @ 99780 miles. Based on everything I have read 02 sensor replacement should be at 100k miles for all vehicles. I had budgeted for this replacement and had found the O2 sensors on line for around $100 each at quite a few places. I was pleasantly suprised when I got all four for around $260.00

See

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/cm/cm40230.htm

for a good article on O2 sensor replacement.

I have noticed a highway milage gain of 1.2 MPG highway (70+mph). So based on current fuel prices at the $65.00 / ea I paid, they will pay for themselves in about 7 months.

However my idle seems to not be as smooth. I am wondering if I need to have the adaptive engine values zeroed out to compensate for the new O2 sensors.

I have also heard that other O2 sensors can be used, and in reality any 2 or 4 wire O2 sensor with the correct threads could be used, and wired in. since 2 wires are the preheater wires, An unheaded O2 sensor would just run a little rough at idle. And probably be OK after heating up. But with all the MAS/O2/electronics problems these ML's have I wouldn't take a chance on something screwing up the computer. He@### it seems that the electronics are so integrated, I'm afraid to use my cigar lighter for fear the rear window washer won't work

[Ron in SC]

osmosis,

I read that interesting article you gave the link to. I'm wondering where it came from. Did it come from an unbiased source or from a company that sells and/or manufactures O2 sensors?

[osmosis]

Ron:

I'm not sure of the editorials roots, However it looks like the company serves the aftermarket or repair industry. I am sure that it has a slant toward the seller of parts. However everything published these days seem to be biased and self serving in some regard ( except my stuff, cause I'm just a shade tree mechanic with no affiliation with the automotive world. To my testament, my most recently retired car was a Corvette I had for 14 years, that I drove almost daily, and still sold it for almost what I had paid for it. ). I preach synthetic oil and correct air pressure in tires, and cant believe that a tranmission is "filled for life"

I have also seen other articles which concur with the one I hyperlinked. Do a "google" for O2 replacement interval, or or O2 Sensor repair and you will find other information. I believe the Bosch and Denso sites also have information. When I moved to Florida, we used to have emissions testing ( it was based on county, rural counties were exempt ). But here in the Miami / Fort Lauderdlale / Plalm Beach area we were hit hard every year. They got rid of the silly program when they realized that the passing rate was 99.99% for vehicles MFG after 1996 (the vast majority of the vehicles). So the state scrapped that waste of tax dollars. A friend had two older vehicles (late 80's / early 90's, a chevy and a caddy ) that failed the test and O2 sensors fixed the vehicles so that they passed the test on the next try. I think the fact is that most people dont keep cars to near the 100k mark anymore. My neighbors and frends almost all lease vehicles for 2-3 years and therefore hardly even change the oil, let alone other parts. It's funny, they can't even comprehend the concept of repairing (or even cleaning for that matter) your own car. Being that I have replaced almost every other electrical sensor in the car, I just figured WTF. And the fact that I was able to get all 4 sensors for just $80.00 more than the dealership wanted for one I figured , my luck, I would need one in a few weeks and be screwed buying one at the dealer. I replaced the MAS at about 89000 miles, it had no CEL, but was extremely sluggish and althouth gas milage on the higway was fine, the car just didnt feel right. I located a MAS online for under 150.00 in the sealed box and in under 5 minutes it was replaced, the difference was amazing. It was like installing a new engine. I would reather do preventvive maintenence at my leisure and price than to get caught needing a dealer part or service at a dealer price. I really like my ML despite its past problems. I intend to keep the ML till it gets a catastrophic failure (engine/tranny) and then toss it off for junk or a charity vice fixing. However I would probably purchase another ML if mine died tomorrow, although the wife likes the look of the BMW X5 and X3. My basis for keeping a vehicle is as follows. As long as I can keep a vehicle in good condition, with no dents, shiny paint and all item functioning as designed for about 1/3 of what the car payment was per month or less, (excluding gas or insurance) then I am money ahead vice buying a new vehicle. I feel that I have gotten my moneys worth since I have had the ML since new (nov 97). When I got the ML and started having the usual ?? problems, I wasn't so sure. The last straw was almost when the harmonic balancer exploded at around 40K miles at 80 MPH on the turnpike, the car filled with oil smoke. I told my wife that I thought the perfect second car for us would be a roll back truck to haul the ML around. However it seems to have gotten better with age.