Mercedes ML350 Bluetec

[Rawn77]

Good to hear from you Tom.
Yes, you're right. The '12 ML now has a spare tire. The filler for the AdBlue is right next to the diesel filler. Makes life a lot easier.

Will I see you at the Salisbury State Park Rally?

Hope all is well,
Ron

[mutcth]

Originally Posted by Rawn77

Will I see you at the Salisbury State Park Rally?

Yep, we'll be there! Love that campground off-season.

Tom

[jmcarter]

Ok you ML fans, I'm about to take the plunge on a 2012 ML Bluetec, have talked to Andy but neglected to ask him about the trick for hooking up a brake controller. Any suggestions would be appreciated...I'm going from a Dodge 3500 with Cummings, at least for short trips; and this just feels like a giant leap of faith but absolutely love the ML after taking a couple of test rides, absolutely amazed by the silky torque of the engine.

Thanks in advance...oh, and I'm open to buying the best brake controller, existing one stays in the truck, I have a big race car trailer to haul also.

[Wayne&Sam]

He can set you up with the adapter to make the LED lights work correctly.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

Ok you ML fans, I'm about to take the plunge on a 2012 ML Bluetec, have talked to Andy but neglected to ask him about the trick for hooking up a brake controller. Any suggestions would be appreciated...

Prodigy P2 or P3 works very well, and you can lay it on the dash, in one of those bean-bag holder things like they put GPS units in.

[murreywalker]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

Ok you ML fans, I'm about to take the plunge on a 2012 ML Bluetec, have talked to Andy but neglected to ask him about the trick for hooking up a brake controller. Any suggestions would be appreciated...I'm going from a Dodge 3500 with Cummings, at least for short trips; and this just feels like a giant leap of faith but absolutely love the ML after taking a couple of test rides, absolutely amazed by the silky torque of the engine.

Thanks in advance...oh, and I'm open to buying the best brake controller, existing one stays in the truck, I have a big race car trailer to haul also.

While I don't specifically know about the ML, I know for a fact that a service bulletin exits for the GL and describes the wiring harness needed and the instructions to install.

I would assume that either that service bulletin would suffice for your ML or there would be another for your model.

Your dealership's service department would know. If they don't, contact Jason Holland (service manager) at the Springfield, MO MB dealership. He'll know for sure.

Good luck!

[Moondancing]

We love our ML! Perfect for pulling our 19 foot Bambi. We bought the brake controller from the Hensley Hitch company. The Mercedes dealer installed it for us and to works great.

[tanniwells]

buying a mercedes suv ml350 and dealer says they only make up to a class three hitch for the mercedes. I need a class IV. Has anyone had this problem and how did you solve it?

[sierrafun]

Originally Posted by tanniwells

buying a mercedes suv ml350 and dealer says they only make up to a class three hitch for the mercedes. I need a class IV. Has anyone had this problem and how did you solve it?

Below is the trailer Hitch Info for Mercedes and their "Retrofittable" recommendations:

[sierrafun]

Originally Posted by tanniwells

buying a mercedes suv ml350 and dealer says they only make up to a class 3 hitch for the mercedes. I need a class IV. Has anyone had this problem and how did you solve it?

Just so you know, you can order a NEW ML350 BlueTEC with a Class 4 Receiver Hitch. If it comes directly from the factory with this hitch, your warranty will cover you. Also, as you probably know, if your Airstream Hitch Weight is over 500 lbs. you will need a class 4 hitch. I know for the 27FB International the hitch weight is 770 lbs so it would definitely need a Class 4 Hitch.

Hope this helps you!

[John Hueber]

We tow our 19' Bambi with a 2007 Mercedes Ml Bluetec diesel. It really does and excellent job. We joke that we have to keep looking in the rear view mirror to remind us it is still back there. pulls thru the mountain with ease. on our last trip of nearly 5000 miles, we averaged about 15 miles per gallon. We do have a Hensley hitch, with might be a big factor on how stable and well the Benz tows.
we also have the Hensley brake controller , which works well. you could not go wrong with the diesel Benz. The new ML has some nice improvements and is worth a look, but for now we love our 07. good luck.

[mikapen]

Although we are towing a SOB trailer, we called Andy T before buying our WD hitch and sway setup for our ML diesel.
He recommended an EZ Lift setup with 800 lb bars for our 6000 lb rig, 650 lbs on the tongue. We have since visited Can-Am RV for the hitch reinforcement.
We also have to keep looking in the mirror to remind ourselves that we are pulling something, whether it is over 10,000 ft passes, windy Kansas Interstates, or emergency sprints to 75 mph to clear surprise Chicago lane closures.
The ML is one great tow vehicle.

[BaroloRed]

The Mercedes dealer here (Tri-cities, WA) would only install a Class III hitch so I went to CanAm in Ontario, had a substantial hitch installed enroute to picking up my 1965 restored Caravel in CT. I am very happy with CanAm's work. Pulling my Caravel with my 2007 ML350 is easy for this first time trailer owner.

[switz]

Hi!

New forum member.

I have yet to take delivery of a new 2012 19' Flying Cloud and will do so on 11 October. I purchased it unseen, but will do a thorough inspection before signing the final contract. I selected the 19' unit because of the factory towing constraints in the vehicle owner's manual. I am having a 800/8,000 pound rated trunnion style Reese Straight Line load equalizer hitch installed along with the Tekonsha Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Control.

My 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI was custom ordered in the late summer of 2006 and was built in October 2006. Sometime in 2007, there was a factory recall to have the factory hitch re-welded. The 2007 Owners Manual has a just under 500 pounds recommended hitch weight and just under 5,000 pounds trailer GVW. I was surprised to see some folks pulling Airstream units with much heavier tongue and GVW weights than recommended.

I look forward to reading how these bigger loads work out on impacting the drivetrain.

[benzer11]

Originally Posted by Disterheft

Hi Ron:

I am in the process of purchasing a ML350 2012 to pull my 200o classic Airstream. Are you still going to post pictures of Andy rebuilding the hitch assembly. I am in Vancouver and it is proably a threee day drive to go to London in order for me to have Andy rebuild the hitch. I would like to see the pictures before I commit.

Would like to here your comments after pulling you trailer with the new ML350 2012.

Brian

I am in Vancouver too. Andy says (see following post link) that he knows a shop in Los Angeles that also performs the hitch mods:


maxing out tow capacity with travel trailer - Page 6 - Club Touareg Forums

[Rawn77]

When Andy upgraded my '12 ML350 he said that it didn't really need to be updated. The factory hitch was much better than the previous ML. But he did it anyway cause I was there.
BTW it's a great tow vehicle. I towed a 30' FC with it.

[ciparis]

How about towing a Classic with a '14 ML350 Bluetec? GVWR goes up to 10,000 lbs on those... too risky (even with reinforcements if needed)?

[Rawn77]

I ordered a '15 Classic and I would not have any hesitation pulling it with the ML350; but for better reassurance you could always call Andy


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[SCOTTinNJ]

Originally Posted by ciparis

How about towing a Classic with a '14 ML350 Bluetec? GVWR goes up to 10,000 lbs on those... too risky (even with reinforcements if needed)?

I went through the analysis of the ML350 and ended up with an F-150. Couldn't be happier.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...3d-120003.html

The ML350 is definitely a nice car, but I think the F-150 will prove to be a better tow vehicle and all around vehicle in the long run.

This thread is also worth a look.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...-as-99815.html

[dkottum]

Depends on which Classic (25' to 34' over recent years), how you load it, and how you hitch it.