Hi all -
Picked up an 01 ML430 to build something fun to use offroad this summer, and for a cheap daily driver... I was racking up crazy miles on my E55 using it as my daily (like 1500-2000 miles a month), and wanted to offset it with something that would be cheaper to run.
I started with this:
![Image]()
![Image]()
Took it off road and tested the flex 10 minutes after buying it. Found out it did not have very good flex, and got it stuck... Decided to start the modding there.
Found a gentleman on this forum (pretty awesome guy) by the name of boschbrakes who is into modding these, and bought these from him:
![Image]()
New front bushings to help with lift, and spacers for the rear suspension to gain extra height/clearance.
After some bigger/new tires, a few hours in the garage, almost losing part of my finger, some screaming and blood everywhere, I wound up with this:
![Image]()
![Image]()
Found the front bumper and bumper support limited the clearance, so they were removed and adjusted to gain extra clearance. It still was not quite the crazy off-roader I had envisioned - but I was also still far from done. Took it off-road, and didn't get stuck, but still had problems with not enough flex while trying to climb stuff off-road.
![Image]()
She held her own against the Jeeps and full size trucks offroad, and managed to pull out a stuck truck or two.
The AWD/4-ETS system worked fantastic off-road, and went trough mud, over rocks, and climbed over quite a few obstacles that Jeeps had problems with.
![Image]()
Picked up an 01 ML430 to build something fun to use offroad this summer, and for a cheap daily driver... I was racking up crazy miles on my E55 using it as my daily (like 1500-2000 miles a month), and wanted to offset it with something that would be cheaper to run.
I started with this:
Took it off road and tested the flex 10 minutes after buying it. Found out it did not have very good flex, and got it stuck... Decided to start the modding there.
Found a gentleman on this forum (pretty awesome guy) by the name of boschbrakes who is into modding these, and bought these from him:
New front bushings to help with lift, and spacers for the rear suspension to gain extra height/clearance.
After some bigger/new tires, a few hours in the garage, almost losing part of my finger, some screaming and blood everywhere, I wound up with this:
Found the front bumper and bumper support limited the clearance, so they were removed and adjusted to gain extra clearance. It still was not quite the crazy off-roader I had envisioned - but I was also still far from done. Took it off-road, and didn't get stuck, but still had problems with not enough flex while trying to climb stuff off-road.
She held her own against the Jeeps and full size trucks offroad, and managed to pull out a stuck truck or two.
The AWD/4-ETS system worked fantastic off-road, and went trough mud, over rocks, and climbed over quite a few obstacles that Jeeps had problems with.
