[wallyo]

Looks good, nice to see a non silver, black or white

Nav do not bother, the maps are so out of date you will get warnings you are on unimproved roads! Best to change out the head unit and use preferred phone app. The nav in our 04 works it is fun every now and then for laughs.


As to the plate it is center bumper cover sometimes called hitch cover plate. Though it needs to be notched for the hitch. There is a prenotched hitch version but rare I have never seen one on an ml with a MB hitch even dealer installation they cut the plate. In fact M B published a service bulletin on how to cut it with dimensions.

They are ordered by color, last I looked some colors were still availablenot sure on the gold. Will be very hard to find you color at a pick apart.

i think I have a blue one in the shed.PM me if interested

 

[wallyo]

can you steer me to a hitch that will fit?

Lots written on hitches, there are 4 parts get a hitch from a pick and pull yard. Best to get an MB hitch Bring a very good breaker bar the bolts are usually lock tired and torque high!

1x Hitch and 4 bolts

2x corner brackets and 8 bolts and sleeves

1x MB wire harness left access panel to hitch (you can splice it in but the plug and play MB is painless) don’t forget the fuse?

Yes there are other brands but they usually do not have corner brackets which increases towing to max 5000lbs

 

[wallyo]

Many of the after market hitches tend to have a gusset plate welded from the receiver to the mounting plate. Every part on a MB hitch is labeled with a part number it will start W163 xxx….

Notice the notch in the bumper! The bumper will not attach with out it

 

[wallyo]

Thanks. I believe I have seen several in ebay for sale

The shipping cost may be a killer! At a yard the tend to run 40-50$

 

[wallyo]

Thanks. In research I am going with aftermarket head unit. So in your opinion go with Pioneer?

As to head unit any of the name brands are going to be fine, they all have gotten so much better in 20 years. Folks have even put in rogue brands off of eBay and claim great results. Thing that will limit you the most is if you want a cd slot?

I went with a jvc single din in a w126 it sounds great. Even with stock speakers.
Most importantly pick 3 brands and read buyers reviews

I have not tried it yet probably will this spring on the 05

if you want to keep the Boise amp you may what to have a look here;

D2B update now available.

Hi everyone - I'm also reporting success! ... (y) If you are able to, post some photos, of your work, for members to see.

www.benzworld.org

 

[wallyo]

Pioneer is the only one that has what you need

Pioneer is good but what does it have that makes it

“the only one that has what you need”

for an ml in your opinion?