What? Of course it can.

I've seen it done...

I literally used my ML to tow an old RV..... And an accord out of a ditch 🤷‍♂️

@@jnieto490 yes. They're far more capable than people give them credit for being.

It was right there in the video!

William Sevier so every 4wd that doesn’t have front lockers is a mall crawler? Hilarious

4WD slip-test sneak-peak: Terrible.

@@wildbill23c also.. i bet you didnt know that all 8 control arms on the first gen ML are forged.. hella solid. boxed frame massive trnasfer case.. etc.. aint no mawl crawler. but its certainly not a rock crawler either.

With a little bit of work these cars are as good or better than many modern cars - Jeeps included. Every trail I go on I’m left amazed at how capable it is and does it reliably and very comfortably.

I really wish someone built a rear locker for them. Being stuck in 2wd with no limited slip or anything sucks. I dont want to ruin my daily drivability by welding it but thats really the only option short of a transplant. Again, not worth it. I love my ML430 but as far as off roading, my 97 4Runner with e-locker was far superior. I'll take the comfort, v8 power and awkward looks for driving a modded Mercedes over crawl capability.

I had a 2004 diesel version of the w163 where the auto in reverse would allow the engine to rev up to 2-3000rpm with little to no movement. It was like a high stall converter. Other than that, the gearbox is tuff as nails, handled deep sand on the beach really well.

What else do you recommend to maintain this transmission Al's, do i have to take it out and clean the valve body? and that's it

@@jaimechapa418 6 bolts to drop the pan. 10 bolts to drop the valve body. You’ll need a 7mm socket to remove the electrical connector. 29 bolts to separate the valve body halves. Clean it up well & it’s good to go.

@@alsgarage6204 Thanks Al i'll think im going to do that when I hit 100K Miles just to make sure it ill work good the truck.

so if someone offered you a brand new one in trade for yours, you wouldnt accept? lol yea, okay

obnxs donky of course! If it’s free I’ll get it and sell it haha.

bfg's are snow tires, they are M+S rated. The "real' snow tires you're talking about wouldn't cut it; sure they will stick to the snow, but they won't bite and grab into the rocks.

Oscar Amador Problem here with these M+S is, you won‘t even get to the rocks because of failing in the snow, so what‘s the point?? 😉

Tires can not make up a front locking differential.

*Truck…

brian potter exactly!!

Hey Brian how is this ML reliability wise. ?

@@goodlife1500 very good I service every 10000 klms

@@brifpot thank you I am thinking about over landing I thought it would make a good off road vehicle for camping.

@@goodlife1500 been outback in Australia it handles it well had no problems, 2nd gear low range with ESP turned off up and over the dunes

If you turn the traction control off, you maximize the 4 wheel drive effort

Yeah but this one is MY car 😂😂😂 I don’t wanna be in the hook when the transfer case falls out

@@tomasmica325 bahahaha that makes more sense then 😅 let's make a skid plate and install a spartan locker in the rear! Thing serious has potential but just needs a few mods, love seeing it be built, how you keep it and build it up over the year

True! Some momentum and more to the right side of the road just bringing the right tires on top of the rocks

@@tomasmica325 the transfer case will not, because its well under part of the frame, but you have to protect the gas tank, add some metal protection to the gas tank, its easy to do in the w163

Yep, and come to a complete stop in the merc.

Yep exactly what I thought too. All the trucks they drove at a constant speed until the rocks stopped them. In the MB he stopped right before then tried to do it from a dead stop

Not too mention, isn't the jeep transmission n transfer MB?

Unfortunately, it's all about the driver as well.

@@rosolinotv3690 This^ They need the driver mod BAD!

My 2004 ml 500 handles well in Wisconsin

Agreed there is even a off-road pro model that didn’t come to the us “w164”

Cool

Ya Nissan make good off roader cars

Is it the pro 4x model?

I had the same experience with my 01 ML320, better than a regular SUV

So far how is your w163 ?

@@jonardalejo9687 good so far, just had as major service at 320,000km replaced asll the injectors, rocker cover and fixed a leak on the turbo oil feed pipe.

The trailer blazer would just spin one front tire and one rear tire

@@Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix G80 rear, same as that trail boss. My Envoy has the G80 + 3.73's; Not as nice as an e locker but once it kicks in it helps. Think it'd go farther than the ML would stock, at least these early ML's.

@@marioman971 g80 is definitely nice to have.

Then the w164 trumped the x5

Then they traded the X5s for Cayennes.

Then now there on to range rovers

Then their x5s started breaking and they wish they still had their trusty ML back

I forgot to tell you something : I own a w163 ML 320 and I drive it always in snow , that's nothing compared to the snow I drive in.

How did you do your 3.5" lift? What shocks/etc did you use?

@@ekhc I used 30mm longer king springs in the rear. (Out of Australia.) Part number KMRR-91. + 20mm strut spacers. Both available on Ebay if not locally available in your country. Front suspension was raised by winding up the front torsion bars to maximum height + turning the torsion bar adjustment arm by 1 spline. Some have gone 2 splines, but I wouldn't recommend it. As I think it would lead to premature ball joint wear and binding. Front shocks are Boge brand. Aprox 3" longer than stock. Just went through a whole selection to see what would fit. So your kinda on your own there. Also added a 1" body lift for approach angles and added tire clearance. 1" is about the max you can go before you run into problems with the steering column, Abs brake lines and fuel filler neck etc. You can go higher, but I feel it would be pointless and expensive. As no lsd or locking rear diff is available for the ML W163, we sourced an lsd unit from a BMW 5 series. (3.46 ratio to suit ml 270 diesel factory gearing). Utilizing custom diff cradle brackets and custom inner CV joints and machined drive flange adapters. Lsd was also set up very tight. Almost like a locker, but still very streetable on paved roads. The 4 ets system still seems to function properly, leaving the front wheels to fend for them selves 👍. Search KZfaq for video : indexing torsion bars/lifting a Mercedes w163. Very helpful video and should explain everything you need to know. Good luck with your project. I've had a lot of fun with mine, and have surprised a few 4x4 guys on the trails 👍 No cutting or welding of the chassis was required, so everything can be returned back to stock in the future if needed. Edit. I plan to do some offroad testing over Easter. So will try to do a bit of a video on what the ML can do. And a little info on the LSD install if anyone is interested. 👍

@@backinthehighlifeagain5468 please do a video on the lsd

They have done some videos with late model (US) Grand Vitara's and do give them respect.

Mahk would agree

Mercedes probably saw the electronics in the W163 weren't good enough, so the W164 had diff locks with the optional off road package.

Aldo due to environmental reasons, you can't just go anywhere offroad in Western Europe, only on approved trails, so the hardcore off-roader scene is pretty limited. Here in Eastern Eruope the legislation is more loose, or people just ignore it, so you'll see more off roaders in the mountains, some aren't even registered, as police cars can't even get there.

Thanks for the great info

I find Michelin Latitudes to be enough for anything.

I run 33" Hercules studded snow tires with 20" by 8" rims with a slight offset. Works amazing and does not rub. Does not stick out past fenders.

I agree because traction control should have had no problem sending power to the front tire that had grip.

Very smooth ride. Very comfortable seats too

Maybe, we’ll have to try

A hydraulic motor on each wheel would work also. Don't understand why this was never used. It's been successfully used in heavy mining vehicles for decades.