Fuel filter replacement for Mercedes W163

Good evening. In this article, you will learn how to replace the W163 (Mercedes ML) fuel filter, as well as how to save money on buying a filter.

Where is the fuel filter on the w163?

On the 163 body, the fuel filter with pressure regulator is installed in the frame near the left rear wheel. For clarity, watch this video (unfortunately the language is English, but everything is clear):

How to replace the fuel filter on a Mercedes W163?

To complete this work, we will definitely need:

Collar or ratchet.

Heads for 16 and Torex (asterisk) for 11 for unscrewing the rear seat mounts. An example of a 11 screw head:

A 10 head or a 10 key for unscrewing the fender liner (mounted on 6 plastic nuts), which are better to be replaced, because they are “formally” disposable, but actually screwed on 3-5 times ... ..

Small and medium slotted screwdrivers (screwdriver can be replaced with a knife)

Jack, balonnik, anti-reverse.

It is desirable:

1. There are no heads for 7-8 to remove the filter clamp, you can get by with screwdrivers, but with a head and a ratchet, work is done much faster.
2. Rags for cleaning from dirt and gasoline, which inevitably follow from the fuel lines.
3. A container for gasoline that will spill out of the filter when it is removed (200-300 ml.).

Fuel filter replacement sequence for Mercedes W163 (ML320, ML230, ML350, ML430)

Step 1 - open the fuel pump hatch.

Start off.

Our first task is to remove the seat that covers the fuel pump hatch.

We move the left rear seat forward, and we see plastic lining, as here

There are 3 of them.

After removing the plastic covers. We see the seat mounting bolts: 10 under the asterisk 11 and 3 nut studs, this is how it looks

Having unscrewed all the bolts, we rearrange the seat to the driver's seat, or even take it out of the car.

Raise the carpet and see the gas tank hatch

We slip a screwdriver and gradually tear off the sealant cover. The hatch itself on the w163 is made of rather soft metal and sometimes bends easily, but in which case it is easy to fix it and also install it on the sealant.

Step 2 - unhook the fuel hoses from the pump.

Opening the hatch, we see this fuel pump:

Disconnect the hoses from the pump. They are removed cunningly: first, we push the quick connector into the handset forward, then press the latches on both sides and, holding them, pull the handset towards us.

We did all these steps to remove the hoses without damaging them! You can immediately unhook the connectors from the filter, but in this case there is a high probability of ruining 2 hoses, and they cost about 1 tr apiece.

To be more clear, the quick release device:

Step 3 - the actual replacement of the fuel filter.

We install pads under the wheels, put in parking (if automatic), or speed (if mechanics) and on the handbrake. Loosen the left rear wheel bolts. Jack up the car on the left rear and remove the wheel.

We remove the plastic fender liner, the places of its fastening are indicated in the photo:

To do this, unscrew 6 plastic nuts.

After removing the fender liner, you will see the fuel filter:

Prepare a rag and a container for draining the fuel, as when removing the fuel line, gasoline will inevitably run out. Then unscrew the clamp so that it is disconnected and remove it. Then we take the prepared container, pulling the filter towards ourselves, drain all the gasoline into a previously prepared container.

Everything, the filter no longer delays anything, carefully remove the fuel hoses from the passenger compartment and remove the filter:

We change the fuel filter to a new one and assemble everything in the reverse order. Part of the operations can be skipped if you do not need to get to the fuel pump, but in terms of operating time it will increase at least twice and most likely ruin the fuel hoses !!!

How to save money on buying a fuel filter for Mercedes w163?

The car manufacturer claims to change the fuel filter every 50 km, but the problem is that the filter in our cars is complex and consists of a filter and a fuel pressure regulator.

Here is your design:

Accordingly, the product is quite expensive, at prices in 2017, the original filter costs about 6-7 tr, and analogues 4-5 tr, which is quite expensive for a filter, even with a pressure regulator.

As you understand, the original, analogues, are assembled in China, now everyone is assembled in China ... Even iPhones ...

For example, here is the price of compatible filters A 163 477 07 01, directly in China for 2017. And believe me, these are high-quality factory products:

Therefore, in order to save money, you can order goods directly in China, bypassing intermediaries in the form of Russian online stores, their suppliers, and further down the list ... ..

Here you can order the filter at half price, although the delivery time is 20 to 30 days, but you must understand that the replacement of the fuel filter is a scheduled maintenance, so you can order the filter in advance.

Attention!

On some cars (approximately 20 percent), filter A 163 477 04 01 can be installed. They are attached to the tank with hoses, the filters are fully compatible, so the “check by VIN code” option, which filter you have installed, will not tell you, it will work ! since the machines are already old and the filters have been changed many times, in my experience 80% of the machines have the first filter. Even if the wrong filter comes, it’s not scary, put a regular fuel hose from VAZ gas on the clamps.

Filter A 163 477 04 01 is also available in China.

You can also save on fuel lines. The fact is that the plastic connectors are quite fragile and break if removed incorrectly. The hoses themselves cost about 800 rubles each! But as advertising teaches, if you can't see the difference, why pay more?

Solution: we buy hoses from VAZ or GAZ and put them on clamps as in this picture:

Of the minuses: our hoses work for 5-6 years and then crack, but let's be honest: the filter needs to be changed more often, and the native eccentrics are so smeared with dirt that they break during disassembly in 2-3 times.

This is all I have today. I hope that after reading the article on how to replace the Mercedes W163 fuel filter, you will replace the filter yourself and there will be no difficulties.