My 04 ML Sports is running well. Since I'll never get the chance to buy new, I'd appreciate suggestions on ways to restore quality of ride. I plan on replacing engine and transmission mounts to improve smoothness. Also seems like replacing tie rods (inner and outer) could tighten steering. Anything else in steering/front end? LCA's have been done. Sport shocks and sway bars seem good.

 

Mileage is 108. Doing a couple of trans D/F's did help. I generally can't feel the shifts. LOL an 01-03 will always be smoother. The 6 speed now shifts perfectly under hard acceleration Any easy aftermarket improvements? May try ceramic brakes.

Had problems w/ slow tank fill for a couple of weeks. Now gone. Used a large bottle of fuel cleaner which may have helped (cleaner filter?).

 

The engine and transmission mounts were game changers when I swapped them, but my car had a lot more miles than yours, around 150k. After replacement, it was hard to tell the car was even idling without looking at the tachometer.

I'd only do a brake job if it needed it or your rotors are warped and you're getting feedback through the steering wheels. A change to ceramic pads is not going to really be felt, you'll just have less dust buildup on your wheels.

I would recommend replacing the outer tie rods at that age and mileage, but look up ways to test them and see if it needs it. You can jack up a wheel and see if there's play in it. Regardless, the car will have a much better handling feel and not have that "sloppy" feel after replacement. But if you're paying a shop to replace, it can get pricey.

If you're paying a shop to do all this, it adds up, so if you're not experiencing any issues, you may want to just enjoy it as is.

 

Make sure to go with OEM mount only