Second Hand Mercedes-Benz ML Dual Mass Flywheel

Yes, but only on diesel-engined MLs with a manual gearbox — and the ML is almost exclusively sold in the UK with an automatic gearbox, which uses a torque converter rather than a flywheel. The vast majority of UK ML buyers will not need a dual mass flywheel at all. If your ML is automatic, you are likely looking for a torque converter instead — confirm with a breaker against your registration before ordering anything.

Automatic gearboxes do not use a flywheel of any kind; they use a torque converter to transmit engine power to the gearbox, so a dual mass flywheel is not the part you need. The symptoms that lead people to search for a flywheel — shudder, vibration, clunking on take-off — can on an automatic ML point to a failing torque converter, transmission mount, or flex plate. Ask a breaker to identify the correct part against your registration and engine code so you source the right component.

The W163 (first-generation ML, 1997–2005) and the W164 (second-generation ML, 2005–2011) are entirely different platforms with different engines and bellhousing designs, so a flywheel from one will not cross to the other. Even within each generation, the correct flywheel is determined by the specific engine code, so quote your engine code and registration to the breaker rather than relying on year alone. Never assume fitment across a generation boundary.

Yes — the badge tells you the approximate engine size but the engine code is what actually determines flywheel fitment, as Mercedes used different units across production years and markets even under the same badge. The ML270 CDI diesel is the most likely UK manual-gearbox candidate, but you should still supply your engine code (found on your V5 or via a VIN check) to the breaker to confirm the correct part. Relying on the badge number alone risks ordering the wrong flywheel.

No — trim level has no bearing on flywheel fitment whatsoever; it is a mechanical component matched to the engine and gearbox, not the specification level. Whether your ML is a base model or a higher-specification variant, the flywheel requirement is identical as long as the engine code and gearbox type match. Focus on supplying your engine code and fuel type to the breaker rather than worrying about trim.

The single most important detail is your engine code, which you can find on your V5 logbook or by running a VIN check — this confirms the exact unit fitted and is more reliable than year or badge alone. You should also confirm that your ML is a manual-gearbox vehicle, as automatic versions do not use a flywheel. Supply your registration to the breaker and let them verify fitment against their stock, as ancillary details such as mounting changes mid-production are best confirmed by the breaker rather than assumed.