This is a diesel VS gasser question. I would rather change spark plugs even though glow plugs don't need to be changed as often. Spark plugs in my 230CE are so easy to change. I changed them today in 5 minutes. I timed myself. This included checking the gaps and torquing them to spec. They're also way cheaper than glow plugs. I paid $5.60 for a set of 4 Bosch plugs. Glow plugs are a PITA. I've changed them on a 617 and 603. Maybe glow plugs are like that because you don't need to change them often but even nowadays some spark plugs are good for around 60K miles. Glow plugs also cost around $10 to $12 each.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Its about a draw for me and depends on the car. Modern FWD V6 cars no they have life time plugs in the rear 3 cylinders!

In the RWD MB world it is about a draw. Up until recently they all used copper plugs that need to be changed every 20k-30k, as long as they are easy to get at they are cheap enough. ($2.50 each) The more modern engines like the M112 and M113 only need plugs every 100k or so, but they also have two plugs per cylinder and I bet they cost $5 each or more.

For example a spark plug change on an XJ8 costs a fortune. I think the plugs run $15-$20 each times 16. Thats one of the reasons why I would buy a MB V8 over a Jag, at least MB uses $2 plugs.

The more modern diesels with afterglow burn through glowplugs faster, and the modern gas engines make plugs last a very long time. Its a draw in my book.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I'd rather change Glow Plugs than spark plugs. On my Subaru, it's a real pain to change the spark plugs, it tooks me over 2 hours to change the plugs and ignition wires. When I had the 300CD, it took like 30 minutes max to change out the glow plugs...

I'll go with the glow plugs, but I don't own a 60x. I find it pretty painless on both the 616 and 617. I hate doing spark plugs (or anything else) on my Jeep because it's such a POS something breaks every-time I touch it. Besides, you don't have to gap GPs.

The SP's I got today were already gapped to .8mm.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Cause there's only one cheep make yourself wire holding them together

__________________
5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

I'd have to put my vote in the spark plug box since the vehicle I'm thinking of is my bimmer with a straight six so all the plugs are on the same side and very easily accessable. The GP's on the 617 weren't that bad once I removed the injector hard lines. I dropped one of the nuts that held the wire in place and luckily the local hardware store had the right size. I bought 15.

__________________
Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

Spark plugs are evil evil evil! Repeat after me .."spark plugs are evil"

I would rather not change either one, but I would have to go with the glow boys.

Gasoline smells terrible and I despise any thing that runs on gasoline. I am looking for a small diesel to convert my weedeater over so I dont have to smell that stinkin exhaust.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Dependant on the vehicle totally. GPs aren't much fun...

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Glow plugs on the older cars seem to last a very long time though. I got stuck with changing them on both my cars and all of the old glow plugs seemed very old or original. I am pretty sure the rear glow plug on my 617 was original.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The M103 in the S-Class. The configuration layout says it all.

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Put my vote in for sparks.

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

That's almost exactly where mine are on the bimmer but lower on the block. They are just so darn easier on my 633csi than on my 300D. That's why I had to put my hat in the spark ring. After driving mainly my now wrecked Mercedes for the last ten months and being rudely thrust back into gassers, I've come to discover I don't like them. I prefer the clatter of a diesel to whatever you want to call it noise that a gasser makes.

__________________
Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo