My Dad's '99 E300 has a bad #2 glow plug. I had him call a couple places to get some quotes and was shocked and what he heard. I figured around $500 to have someone do the job. The dealer wanted $900! An indy wanted $2,000, saying they always break off on that car!

I'm just going to do the repair myself next time he comes to visit. I was just wondering if the glow plug breaking problem is really that bad on these cars so that shops quote these high prices over the phone? I thought it only affected a small percentage but based on the responses he received, it sounds like its much more common. I was just going to take my time and if I get a stuck one, soak it in PB Blaster overnight. Any advice from forum members who have been there before?

Thanks,

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

The problem is quite common on the 606 and has been discussed to death.

Do a search using Google on 606 glow plugs and read all the info necessary to make a proper decision.

If you break one, fixing it yourself is possible, but not without thorough advanced knowledge of exactly what you are doing.


Or, just follow the DIY article that is already written on it:


http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/OM606BrokenGlowPlug


The use of PB Blaster won't be sufficient to prevent breaking the plug. The problem is packed carbon all around the plug preventing any movement upwards. There is some success with an impact gun set to a low setting and having a lot of patience (like one hour of hammering away at it). The proper setting for the impact gun is critical. Too high and you snap it..........too low and you'll never get the job done. I'd probably use a torque stick for that job.

Four of my six broke. They had been in for about 100K. We were lucky enough to get them all out without removing the head but I ended up with two heli-coils. Hope they stay put...

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
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'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
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'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
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Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

Is the coked glow plug problem as bad for motors that have only been run on diesel, no WVO or Bio ?

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I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
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Thanks for the replies. The way I see it is that if it breaks on me, it will likely break on the dealer as well. Might as well try it myself because I won't be any worse off. I can always button it back up and take it to the dealer if one breaks. I'm not going to try drilling it out.

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

The natural tendency when it won't move is to just twist harder. It's a recipe for disaster.

Spend the needed time to get an impact wrench and a torque stick and spend one hour with the PB Blaster and the impact wrench. You'll be glad you did.

This is what you want to do:

OM606 Glow Plug Replacement: Pray for me please

If you pickup a 40 ft-lb. torque stick, you should be fine. Just be patient and use both forward and reverse...........some heat...........and PB Blaster. They will come out.

The dealer quote probably assumes that they all come out. Expect a nasty phone call halfway through the job with that one.

Thanks for the link. I will try that method. The car has only one bad plug. I think I will just replace it (hopefully it will come out without a problem) and not press my luck on the others. It doesn't appear to be that much labor to get to them.

Thanks,

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Please report back with results. Most folks are impatient and don't get the setup necessary to perform this task. We'd like additional data on it.

Will do. Probably won't be until February before he comes down with the car though.

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

I had the #1 glow plug crap out on me this past summer. It came out nice and easy with a regular wrench (maybe ignorance is bliss sometimes).

[IMG][/IMG]

The car had about 120k on it. I have the service book on it (I'm the second owner) so I do not know if it was replaced prior to us getting it at 61k.

I did not touch the other glow plugs living by the adage that if it is not broken, don't screw with it because on a MB, it will break something else.

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2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

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