Champion vs Bosch glowplugs
 

Not really an MB topic, since the car is a Volvo TD, but I replaced 5 out of 6 glowplugs on the 740 last week. I'd been having serious hard start problems, especially cold and not quite hot (car fully warmed up and shut off for an hour or so -- dash light didn't come one, car won't start).

Four of the five plugs had a neat little hole in the tip at the weld -- I presume this is where the resistance element is connected. They are about two years old, maybe three (I'm getting senile, I think!), shouldn't have been bad.

Hard start problem is gone, car lights right up at 20 F except for #6 -- I can't find a way to get the buss strap off without removing the IP!

Has anyone else seen this particular failure in glowplugs? Seems strange to me, I'd not have thought that the weld at the resistance element would fail like that. Certainly, I don't exepct to find the same problem with Bosch glowplugs, and I will certainly also never save money by using them again!

Peter

I'm looking at a spare Bosch glow plug for the Mercedes 80s diesels, and I don't see any weld at the tip. The heating element is completely seamless and smooth.

Based on what I've read here, that's all I'll buy.

Ken300D

Champion makes glowplugs? I figure a Volvo would have Bosch or Beru. hen a gain a freind of mine has a VW Beetle and it came from the factory with NGKs.

Yup, Champion makes glowplugs. Not anywhere as good as their sparkplugs, though.

They were on the shelf at the CarQuest, cost about $8 each, so I bought them. Twice, since I furgured running them constantly when the GP relay shorted finished off the first set.

Never again!

They seem to work fine in American diesels, for whatever reason, I've never heard any complaints.

Peter