Hello folks,

Since I recently purchased a 99 E300TD with 107K miles and have been running it though some routine maintenance:

• Voltage Regulator
• Diesel Relay
• Shocks and Springs (Eibach and Bilstein Sports) had to change the Spring pads
• Serp Belt
• Fuel Filter - Going to do GT Screen in a month
• Planned: Transmission Module Replacement

And recently the Glow plug light stayed on and forced me to check the resistance and I found that GP #3, 4 and 6 are failing - now my MPG makes sense - and I have read extensively how difficult replacing them is likely to be - if i do them myself. SOOOO, I wanted to know if anyone could refer a shop in Los Angeles that has the correct Klann Tap tool kit to perform the retapping of the pre chamber if they break a GP off in the process of removing it. Any suggestions are appreciated. Or should I simply take the head off and take to a good machine shop?

I may choose to undertake replacing them and have know that i should:

• A. Be careful and Pre lub with PB or WD40 in advance while the engine is warm.
• B. Heat up the surrouding Metal - NOT THE GP itself - with a Propane torch and try to gently ease it out
• C. Try to remove using a torgue wrench set to 42nms to limit the likelyhood of snapping the GP off in the chamber
• D. Get me a Klann Tap tool - or make one myself - because I am bound to snap at least one of them off - I plan on replacing them all while I am there.
• E. Ream out the prechamber with the correct reamer for the OM606 - ANY ONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET ONE?

And finally, since the reason that the GP's get stuck is likely the carbon build up, has anyone tried placing the business end of a oscillating tool - without the cutting blade of course! - onto the end of a GP and gently vibrating it a little? Which, I hypothesize, should loosen the GP from the Carbon a bit. Just a thought any comments on it though?
C-