How often do you change glow plugs? 1999 E300 Turbo diesel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 10-26-2002, 02:09 PM

I drive a 1999 E300 Turbo diesel. It is in mint condition with about 38,000 miles. My father owned it before I did and he babies cars.

I replaced one glow plug at 24K miles, and two more at 26K miles.

I had a lady hit me about 5 weeks ago and the car is just getting out of the body shop (body damage to front right of car, but did not hit engine). However, they had to remove the engine to fix one of the rails.

The service shop is now calling and saying that all 6 glow plugs (Are there 5 or 6?) have to be replaced because all are worn. Est. cost of about $1,000. They say it has nothing to do with the engine being removed or the accident, it is just time to change them.

It seems odd to me that I have change 3 within the last 10-12K miles and now all 6 need to be changed, and all at once.

1. How long do glow plugs typically last?

2. Do they always go out at once like this?

3. I have the extended warranty from Mercedes (up to 100M miles). Should I have the dealer fix this or can I go to another repair shop that handles Mercedes and get them to fix it. Will that void my warranty?

4. Any idea how to find a good mechanic that is not with a dealership.

#2 10-26-2002, 02:34 PM

Now I do not have a 99 diesel so I can not say from experience how hard they are to replace.

First of all 1000 dollars sounds to me to be alot of money for such a simple job(again I dont have one but I have done other cars numerous times.)

ON fastline the parts are about 20 bucks each so their goes 120.

Labor should not be more than three hours. It takes me about 2 hours to do mine and I work fairly slowly.

Now if you do a search on the forum you will get alot of various info on the replacement of glow plugs. I personally change mine whenever I get a new diesel only because I am crazy and must change everything before it needs to be. I make sense to me but for 1000 bucks I would be very hesitant to change them out.

I bought last year a 300d 1984 with 235K with the original glow plugs in them. I replaced them even though they were working for reasons stated above.

Now generally speaking the purpose, or better stated, real value of this forum is that you have access to professional mechanics and crazy people like myself who are willing and eventually able to fix most things on these cars. These folks will give you information and guidance on how to do these jobs yourself. I do not know if the common fuel rail is in the way or what special needs to be done to access the glow plugs but glow plugs are no harder to change than spark plugs when you get direct access to them.

That being stated I dont know how much a dealer would charge to change 6 spark plugs on a new mercedes. It might be around 1000.

If your car starts without any problem you can wait to determine the best course of action. At 1000 bucks he is not offering you any deal. If he had the fuel rail off already and charged you for the parts and just a littke labor I might go for it similar to the wisdom of putting in a new water pump when you change out the timing belt if it is driven of the timing belt.

If this guy has all this stuff apart why is he hitting you with 750 dollars in labor for 15 minute of work?

Agian, You most likey will get some great info from folks that did this one already,

welcome to the forum

bob c

Diesel-Lover · #3 10-26-2002, 10:40 PM

I am no mechanic but feel that I am so inclined!

Have owned a number of Diesels including my third MB diesel.
Unlike a spark plug the glow plug is functional only in the start process and therefore they should not be worn on a 99 unless there is something burning off the elements. In the name of preventive maint it may be justifiable but not for a cool G.

Are you in a very cold clime or do you start/restart the engine very very often and have near 100000 or more miles on the car?

If the engine is out etc then the plugs should be replaced at cost and perhaps a cup of joe and crumpets (starbucks+) given that its an MB mech!

I'd get the reco and price in writing and take it up with MB central this kind of dealership gives the brand a baaaad name.

I am still looking for a non dealer option in the Dayton area, any suggestions out there (new to the area).

pat201 · #4 10-26-2002, 10:57 PM

My first glowplug went bad at 69k miles. At that time I replaced them all (about $100 in parts with my own labor). It took about one hour. The second time around, knowing well what I have to do should go in about half the time. Since then put another 10k miles on it and is going well.

dc88168 · #5 10-27-2002, 12:07 AM

I replaced my first 2 glow plugs (#1 and #5) at about 160,000 miles.

David

_____________________
1985 300D Turbo 168,000 miles

jcd · #6 10-27-2002, 10:06 AM

Run,,,,,I mean run fast from this mechanic. This guy is a pirate.

Check the shops forum on the site and post your area if you don't see any good techs listed. The folks on the site will give you some good referrals if one is not already listed.

JCD

HGV · #7 10-27-2002, 11:20 AM

I changed the original glow plugs in my 87 300TD at 200k because I was doing a valve job and it made sense. Your 1999 should be in warranty and if they need to be replaced, wouldn't it be a warranty item?

Henry

william rogers · #8 10-27-2002, 06:57 PM

just sent in online order to FastLane for 5 Bosch glow plugs for my 81 SD total with ground UPS $58.32 .will charge myself 200 dollars an hour
to put them in hmmmmmmmmm. looks like $258.32.........
William Rogers.......

slowmoe · #9 10-27-2002, 07:02 PM

The origional glow pluge are in my 2.5 at 176K!!

brightem · #10 10-28-2002, 01:00 AM

$1000 bucks would have been a bargin in my case. I just picked up my '96 E300 from the shop Friday after the worst case scenereo you could possibly face in changing your glowplugs. About 3 months ago I set out to change all six glowplugs after getting a check engine electronics message and confirming it was the glowplugs that were at fault. Getting to the plugs was no problem, but taking them out was a bit difficult. They were tight and from the carbon build up and required the use of penetrating oil. All but the last one came out. The last plug snapped off flush with the head. After numerous attempts, an EZ-out snapped off inside the glowplug and that was it. Had to take the car to the shop where they took the head off and sent it to a machine shop. The machine shop was barely able to salvage the head after drilling the plug out and re-welding the hole. In all, the final bill for the glow plug job=$1700

Makes me sick to think about it.

jcyuhn · #11 10-28-2002, 10:08 AM

Glow plugs seem to last 10 years or more on the older diesels. My 1987 still has its original plugs @ 125K miles, though they are getting a bit tired.

Things are different with the OM606 engine - think '98 & '99 E300 turbodiesel. The original glow plugs on these cars rarely seem to last more than three years. I had mine replaced under warranty at about 35K miles, I think it was.

Run away from the $1K quote, it's absurd. Changing the plugs on this car is more work than the earlier diesels, but it still shouldn't run more than three hours shop labor, at most. Even at dealer pricing I can't imagine paying more than perhaps $600. It's a pretty easy doityerself job as well, with parts being $120 mail order.

Stevo · #12 10-28-2002, 04:41 PM

Gezzzz

Think I will stick with 240Ds, you guys are now talking BIG bucks!

LightMan · #13 10-28-2002, 07:10 PM

Has anyone successfully changed their glowplugs on a '96+ E300 ? It sounds like you got pretty close brightem, how hard is the process, what do you have to do?

stephenson · #14 10-28-2002, 08:31 PM

Did the engine run OK when you had the accident?

If so, and there was no damage, why would you entertain discussion on replacement of the GPs?

MVK · #15 10-28-2002, 09:59 PM

1000 bucks!!! What else does he do for that kind of money? LOL.

Get away from him. He is a mechanic with lowest integrity and is a thief. I dont know about 99 model but on 1985 D its about 1 hr job, I got a special 12 mm ring wrench, all I did was made it longer by welding a 10 inch metal rod to the 12 mm ring wrench. This way I can open the plugs easily. Its hard to describe in words.

MVK