99 C280 spark plugs
 

I decided to change my spark plugs this weekend. From reading the threads here, it looks like the correct plug is the F8DPP332. My local parts house says that the FR8DPP33 has superceded it. When I asked if this other plug was resistive(because of the "R"), he said yes, they have gone from non-resistive to resistive for this application . Dealer uses Beru 14FGH-8DPURX but unable to tell from Beru website if this is resitive or not. Getting them from Phil would take too long as I would like to replace them this weekend. I'll try to plan further ahead next time. :dunce2:
Any comments? Thanks, Dan

Go to dealer and buy the plugs. I purchased a set of Bosch plugs from the local dealer for an M104, $2.50 each.:cool:

I may end up getting the plugs at the dealership. The price difference is $14.50 at dealer vs $7.50 at the parts house, ~ $90 after tax. If the Bosch plug from the parts house is good to use then I would rather save the bucks. However, I will make sure whatever I put in there is the correct plug.
I did find a spark plug cross reference chart which crosses the Bosch FR8DPP33 from the parts house with the Beru 14FGH-8DPURX from the dealership. It just seems weird they would suddenly switch to a resistive plug.

Thanks, Dan

forp, call your local MB dealer and ask a Service Advisor what the proper spark plug is for your engine. If MBUSA switched to a resistor plug he should know ... perhaps there's a TSB regarding the spark plugs.

Bosch made the CHANGE not MB! They are completely stopping production of non-resistor plugs.

If Bosch are stopping prodution, how are we supposed to replace plugs in cars that need non-resistor type plugs?

Should we be stocking up on plugs now, or are there alternatives we should use?

The local MB dealer here uses BERU plugs for my car, still the same part number as in my owner's manual, non-resistor. That's what I'll be using.
Dan

Here is the Bosch list of CHANGES

Interesting list. I wonder, will Fastlane be able to obtain BERU plugs (or some other brand) when the non-resistor Bosch inventory runs dry? Also, just curious, what would happen if you put resisor plugs in a car whose OEMs were non-resistor?

Well back to my spark plug adventure. I replaced them using the BERUs from the dealer. I followed all the good advice from this forum and after about 2 1/2 hours of being VERY careful, everything was buttoned up and the car is running great.

Tips and comments:
My T30 Torx driver would not quite fit down into the screw hole of the coil packs. The body where it attaches to the ratchet was too wide. So, I made the top of the hole a little larger. I slightly removed some of the plastic shoulder with a reeming tool so the Torx tool just barely had enough engagement to turn the screw. Look at one and make sure your Torx wrench will get down in there.

I bought a $25, adjustable, boot removal tool. Very handy to twist the metal sleeves and release the stuck rubber boots (which you must do). It would have been much more difficult without it. The actual boot removal was done using a 17mm wrench per instructions found on this forum.

I don't have compressed air, so I couldn't blow out each hole after loosening the plug. Instead, I taped an 18" length of standard, 1/2", heater hose to my shop vac and, voila, I had a super-duper-plug-hole-sucker-cleaner-outer-thinghy. Of course I had to (very carefully) removed each plug before vacuuming the hole but the hose fit just right and did a great job of cleaning the holes, very easy for even the hardest to reach holes.

Finaly, a great tip from one of the forum threads, REMOVE the rubber insert from your spark plug socket wrench before installing those new plugs.

Regards, Dan

Could somebody please post some reliable online sources for H9DC/H9DC0's? I recently ordered what I thought were the last two available plugs at the time via a worldpac reseller (not fastlane) but later found out that they sent me HR9DC0's instead. Now they want me to pay for the shipping back despite it being their error, even though I already had to pay $23 to have the wrong plugs sent to me along with some other stuff!

You may be able to get the correct plugs here,
http://www.honolulu.mercedescenter.com/mbcenter/b/index.jhtml
Good Luck, Dan