560SEL spark plugs
 

okay is it me or is it extremely hard to change the plugs on a 89 560SEL? Is there a special tool needed??

What is so hard about it? On the 420sel I know I had to take off one of the heat shields from the exhaust manifold, and use a couple different extensions, but other than that it was a snap.

did you use the "special tool" to remove the silver end of the ignition wire before removing the plugs?

No

I made one using a piece of wire coat hanger. I bent it in a U shape and bent the ends in a J shape to grab the tabs on the sides of the spark plug wire connector. This way, I can remove it without pulling on the wire.

I found that a tool used for removing valve stem seals works really well for this. It looks like a long, cheap pair of pliers with a half a tube on each jaw. it was cheaper than a new set of wires, and was pretty cheap as it was.

Maybe my car just has easy wires because I have changed spark plugs three times and never needed a special tool to do it except a range of different extensions.

On my 560SEL I routinely changed the plugs every couple of weeks, for about 2 years. This was due to worn valve stem seals (yes, they were later replaced). I became very good at changing the plugs and could do all 8 in about 10 minutes or less; I'd clean the plugs up and reuse them 2 weeks later. I don't recall any difficulty at all with this task.

Hmmm...what tools does it take to change the plugs? what extensions will I need. And whats this about removing a heat shield? I really have been wanting to change the plugs on my '90 560 SEL.

am i missing something or is this a comedy relief thread.

haha
 

We're just not top mechanics like you are :o
These things are complicated !!!