Hello-

Does anyone know about the details of changing the coils, wires and plugs on a 2000 CL500? I got an outrageous quote from the dealer as expected so i am thinking of saving the $ and DIY.

Are the plugs extremely difficult to access?

Where are the coils located?

Do you think I can DIY if I have moderate mechanical skills (used to change plugs all the time in my 300E)? I am thinking it might be a "fun" weekend project...

Thanks in advance!
Jerome

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05 E55
03 E500

MB suggested labor time is 1.8 hrs for a technician that has done that many times.

Coils mount to the top of the valve covers & should be removed so that the spark plug wire ends can be PRIED from the plugs.

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

The coils themselves are probably the reason you got the outrageous quote. They are $90+ apiece dealer prices, and $65+ most places I've checked online.

The rest of it, including labor, isn't that bad. Imagine how I feel with 12 of them to change. Ugh.

I wouldn't replace coils unless they are suspect.

As CWW mentioned, they are pricey.

Plugs and perhaps, plug wires if your car has a whole bunch of miles.

Not sure for your model, but you may need a special tool to remove the plug ends...not using the tool and using gorilla force will shatter the ends.

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Thanks for all the helpful replies...

This all came up because the check engine light and the car was running rough. Dealer diagnosed 6 coils misfiring even though only 70K miles the car is 8 years old I guess.

The estimate from the dealer was $3400 - yikes. Their labor was only about $600 and the coils were $216/ea, wires $56/ea (need 16), plugs $15/ea (need 16). After pricing out the off-brand parts online I can save about $1629 on parts alone...

After dwelling on it for the night I decided to grind the dealer a little bit (ended up getting 20% off with competing dealer coupon) and just let them do it. Don't get me wrong because this actually would be a fun thing to do compared to my day to day work life but not sure if it makes sense at the end of the day. I would rather have the dealer do it because in the mean time they look at those cars everyday and may notice something else wrong that I would miss, not to mention you can't complain when they give you a 08 loaner for free (I dont have a 2nd car). Also the work is fully guaranteed and it looks better at the end of the day to have the paper trail when/if I sell.

Overall this car has been amazing to own and extremely trouble free so i am happy

Thanks again guys!

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05 E55
03 E500

I admire someone who can hand over $3400 and STILL be happy!

That's a transmission replaecment bill from the dealer for me!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

I wish you had asked us where to get the parts. You overpaid by $1k on the coils.

http://www.***************/search/product.aspx?sid=e54qqg45r0jzqh45awnghx45&makeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1363823@CL500&year=2000&cid=25@Ignition%20Parts&gid=7060@Ignition%20Coil

FWIW, I always find my best price online, then print out a copy and bring it to my dealer's parts counter and ask them to match it. Sometimes they can't, but I'd say 7 or 8 times out of 10 they are able to. I can't believe you paid $250 apiece for those coils. LIST PRICE is only $230, and the *real* price about $120ish. You paid $20 over list! I would go back in there and at least ask for the $160 over list that you paid back.

Absurd.

BTW the coils are sold as pairs (only 8 on a V8 two plugs per cyl, one coil pair). list is $185. I hope the problem is gone as I've never seen six coils bad but I have seen 6 or more misfire codes on one V8. Such multiple misfires have never been from multiple coils being bad.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

You really shouldn't patronize people who start with an outrageous quote - even if they come off of it later. You need to find a good shop.