Disclamer: I tried very hard to find the answer to my question both on the internet and in some of the limited service literature I have. I just can't seem to find it.

I have a 1993 300E 4Matic with the M103.

I had a serious misfire and I discovered that my spark plug wires (most of them at least including the coil lead were crispy). I ordered new bosch wires and attempted to change them out one at a time, I ended up not doing them one at a time thanks to the impossible clearances. I got the plug wires confused and realized that they weren't even put on in the firing order, the car ran, but not well.

I made a second attempt at attaching them in order trying to remember where at least one of them attached, now the car won't start at all, leading me to believe that either my assumption that they are put on in order of the firing sequence is incorrect (doubtful) or that my guess on where #1 goes is incorrect (likely).

Your help and suggestions are greatly appreciated, If anyone can produce some sort of diagram/drawing on which wire goes to which terminal, that would be most excellent. I need the car to run before sunday night!!

Easy as pie...

First off, on the little plastic cover that hides the wires in their track is the firing order.

Second, and more important, is that in the fine print on the black cover over the distributor cap are the numbers for cylinders 1 through 6.

Cylinder 1 is the one in front of benz straight 6 and then you work your way to the back.

-CTH

__________________
- cth350@gmail.com
http://www.111lakeside.com/

The terminals on a Bosch distributor cap are marked with the corresponding cylinder number. Simply route each ignition wire to the corresponding cylinder ... 1 thru 6, front to back. Apply a light coat of dielectric grease inside each boot to facilitate future removal.

Recommend removing the distributor cap to check the condition of the internals and the rotor. Clean/replace as required.

__________________
Fred Hoelzle

@cth350 I guess I just wasn't looking hard enough by the terminals, it was dark when I was looking, so tomorrow I'll have a more careful look. I realize the firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4, but it's the position on the cap that I'm struggling with, if anyone has any other suggestions on how to determine this, I'd be grateful. Thanks so much for the help.

The tower for Cylinder #1 on the distributor cap is roughly at the 1:00 position as you stand in front of the radiator looking at it.
Put the shortest wire on that tower, then follow your firing order (1-5-3-6-2-4) clockwise around the cap (the #2 cylinder gets the next longest wire, then 3, etc until the longest wire left would be for cylinder #6).
When aligning the wires in the plastic housing that fits in the valve cover I usually start by running the #6 wire along the top of it to its exit hole, then #5 along the top under the #6 wire and so on until all but the #1 is in place. Snap the cover together, push it in place on the valve cover and then fish the #1 wire through the front corner of it and out its exit hole.

I've never seen one that didn't have the cylinder numbers stamped right next to the tower.

Do yourself a favor and check the cap and rotor, to make sure they aren't the reason your wires burned up.

Also, read up here on the whole resistor versus non-resistor spark plug thing, and hopefully this won't happen again.

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-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition