No spark on number 1 and 4 cylinder on 300E
 

I've got a friend's 1993 300e in my shop. He complained of an erratic idle and gas smell when he drove the car. I pulled the plugs and could see number 1 and 4 cylinders had no spark. Wondering if it might be the coils that are bad or the connecting wires from the coil to those plugs. Any thoughts and am in the right direction (other than "friends" bringing me their broken cars:)?

The short spark-plug connector under the coil is a common culprit, as is the coil, especially the original blue-stickered Bosch coil.

Check the connector under the coil, and try moving the coil to another location to see if the miss moves with it.

success..........
 

two new coils and spark everywhere. Thanks for the heads up!