Gotta give it to the M103
 

My 2.6 parts car has a good drivetrain (which I want to either sell or put into another car) but was having issues starting, but it ran well once it started. I had not been able to pull the plugs because I don't have a correct size spark plug wrench, but my friend did so he came over to help me on my 190D (which turned out to be a complete failure), so we pulled the plugs and they looked as if they were probably original. They were disgusting. The electrodes had worn down so far that the gaps were at more than twice the factory specs. We regapped the plugs and put them back in and it the car started up much better and ran a little smoother. We did find out that a W201 is the perfect spark plug regapping bench, with the headlights out, the holes for the headlight bolts work perfectly. http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/...ps46259b15.jpg

Pleeeeease tell us you really didnt use a hammer to set your spark plug gaps.

Are you sitting down Bob?



I think he did.

I think that's the UGA method.

I guess it shows my ignorance of gas engines, that was how my friend said to do it, and he should know by now cause all he works on besides my 190D is a gas car. The metal was pretty stiff anyway

The spark plug is an electrode fitted in a ceramic; this ceramic isn't flexible. Crack it, knacker it and it doesn't do its insulating job any more. You are better off bending the curved over bit (name???) to get the gap right...

...but at least you checked the gap and didn't just keep on trucking!

HA!

why wouldn't the original poster just put in new copper cores? 12 dollars more or less and you are done?

maybe this is just an experiment... but i think I would spend the money and see if the 103 ran smoother with new ones...

I think I will seeing as they are so cheap

M103 love new spark plugs. Every 20-25k depending on driving style is what I found optimal when I had one. Similar for the older V8's like the M116/M117....though they seem to last a bit longer in those. Perhaps the lower revs.