Now THIS should open a can of worms. I have a '69 280SE W111 coupe (6 cyl, injected).

Let's hear those plug preferences out there. My car is running fine now - but I suspect the plugs don't stay clean long if I'm just driving around town - and NO, I'm not burning oil and I don't seem to be running rich either. I went with OEM - style Bosch single electrode plugs. I've often felt in the wrong car, at least, platinums and/or multi-electrode plugs are a very large waste of hard-earned compensation.

Eventually (only because I'm not made of cash) I want to use a Pertronix conversion which, with a hotter coil, would enable me to increase the plug gap - or maybe change them for something better. I know platinums are suppose to reach self-cleaning temperature quicker than conventional spark plugs - but has anyone used them in our aging ladies?

Thanks (again) Tom Webb

NGK BP6ES...5ES if you have a lot of miles.

This is the BEST plug for MFI IL/6 ...bar none......
[ and yes,I have tried them all, scoped them all , ran them all , been there /done that, etc... ]

Second best would be Bosch W7DC ..W8DC for milaged engine..

These are both standard , copper core plugs.

mr. webb,

this is a can of worms. if you do a search, you'll find tons of info regarding spark plugs.

one of my benzes has the same engine as yours, (M130.980) in a '68 280se. i use nothing but NGKs in all of my cars, (i have 5 of 'em.) i run NGK #BP6ES in my '68; just a regular non resistor copper core plug. car runs like a champ and will cruise all day at 80mph+ with no problem. never had a problem with fouling and runs just fine even if puttering around town. i'm also still running the original points ignition setup.

i personally feel that platinum plugs are a waste of money unless the car came from the factory with platinum plugs; (which basically rules out our pre-1979 cars.)

word on the street if that bosch stopped making the plug that was OE for our vintage of car.

BP6ES unless you have a sensitive radio or listen to AM a lot. The resistor plug, BPR6ES is slightly less in performance (I can tell the difference, some may not)

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Ask ten people this question and you'll get eleven answers.

I got the warmer-range NGKs on the advice of a number of folks. Then I met an old Lebanese Benz mechanic who asked me, "Why you buy these expensive plugs? You should use Champions! That is what the book calls for." Everybody's got their opinion.

Good luck!

__________________
Carmody
Wichita, Kansas USA
Air Capital of the World


1968 220 (my first MB!)

<>

.. Ask 10 MFI Techs and you will get NGK/Bosch for an answer.

..and Champions are not cheaper than NGK/Bosch standard copper core plugs, nor are they OEM...he is reading the Champion book..

Thanks everyone - I actually expected more of a hailstorm (or is it "mailstrom" - I forget) of controversy - but it would seem the NGK camp has won out. I know my Bosch plugs are W7D's - I believe they were the only thing available in Bosch at all of the local parts stores.

I've used Bosch in the past - even on all my British cars - and have generally been happy with them. But with everything set to spec in the dizzy, new plug wires, mixture correct, great compression, etc. - when I put the stroboscopic timing light on #1 - there was the occaisonal mis if the engine has been idling awhile. Revving the engine for a couple seconds will clear it, until it sits at idle for awhile again. It's not perceptible to most people standing around the car - but I can tell.

Sounds like I'm headin' to NAPA for some BP6ES's...

Thanks again, all!

Tom Webb