603 Glow Plug Local Availability

[JHZR2]

Anyone else have issues sourcing 603 glow plugs? I have two that are failed; pulled the intake, pulled the GPs, found out that parts stores dont have the right stuff.

Usually Id place an order with Pelican or another place. I took advantage of the beautiful weather yesterday to get in there and pull the GPs, and check some other things. THis changes the speed that I wanted to be able to work... and required me to try to pick up a GP at someplace local.

The dealer said two days... An MB parts warehouse is maybe 30 minutes from me (I live in NJ).

Autozone has the wrong cross reference for a part (NGK GP). I went to a store that had it in stock and it was obviously wrong, and they couldnt do anything to rectify or find the alternative.

Amazon had shipped me one at an attractive price, in one day, but I needed two (one was 11kOhm, another was 225kOhm). They cant seem to get me another.

While my intake gaskets look fine, I also wanted to try to find a spare. Napa is the only place I could see that had one listed, and at a good price... But not available but for many days shipping.

If the dealer told me they would have the parts tomorrow, Id probably bite the bullet and cry once. Im not doing all the GPs. But the dealer being so slow surprised me too.

I know the simple answer is to buy from Pelican or someplace in advance. But that doesnt help right now. Anyone else having issues sourcing 603 GPs? Anyone have a good cross reference to use instead?

[compu_85]

I'd stay away from NGK plugs. On the VW TDI anyway, we found they don't get as hot as the Bosch ones, and take longer to get up to temperature.

-J

[JHZR2]

I managed to get an OE plug, a Bosch plug, and a Beru plug.



I tested them all with a multimeter, the Bosch and Beru were 1.3Ohm, the OE (Beru) was 1.1-1.2Ohm. In the vehicle all plugs test out to around 0.6Ohm IIRC, so some of this is the coating or whatever measurement issue Inhad I guess. I’m using a hood fluke meter.

The Bosch box says made in France, the Beru box says made in Italy. All three GPs say Germany on them.



Here’s a close of of the OE Beru GP vs the Beru branded GP.

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by compu_85

I'd stay away from NGK plugs. On the VW TDI anyway, we found they don't get as hot as the Bosch ones, and take longer to get up to temperature.

-J

Thanks for the tip. NGK supposedly has a part for the 603, but I was unable to find one. No intention to do so based upon your experience.

Trying to get an NGK at a local parts store was a wild goose chase. The cross reference was wrong. The part the systems at the box parts stores say is wrong. It’s a shorter GP, maybe the one for the 617 engines? Sloppy.