Spark Plug Replacement 99 ML430 56K Miles
 

I'm having the vehicle serviced tomorrow. The SA recommends spark plug replacement due to age (approximately 7 years). I'm thinking this should be based on miles, with age being irrelevant, and we've only got 56K miles on the vehicle.

Without getting into the question of whether I should do it myself, could I have comments on whether I should have it done now? I'm being quoted approximately $550.

Thanks
Al

from mercedes fss sheet
sparkplugs up to model year 1999 every 4 years or 100k miles

as of model year 2000 every 5 years or 100k

time or mileage wichever comes first
i have seen many low mileage plugs that were over the time recommendation cause misfires. in my opinion it is a good recommendation, doing so you will avoid problems in the future.

Easier to change plugs at 50-60K miles
 

I can't believe you were quoted $550 to change the plugs on an ML!!??
I have done the plugs on two ML's recently and it is not a really tough job if you use the right tools. The 12 plugs cost $50 retail basically and any good mechanic you want to use should charge no more than one hour's labor or so to do the whole job, if they are used to working on the ML. Dealer's simply rip people off on brake jobs and spark plug replacement, etc. etc.

If you don't want to tackle the job yourself, find a couple of good local mechs and get some quotes; you will save a lot of money and still have it done properly.

(If you want to do it yourself or with a friend, read the excellent posts in this forum regarding changing plugs on the ML first.)

You can get spark plugs that FIT for $50...but they even close to being the correct plug..
Retail for the correct plug is $11 X 12 = $132.
Approx 1.7 hrs X $100@hr = $170...add those & I get $300...some one is getting FAT off of that price!!!

OK - I will do them, or get them done, but not at the dealer. For what it's worth, the dealer quoted $12.38 x 16 = $198 for the plugs + 3.5 hours labor.

Is the consensus plug Bosch Platinum +2?

Thanks for the help.

Spark plugs for the ML
 

I can get any plug, including the best Platinums, for around $4.00 .... that $11 price must be the inflated dealer one!! Secondly, there is no reason the plug job should take 1.7 hours either !! Unscrewing the coil paks is very easy and removing the plug boots is the hardest part of the job. Some of the plugs may be very tight, but will come out. Screwing in 12 plugs and reattaching the boots is just not a big deal. Then, simply reattach the coil packs and you are done. I believe I could do an ML from start to finish in about an hour, but I have done two of them already and know the procedure.
I sure would not take the car to a Mercedes dealer to have it done.

MY mistake on the quantity of the plugs...I was thinking 320 not 430..
16 X $11 is the correct price...

ALSO the correct plug is FR8DPP33, Bosch(7422) WD cost is $5 each, doubt that anyone would sell that correct plug $1 under cost...as far as the labor goes MB suggests times for a technician to do a job properly...some can do that quicker & some slower...

(blueeagle289) I won't get into argument on how quickly you can do that OR what you paid for plugs not designed for that engine, I only supply info...& these are stated facts.

don't use any plug but the FR8DPP33 as m.b doc described. we had an ml with severs misfires that we were working on for a dealer, they assured us the plugs were new bosch so we left them be, several hours later and lots of time wasted on diagnosis, it turned out they had installed the platinum +2 and that was the source of the misfire.

Yes, a V8 would have 16 plugs and $4 is correct
 

If you really look on the internet or at good parts stores you can buy any of several plugs for the ML's at around $4 or so. At the most they would cost about $80, including the Plats.

Unfortunately, most Mercedes dealers do rip off their customers, because a lot of Mercedes owners don't know much about their cars and have more money than brains. I go to the dealer to get small items, for which they overcharge me quite a bit (touch-up paint stick $12, small fasteners $3 each and so on). I don't mind paying people a reasonable profit on parts, but I don't like to be scalped. Fortunately, there are several good parts companies in the world who will sell at reasonable prices and still make a profit.

FR8DPP33 at RockAuto
 

FYI, you can get the FR8DPP33 for $11 (retail packaging) or $8 (OEM packaging) at ********:

http://www.********.com/catalog/catalog.php?carcode=1356364&parttype=7212&a=FRc1356364k978107

I thought the Platinum+2's were supposed ok to use but the +4 was not recommended because the tips can break off?

Platinum plugs
 

I have put platinum plugs in all my newer Mercs, without a single problem. I have the Plat 4's in my ML 320 and it runs like a top and the plugs have been in there for over 15K now..... I simply do not believe that platinum plugs are inherently a problem in any engine. There must be other contributing factors.

Also, there are other plugs recc for the ML that will work well and are not platinum ...... I don't know the sterling characteristics of the FR8DPP33, but it must be made of solid gold ....... the plug discussion is a strange one sometimes ...... BC

my offerings are from real world mercedes repair shop dealings, i have seen it to many times, the FR8DPP33 are also platinums, so i am not saying the problem is there, just that i have seen issues that cost big $$$ to diagnose in the newer mercedes especially when someone is trying to save a few dollars. most if not all plugs on newer mercedes are 100K miles or 5 years. you can also get them on this website(see link below) for $8.89 each lets try to support our forum. just be thankful these plugs aren't every 15K as they used to be.

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/quote.jsp?header=header.jsp&footer=&product=FR8DPP33&partner=mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&cookieid=1UB0URDRX1UZ0A6T82

Final post from me on platimun plugs other that OE QUALITY ...


IF MB could buy spark plugs that are the same quality for 1/2 the price THEY would...????!!! that is why they don't use that lower quality plug as a OE product.

The MB dealer where I have worked has 23 MB "only" techs & work on at least 125 different MB's every day...Bosch platimun plus 2's & 4's are good plugs for 25K miles at best! WE constantly have running problems due to their failure rate. The OE ones will make 5 years & 100,000 miles.

IF you are happy with a product...stick with it...

I say stick to OE quality & don't risk problems that can drive you crazy. Fini!

Beg to disagree
 

I don't believe that Bosch plats only last 25K ... number one.

I also don't want the same plugs in any engine for 100K miles ... in the ML they could be frozen in place.

You can defend your direct Mercedes tech loyalty and prices, but there are other facts and opinions that should be considered.

Ben Carter