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.

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.)

__________________
Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

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!!!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

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.

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.

__________________
Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

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.

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!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

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

__________________
Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)