Routine Maintenance
 

Just did the following on our 2000 ML320 @ 95k:

New tires all around (someone elses work!)

Cabin Air Filter (OMG easy)

Air Filter (same)

Coolant Change (time consuming but easy)

Spark Plugs (not so much)

Time consuming and not the most pleasant job, had not done them since 50k. Forgot how much I did not enjoy these. Would not recommend using anti-seize in future (or change more than 50k). They were TIGHT getting out. A 4" 3/8 extension is perfect for this job, I had to cobble some sockets together to get it just right for clearance and torque.

Next up, auto transmission fluid. Oil Change (easy)

Dickie

00 ML320
06 325i

What plugs are you using that you are changing them so often? If they are the OE plugs, then they are good for roughly 90k miles. on my 99 ML430 I got rid of it at roughly 100k miles, and had only changed the plugs in it once around 85k, and that thing ran like a top.

Bosch Platinum +4, I think.

I do it more because I think 100k between plugs is too long.

As a general rule, I over maintain my vehicles most would say.

I change my oil (mobile 1) and Mann/Mahle filter every 5k too. $50 twice a year is cheap compared to a new engine.

In the 20+ years of owning almost exclusively German cars I have found that preventative maintenance saves money in the long run.

OEM parts and regular care keeps outrageous car repair bills away. Helps with resale too.

Dickie
00 ML320
06 325i

100K is NOT too long for spark plugs and the +4 platinums are probably the worst plugs you could use.

Changing oil more often than recommended is NOT good for your motor, either.

You do it your way, I'll do it mine.

YMMV and happy travels.

Dickie

The poster above is right, those plugs are known to cause misfires in MLs. Likewise, changing them extra often is not preventitive of any major damage type problems. Changing the oil more often can be, but with Mobil 1, every 5k miles is also big time overkill. Also, I do not know where you buy stuff, but an oil and filter change with that stuff costs more then $50. Every 7500 miles for an oil change is fine.

You should go back to OE make/model plugs and leave them in there for a long long time.

Oh, and you should find more tactful responses than the one above, that will not get you the kind of responses you are looking for, and is actually pretty offensive (and trust me, I am far from a "sensitive" person).

when my 190E was in the shop i asked my mechanic if he would put some bosch platinums in and he looked at me with a look of disgust and said


"are you insane? bosch platinum is the worst damn plug ever made."


i was quite suprised to find that out. i was always told they were the best of the best.

Bosch +4s were known to be questionable in the BMW world for the different 3 series I have owned.

I just drove 50k on the B-P in my ML and had no worries. So I stuck with them. Next 50k I will go back to OE standard plugs.

But I am not re-doing that job unless I have to. Too much work for a problem I don't have.

Dickie

00 ML320
96 325i