Would they really offer an advantage compared to the regular Platinum ones the MB uses. They say the +4 comes with a Guarantee of better acceleration, fuel efficiency, and offers 75% more platinum then the regular Bosch Platinum Plugs. They have a nice little web page which even tells you which plugs will fit your car. They have the Platinum +4 for my 93 190E 2.6, but not for the 99 ML430. Anyways, I know that the 99 has the platinum spark plugs anyways.


http://www.boschusa.com/index.asp?div=2&sud=1&grp=1&sgp=1

Thoughts/Opinions on them. Would you recommend them over the stock MB ones (not sure if they are Platinum for all vehicles or not) or would you stay with MB ones.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel

- 99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
- 93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
- had a 93 190E m103 3.2, 5-speed trans,
- had a 88 300E 2.6
- had a 84 300TD w/275k+ miles
- 2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells)

I tried them in my chevy pick up idle began much rougher than before I thought couldn't be the new plugs..... it was. the +4's are expensive and I wasn't impressed with them I got some new plain old dual platinum plugs idle cleared up ran great. Just my experience maybe others had better luck seemed to me like alot of money for nothing.

MB says DO NOT use platinum plugs in applications which they didn't come that way.

You will notice that the proper plug for the ML430 Bosch# F8DPER bares no resemplance to the aftermarket numbers used for the 2.6 HR9DPX.

I can't tell you how many running problems I have fixed by removing a set of aftermarket platinum plugs. The platinum plugs used in the long service applications of modern engines are usually specifically engineered to that engine and aren't used in anything else. These plugs are often as high as $15 per plug although the ones for your ML are only MB list $7.50 (MB# 003 159 66 03).

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

[This message has been edited by stevebfl (edited 05-10-2000).]

I tried them for a year in my 1988 190E-2.3 and there was no perceptible difference between the +4's and the regular platinum plugs.

To me, they're not worth the extra money.

SAME HERE,I HAVE 86' 16V AND I TRY IT .....AND I DIDNT SEE OR FEEL ANY DIFFERENT. JUST STICK WITH THE STOCK, IT SAVE U LOTS OF MONEY IN THE LONG RUN TOO.

JOHNSC16V

I would have to agree. I have it in my 16v and no noticeable difference. Save your money!

:p

Don't use 'em. Save your money.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1992 500E (very soon I hope
1981 280GE SWB
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

I have used Split-fire platinums in my 16v with noticible positive results- -- noticible enought that after have a dealer service (valve adjustments, etc), I noticed that the car didn't seem the have the same "umph" and engine didn't have the nice growl that it had had. I checked, realized that the dealer had gone back to stock plugs, replaced the plugs again with splitfires, and the car came alive, again. The Bosch 4 platimums in the 16v seem to have a similar effect to the splitfires. However, on my 500E, the Bosch 4s seemed no different than stock plugs, whereas splitfires gave the engine a little more urgency ("umph"). I dunno. None of this is scientific or truly objective. But thats my experience.

John