M119 plug wire ends
 

I've read that plug wire ends can contribute to misfires in an M119. Should the wire ends be replaced periodically? Are they separate from the plug wires?

Is there a general replacement mileage for M119 caps, rotors and wires?

On a stretch - is there a way to convert an early M119 to the one coil per plug set-up of the later M119? Maybe put little fans in place of the rotors so the engine looks like an airplane :)

Thanks,
Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I was curious about that, too.

Anyone???

The original plug wire ends were a flawed design, replaced with a new design. You should be able to take the part number to the dealer and see if you have the new or the old. If you have the old it is possible to replace only the ends but the wires will then be too short to allow for reinstallation of the black spark plug hole covers. I left mine off and the car was fine for years but obviously the right way to do it is to replace the wires and the ends. I've always thought of caps and rotors as about 60k but am not aware of any official MB position. Maybe your service book shows it?

I believe the manual says to inspect caps and rotors as part of the 60K service. I replaced mine at 60K and they needed it. Excellent detiled procedure is her under DYI. Not a big deal just that the parts tend to be a little on high price end but you can get best deal here on Fast Lane.

I think most, if not all, of the techs on this site have commented on how hard M119's are on distributor cap and rotors.

If I had an R129 / W140 / W124 / W210 with an M119, I'd change them at 60,000 miles intervals, along with the wires.

I have read comments on how darned expensive a set of cap / rotors /wires, are though.....

Is it applicable for the W210 (97 E420) as the M119 engine has the individual coil/resistor set-up for each spark plug? Is it recommended to change the coil/resistor every 60K miles?

Thanks, Garry

That's $600 in parts from the cheapest sources so I hope not.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

No - they don't seem to be a problem. I've not heard of anyone who had to replace them.

The older M119 like my 92 400E the plug connectors have the resistor built in it that is why it is specified no resistor plug such as the Bosch copertop and people here do not recommend the Bosch platnum +4 etc since it has a built in resistor to the tune of 5.6 K ohm. Sometime the resistor opens and the car will mis and it needs to be changed like it happened on my car a few years ago.

The spark plug wire setup is very flexible in terms of you can change individual parts like the plug end or the wire or the distributor end just by iteself. You can buy a spool of high tension wire from FastLane and cut it to size then attach crimp ends (from Fast Lane) that has threaded end that screws into the end plug on the distributor side or the spark plug connector and there is also the end connector for the coil, it is really neat to make your own spark plug wire.

I looked at converting my 92 to individual coil but I think that will be next to impossible since the engine wire harness needs to be changed as well as timing device etc. It is too much for my taste for not much gain and there could also be some hidden things that I am missing. I think you may be better off buying a newer car.