First Spark Plug Change
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 175
Likes: 5
From: Virginia
2012 E350 - Cabrio; 2017 GLS 450
First Spark Plug Change
Hey everyone -
Just did my first spark plug change around 118K miles or so. I'll upload some photos and share with everyone what I did. It was fairly easy to do, just needed a T-30 to take the coil packs off with, a regular socket wrench fitted with a 5/8" socket to take the plugs out with and a torque wrench to put them back in with. Taking them out was a bit of a struggle because they were in there very tight, but a little elbow grease and they eventually came out. As you are facing the motor, the left side is easier to work on than the right side of the motor due to two hoses that run down the right side. I also found a cigarette butt in my filter box, so I guess my car has a smoking habit!
All in all, very easy DIY to do. Dealer wanted $330 to do it, i did it in about an hour with the air filters and taking some photos. Next time probably 1/2 hour to 45 min for both. Plugs ran me $62.04 (pre-gapped) and the filters were $22.43 a set. Air filters are Hengst and the plugs are Bosch Iridium Platinum. Next I'm going to tackle oil changes as soon as my oil and MityVac gets here.
Just did my first spark plug change around 118K miles or so. I'll upload some photos and share with everyone what I did. It was fairly easy to do, just needed a T-30 to take the coil packs off with, a regular socket wrench fitted with a 5/8" socket to take the plugs out with and a torque wrench to put them back in with. Taking them out was a bit of a struggle because they were in there very tight, but a little elbow grease and they eventually came out. As you are facing the motor, the left side is easier to work on than the right side of the motor due to two hoses that run down the right side. I also found a cigarette butt in my filter box, so I guess my car has a smoking habit!
All in all, very easy DIY to do. Dealer wanted $330 to do it, i did it in about an hour with the air filters and taking some photos. Next time probably 1/2 hour to 45 min for both. Plugs ran me $62.04 (pre-gapped) and the filters were $22.43 a set. Air filters are Hengst and the plugs are Bosch Iridium Platinum. Next I'm going to tackle oil changes as soon as my oil and MityVac gets here.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 175
Likes: 5
From: Virginia
2012 E350 - Cabrio; 2017 GLS 450
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 7
What is that setup with the gorilla tape on the ratchet end - you didn't have a locking extension, or did you need a wobble head to get to the plugs closest to the firewall? A little WD40 squirted into the plug hole and allowed to sit for a minute or so, usually makes it easier to break the thread - it can be scary when you do it, especially on the factory installed plug since they usually go in without anti-seize on the threads.
