C43 - Blown a plug - Dilemma
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: UK, Bristol
1998 C43 AMG
C43 - Blown a plug - Dilemma
My wonderful 98 C43 blew a spark plug on the motorway, (I was showing a CL500 some AMG power). After some 130,000 miles I suppose I should treat her with more respect but in the 5yrs I've owned this car the V8 grunt is an addiction I cannot control.
Anyway, my dilemma is the cost of repairing the torn thread, (£1000 just in labour as the local garage say they need to take the head off to access the area with the heli coil tool). I love this car but my last expense was £2500 on the autobox and there are no guarantees I won't get more problems.
Has anyone had a plug blown out before, my suspicion is the garage cross threaded it when they were replaced them 12mths ago.
Would you break for spares, what do you replace a C43 with ? In the UK they sell for around £4,000, I was going to sell her as is for £2500, someone could have a good car if they do the work themselves. Let me know what you think please guys, I'll be sorry to let her go but I think the time has come.
Anyway, my dilemma is the cost of repairing the torn thread, (£1000 just in labour as the local garage say they need to take the head off to access the area with the heli coil tool). I love this car but my last expense was £2500 on the autobox and there are no guarantees I won't get more problems.
Has anyone had a plug blown out before, my suspicion is the garage cross threaded it when they were replaced them 12mths ago.
Would you break for spares, what do you replace a C43 with ? In the UK they sell for around £4,000, I was going to sell her as is for £2500, someone could have a good car if they do the work themselves. Let me know what you think please guys, I'll be sorry to let her go but I think the time has come.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
My wonderful 98 C43 blew a spark plug on the motorway, (I was showing a CL500 some AMG power). After some 130,000 miles I suppose I should treat her with more respect but in the 5yrs I've owned this car the V8 grunt is an addiction I cannot control.
Anyway, my dilemma is the cost of repairing the torn thread, (£1000 just in labour as the local garage say they need to take the head off to access the area with the heli coil tool). I love this car but my last expense was £2500 on the autobox and there are no guarantees I won't get more problems.
Has anyone had a plug blown out before, my suspicion is the garage cross threaded it when they were replaced them 12mths ago.
Would you break for spares, what do you replace a C43 with ? In the UK they sell for around £4,000, I was going to sell her as is for £2500, someone could have a good car if they do the work themselves. Let me know what you think please guys, I'll be sorry to let her go but I think the time has come.
Anyway, my dilemma is the cost of repairing the torn thread, (£1000 just in labour as the local garage say they need to take the head off to access the area with the heli coil tool). I love this car but my last expense was £2500 on the autobox and there are no guarantees I won't get more problems.
Has anyone had a plug blown out before, my suspicion is the garage cross threaded it when they were replaced them 12mths ago.
Would you break for spares, what do you replace a C43 with ? In the UK they sell for around £4,000, I was going to sell her as is for £2500, someone could have a good car if they do the work themselves. Let me know what you think please guys, I'll be sorry to let her go but I think the time has come.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
I agree. Find yourself a E55 engine and pop it in. Simple job. As you are in the UK and perhaps if I understanding your user name, you could be in the Bristol area. If so, you should get in touch with Black55 on the MBClub UK forum. He is in Portsmouth and just converted a C43 into a C55 If the rest of the car is in good condition, it may be worth the investment to get it back on the road in finer shape. Like you, I find the V8 sound and grunt addictive 
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From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
Which cylinder has the damaged thread? How long ago were the plugs changed and who did it? Some are very hard to reach whilst others are easy. I still doubt you need to pull the heads unless it's cylinder 7 or 8, even then I'd try a thread repair guy first as they have some good tools for hard to reach places.
I've never heard or any problems with spark plug thread on the M112/M113 so this is quite odd.
I've never heard or any problems with spark plug thread on the M112/M113 so this is quite odd.
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Canada
eclectic assortment of cars
I hear that. I did the plugs on my car about a month ago. I'd say the two cylinders closest to the firewall are the most difficult to access. The others are relatively cake though, especially the two cylinders closest to the front of the car.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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C63
I agree with this having repaired a few plug threads over the years. In those cases I used a tap with lots of grease on it and clean often as you go. Thread repair guys are used to difficult places and even then it will be cheaper/faster to lift or drop your engine/trans to a more suitable position than pull heads.
