jvanbrecht

So, I hit 75k miles this week and conveniently service B was due.
Changed oil (from below, pan and cooler)
Changed Air filters (cabin and engine)
Changed Spark Plugs
Changed Brake pads and flushed brake fluid.

All parts were bought from MB of Annapolis (getmercedesparts.com) except for the plugs, which I got from Amazon because they had them in stock and next day shipping was free for me, as well as being half the price.

Total cost, around $550 for all parts, about a days worth of work done over a few days, did the brakes a week ago (and hell I washed the car and my wifes car as well).

The spark plugs were a pain in the ***, only because finding the torque numbers, and getting to the 2 plugs (1 in either bank) closest to the firewall as the 5" extension was too long, and the 3" too short... I ended up using 2 3" extensions put the socket and 1 extension in, then put the second extension in.

I eventually found this link http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinf...stallation.asp which has the torque specs in general, and a previous post from 2011 on MBworld that someone noted the torque specs were between 15 and 18 pound feet of torque... I went with 15 to make sure I do not strip the threads of the engine. Unlike the prevous thread where a person transfered the dielectric grease from the old plugs to the new, I bought a little container of it and used that.

All in all, feels a little more responsive, but that could just be psychological.

Still some ticking going on, and my clutch pack is shot (hopefully I can get that fixed under warranty, not sure if the CPO warranty includes that, but will see).

(accidentally posted under the E55/63 thread... deleting it from there)

Mort

Good job, I really like working on my car.

The clutch pack in the trans is gone? Let us know how it goes.

Ticking = Lifters? Need new valve buckets? or Something else?

Well done.

Merc63

Ticking on start could be cam adjusters.

How is your clutch pack done already? Is the tranny slipping? Can you describe? You o lots of burnouts?

Nice to see guys doing their own work. That would have cost probably $3000 at the dealer lol.

tomespo

Awesome to see other people that also work on their own cars.

jvanbrecht

I drive alot in manual, and love downshifting, just wore it out.... When I throw it in manual mode and shift, the throttle blips but the shift just shifts like a normal econobox and feels like its slipping. On 3 different occasions (in C auto), when I hit the gas (usually turning left), not gunning it or anything, but the engine revved up but the the gear did not engage, was kinda scary when there is oncoming traffic. I let off the throttle, hit it again and it was fine. random, but still an issue.

Mort

First check to see if your trans fluid level is good. Slow to shift and not engaging a gear can be a sign of low fluid level. Do it soon or you will likely have damage if that is the problem and it is not corrected.

jvanbrecht

There is no way to check the transmission fluid.. its a semi sealed unit, its why we cannot change our own tranny fluid when it is time. Also, I had the dealer do the tranny at around 45k miles..

mvp2765

nice work