nola_penguin

Dang it, ran into the dreaded coil pack issue. I'm throwing codes just on my driver side bank so I'm pretty sure it isn't the plugs (but I'll replace them anyway). Any good vendors/sites for getting an inexpensive (read: not from the stealership) on them?

1995E320Cab

How many miles on your car and are you still on the original coil packs ?

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nola_penguin

78k and yup, originals. I expected them to go out, so that's not a big deal. Got to love a V12; have a few hiccups on 4-5 cyl and it still runs pretty damn smooth ahahahah

BlownV8

Someone on this forum posted that they had theirs repaired. You may want to look into the shop.

nola_penguin

I saw that. But then he said they sucked and didn't repair anything. The company is 4-Mercedes.com and there is nothing good about them online. Thanks, though!

Ezah

Worth looking around for someone else who may be able to recondition it. Its junk otherwise, so not too much risk sending it off, unless you pay and get it back in the same condition..

Obviously dont use 4-mercedes though.

I got my new CP from Mercedes in Germany and it was about 20% cheaper than the local dealer.. but still, hardly a bargain.

alx

they show up on ebay every now and then

i dont know about their quality though...

if you want brand new oem ones- parts.com would be the cheapest place

radride

How are you throwing these codes? Does the check engine light come on? Did you have it scanned at the service center and they advised you? I just want to know what to expect in the future.

R.K.

NRL

From what I've gathered.

Misfires..CEL codes. You start with one, then more and more.. on the same side.

Started a monthly Coil Pack Fund so I can get new ones once I reached the price they want for them.

benz_addict

I noticed this happens around every 70-80k. Look at it as a wear tear item, unfortunately.

radride

I'm at 78000 miles. So far so good (crosses fingers)...

R.K.

waxking1

I just had my replaced a couple months ago under warranty. I know my service tech and asked him to check them since I saw from this forum that this tended to be a problem. I only had about 44K miles at the time.

saintz

Looks like they are $900 at parts.com, dealer price is listed as $1,250. It is listed as the "ignition coil." I would be weary buying from eBay. Used, it is likely it is on its last legs, and new, sometimes you get non-OEM (this is a big problem with MAFs and other parts like that).

KA8

Is that for entire set or just for one? My ML with 10K miles had to get one of the igition coils replaced under warranty yesterday but just curious.

saintz

That is each. The non-V12 coils are much cheaper, and appear to be a different design.

BlownV8

The coil packs on the 600 is for an entire side. Can't just replace one. It's a really poor design that does not take long term maintenance into account.

freestylebiker3

hey guys i am the dummy who delt with (4-mercedes) and i regret it so bad... they have my coil for 2 months now and i cant drive my car... i call them 20 times every day for 2 months and nothing gets solved i am really pissed off by 4-mercedes DO NOT USE THEM AT ALL!!!!!

hcetzneb

Not to get real technical but there is reason behind the coil pack design.. Its not just a simple coil pack... It reads the cylinder.. But on a other side note ive seen if the plugs are done more frequently and the red insulators are greased it prolongs the life of the coil pack.
another thing that is real important on the v12s is the oil level , if it is over filled it can start missing the plugs and than the coils... just some info

i got a friend that has 145 on his v12 with original packs.. i have done the plugs 3 times

also a faulty igniton box can short out the coils.. The problem with them is there just to
sensitive but if you keep up on maint and oil to correct level it should extend the life

NRL

I just wanted to add that in my case, a tiny bit of oil on those red insulators will cause a misfire.. If those spark plug cavities where the coil fits in on, are nice traps for any tiny bit of oil to that will coat the red insulators causing the misfires and/or discharges; scorch marks on the red insulator boot will be observed.


The question I still have is:

If the coil pack stops working on on particular cylinder or spark plug, does that increase the compression because of the unburnt mixture and somehow it gets on the threads of the spark plugs and makes it to the red insulators?

Or is it the other way around, some how, oil collects in the spark plug cavity and soaks the red insulator, causing a misfire and eventually erodes the coil pack further?

In my case, the two spark plugs and the red insulators were coated with thin oil and they are directly below where the oil filler is.. or possibly tiny micro fine spray leak near the valve cover seal that only happens at WOT that makes it into the spark plug cavity.