NorseWagon

Time to change 'em at 80.4K miles since I am doing filters, oil, etc.

Did one search that came up with quite a few:

http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/200...park_plug.html

(Bosch is the originals..?)

Quite a difference in price, from $3.00 to $14.00 ..

Another search brought more info:

Pulstar Iridium..

http://www.sparkplugs.com/results_ap...1&AAIA=1440099

Any advice?

vettdvr

Bosch 7422

NorseWagon

[QUOTEBosch 7422 ][/QUOTE]

Thanks: Using Bosch 7422 I now found the threads and discussions on spark plugs.

Previous search using "spark plug, W211" did not.

My mechanic buddy says to do the cables as well.
Has anybody noticed any improvement/change after changing cables only?

Does MB recommend R&R cables and if so, @ what milage?

vettdvr

Thanks: Using Bosch 7422 I now found the threads and discussions on spark plugs.

Previous search using "spark plug, W211" did not.

My mechanic buddy says to do the cables as well.
Has anybody noticed any improvement/change after changing cables only?

Does MB recommend R&R cables and if so, @ what milage?[/QUOTE]

Depends on condition. I changed plugs at 85000 and kept the wires. No issues. Each wire is specifically made for that cylinder, don't mix them up.

lkchris

"Search" no farther than your owners manual.

Put in nothing but one of the recommendations therein.

NorseWagon

Thanks for the advice but sometimes a second opinion is desired.

Besides, my Owners Manual does not mention Spark Plugs under S in the Index, nor does my "Factory Approved Service Products" booklet.

Amen Bro but some of us like choices..

NorseWagon

"Condition" looks good from the outside, probably good on the iside as well.
Cheap preventive maintenance however:

Rock Auto will sell me and ship 16 OE plugs and the OE wire set for $250.00
The MB dealer wants $800.00 for the same stuff...

lkchris

Look harder--it's in the owners manual. Look under "technical" and "electrical system."

"Choices" is silly--there are no aftermarket "equivalents" and without doubt nothing "better" That's fantasy. This ain't a Chevy.

NorseWagon

Yup, I did ask for advice.

Did not think the religous right would be responding...

Lighten up Tiger..I don't care if MB is your Holy Grail: I am not paying big money for plugs or wires on a used car regardless of your preference

MercFiveHundred

+1

On my 5.0, there are 16 spark plugs and the job is annoying. Don't make yourself do it again when the "after market" plugs fail in a couple of thousand miles.

NorseWagon

Aye, thanks for the advice.

Not looking for "after market" plugs and wires, rather the OE @ a reasonable price.

Being a purist a spent more than $75,000.00 on repairs and upgrades on my old sailboat the last 10 years.
I know all about quality this and that, but not sure what I am going to do with my 2004 Wagon after the Easy Care/ Total Care contract expires in 2 years.
I may keep the Wagon or I may not, but not going to give the next owner $850.00 worth of spark plugs and wires just because some nut-job on the internet insiste I go for the most expensive package I can find because he said so..

paulv

NW,

Just want to share my experiences with spark plugs on my 03 E320. I replaced the plugs at 55K miles only because of fears regarding the plugs seizing in the cylinder at 100K miles. Although the plug companies have put a coating on the threads, I've still heard of cases where the plugs seize. Anyway, the real info is that the plugs looked great at that mileage but I changed them anyway -- didn't change the wires. I checked a couple of the plugs at 97K miles and they still look great so I wasn't going to change them -- previously put on anti-seize so I'm not afraid to go longer on these. Now, at 102K miles, the engine still runs great and I still haven't touched the plug wires. It could be that all you need to do is change out the plugs -- and save yourself some $$. I'll check my service DVD and see if they have any spark plug wires resistance specs -- then you can do some measuring and determine if you need new wires. BTW, your first post that has the link to partsgeek has the two plugs that are in my owner's manual (the Bosch FR8DPP33+ and the NGK PFR5G-11).

Regards,
paul...

NorseWagon

Thanks Paul, good post and good idea measuring the resistance on the plug cables. (If that is an option with my $75.00 digital multi-meter)

paulv

You're welcome, and I'm sure that your $75 DMM will work. IF I can't get the actual spec resistance values, you can do a relative test to see if they all measure about the same -- they should as they're all about the same length and are probably within 10% of eachother.

Regards,
paul..

NorseWagon

Good point again Mr. Paul.

I don't really suspect them plug wires to be bad as the engine runs smooth, just been thinking about doing the wires/plugs for preventive maintenance and to keep the Benz performing at its' peak.

Right now I am holding off a few months, the good stuff, even at wholesale price is about $500.00. (16 plugs and set of wires)

Since I bought the Wagon a year ago I have already put over $7K into it and tires are next. Time to slow down and wait before I keep pumping more money into the beast..

platinumblue

I'm also planning to install (16) of the NGK PFR5G-11 plugs and test the wires as suggested for continuity. My original plugs are Bosch - 7422. As noted by PaulV either plug can be used NGK/Bosch and I purchased the NGK's. Has any one replaced their OEM Bosch with the NGK's? If, so where there any noticable performance differences?

E92-Lighting

i personally use NGK's no issues at all

dynomite05

I'm switching to Magnecor wires

vettdvr

Paul is correct.

paulv

Checked my service DVD and there was nothing on spark plug wire resistance. There was a warning though, which was to make sure that there would be at least a 2Kohm load on the coil packs before starting the engine.

I still believe that it would be useful to check the resistance of each wire. Don't forget the dielectric grease on all the rubber wire boots.

Regards,
paul...

vettdvr

On other cars I expect for resistor wires about 125K+ on really short wires it might be around 80K+

paulv

I'm wondering if the resistance on the MB wires are that high because they use RFI suppression capacitors for each bank which could mitigate the need for high resistance wires, but who knows. I was going to measure one of my wires but my wife had the car and I was home doing things she wanted me to do (aka housework).

Regards,
paul...