2013 E350 Spark Plug Service
 

Went to the dealer for an A service @ 62,000 miles. Service writer said that I am due for spark plug replacement recommended @ 60,000 miles. Innocently I ask how much? I nearly fell out of the chair when he said $750! He said they have to take off the manifold to replace the plugs, so the plugs are $300 and labor is $450! $50 spark plugs?

Anyone else heard of this? There is a local MB specialist that I need to check out. Shocked.

Yes, that's the price. You should have gotten a maintenance package from the vendors mentioned in the extended warranty subforum. I think there's also a transmission fluid change at 70k so you could still get a 2 or 3 service package and it'd be cheaper than just paying the individual service price. The service package would have paid for the spark plugs and I think they're a little over 1k for the 3 service package. It would also cover the transmission flush. It's only a good deal when you need the plugs and fluid. You can only buy it when the car has less than 80k. Usually B A B services is a better bang for the buck than A B A.

But if you go to an indy, maybe it's only a couple hundred. Yes you have to take the intake off to replace the plugs. You might be able to buy the plugs cheaper online too, you also have that MB markup on the plugs. I think they're over $22 each from MB. You could get them from FCPeuro which has a lifetime warranty on all parts so you could get another set once you get 120k for free. They're about $7.26 a plug there.

Yes, the WIS instructions do state to remove the intake manifold for access to remove the plugs. However, there is a way to shortcut the manifold removal by coming in underneath and to the side of the manifold as is described in this thread. I followed these instructions and was able to change out my plugs recently at 94K miles as previous owner had never changed them. It is important to not let the plugs go too long passed the 60K recommended change interval because the coil pack boots become somewhat seized to the plug body and are extremely hard to remove. There is a MB bulletin describing the remedy which is dielectric grease in each boot during reinstall. My boots were mostly stuck and I wound up ruining one coil pack during removal and breaking a few connector locks otherwise, not too bad of a job but time consuming. My guess is that the MB techs will most likely not remove the manifold either as there are lots of connections and areas to go wrong during reassembly.

These maintenance jobs for the dealerships are gravy jobs for the techs since most MB owners take care of their cars and are somewhat religious about maintenance and bragging about how much money they spend in the process. I do my own maintenance and save where ever I can except on parts quality. I only buy top brands and plan for the long haul. If you can still get a maintenance package as mentioned then that would be the way to got.

Good luck,

Bob

Recently had mine done at the dealer for about $500. I'm normally a DIY for plugs but this car is a PIA without a lift. Also, folks frequently post here a repair discount coupon for about $150 which I used. After using the coupon, the dealer price was the same as a local good indy shop. I'd wait until you see the next coupon post. At least at my dealership, prices are very negotiable and I swear sometimes they just pull it out of their butt. Ask if any discounts apply like cash, locals, AAA, etc.

Oh yeah, those service specials are usually 2-3 times a year, I think a spring one which could start in April, another one in the fall and one more in the winter. Typically anywhere from $100-$150 off service of at least $200-$300. You can shop around and ask other dealers in the area how much they charge. Usually if you ask the one closer to you, they will price match another dealer with a lower price. Plus some dealers have their own service coupons on their website.

I don't understand how modern engine designers just completely ignore serviceability of something simple like spark plugs. I just paid Nissan $600 for replacement of plugs in the Murano. Like a lot of FWD V6 cars, you have to remove the intake manifold for any hope of accessing the rear bank for service. At least the interval is 105K on that car.

On my M728 E550 I was able to wrestle out all 8 of the plugs thanks to some DIY write ups here. Cost me only $80 for the plugs, $25 for special socket, and a nice new digital torque wrench. It took a few hours because it so damn hard to wiggle in the sides of the shoe-horned V8. In hindsight, I probably should have paid Eurocharged the $350 they quoted, but I'm a tight-wad. Next time I'll pass on fighting this job I think.

What makes you think it was ignored? I think they do some things on purpose so that the dealers will be able to stay in business performing various services. I think the worse lately is the transmission fluid changes. Not even any dipstick and a weird procedure to have the transmission fluid heated up and see it overflow before you know it's at the right level.

OMG, must be a conspiracy! At least you're not a BMW owner, not even an oil dipstick. Not to mention they just make those completely crappy to keep you coming into the dealer while you're under warranty so you form a habit that will continue if you actually keep it after the warranty.

In all reality, I would not need a trans dipstick, due to the extensive and precise procedures to properly service a modern transmission, I have no intention to touch it without the proper equipment and knowledge, same goes for my Nissan.

Where are you located? Find a MB Shop to do it for hundreds less.

I did the spark plugs on 2013 e350 in about 2hours.
Passenger side is very easy, remove 3 or 4 bolts, unplug connector to the air duct and remove air cleaner assembly.You will have all 3 coil and plugs right there.
Driver side is another story. Remove two plugs on the ecu and pull it up , it comes off that easy. First two plugs on the drivers side are relatively accessible after getting the ECU out(did not disconnect battery), however the last one by the firewall is a b****. I used a piece of string rope, wrapped around the coil and used a piece of wood for leverage when pulling up. One note is to make sure each coil pack has a spring inside when putting it back in, when I pulled one of the coils off, I heard something fall and went looking for it, it was a spring that goes inside the coil boot.

For the tools needed : 14mm 12 pt spark plug socket , external E socket set, different length extension / swivel adapter and 3/8 torque wrench 17ft/lbs or 204in/lbs.

He was referring to an oil dipstick
 

BMW deleted engine oil dipsticks years ago. These days, oil is as important to cooling an engine as the radiator and BMW won't let you keep the oil topped off. You get a dash alert when low and hopefully you aren't in the middle of nowhere.

I just got a quote from my dealer for over $950.00.

Do you have the M276 engine and you didn't need to remove the intake manifold?

No need to remove the manifold, passenger side is very easy, drivers side way harder but doable with patiance. I have done two m276 changes recently and did not remove the manifold. Drivers side plug by the firewall is hard, not much room to work with, plus some harnesses and oil dip stick is in the way but can be done with enough cursing.

You guys and gals if applicable better not be Jinxing me for my 2011 E350. I am planning on them tomorrow hopefully they are one of the easier projects that I can get a win on the Stealership with. I plan on as much as I can DIY and for the rest Short of a recall I try to keep independent shops. I had a guy near me that was good with my Volvo but I need to call and see how his expertise at Mercs are. If not him there are several local independent shops with specialties in most if not all European vehicles.

For some reason I was thinking that the 2011 still had the M272 V6. If so you don't have this problem. I changed the plugs on my wife's 2010 E350 and it was quite simple, 30mins tops.

Very easy on the 2011 E350.
No anti-seize needed on either the Bosch or NGK oem replacement plugs. Torque to spec. Use some dielectric grease in the boots. When you remove the coils turn them a bit to try to break the boot loose at the plug and grip the boots , not the coil, when removing coil/boot.
Good to go.

Thanks! hopefully warm enough tomorrow to attempt. I have the Bosch plugs.

Thanks.
However there are 6 big gaskets under the intake manifold, which are replaced when the manifold is removed.
Would they last another 4-5 years without replacement?

I dont see why they shouldnt last another 15 years.
m276 is not boosted and the only reason dealership removes the manifold is because its easier to access the driver side coils/plugs. Just because a factory has determined one way, it does not mean people will not find shortcuts that are still up to spec. For example on VW 2.5 5 Cylinder engines, there is a vacuum pump mounted between the side of the engine block and auto transmission shift linkage. Per VW, transmission needs to be unbolted and slid a few inches to remove the vacuum pump because the trans linkage is in the way, and they estimate like 7-10hrs labor and $200 in parts. People found that you can remove 4 bolts on the vacuum pump and feed it onto the shift linkage and off the car, and that only takes 1.5hr. Not only that, the pump itself does not fail but 2 O rings start leaking oil, and they can be replaced for $20. People spend upwards of $1500 at the dealership, when they can get the job done in their driveway for $20 and 1.5hr of their time with most basic set of wrenches.

Entirely personal opinion, but if I'm doing a DIY that involves removing or de-compressing gaskets, I'm going to spring for the few bucks to install new gaskets.
Nothing worse than doing the work and having a leak.

I agree, however why replace gasket if the manifold is not removed?

I meant if a component is removed. I wouldn't get a gasket for something left in place and working ok.

I have yet to find a youtube for changing plugs on the M276! That PDF up here is great, but I'm more of a visual person and need a demo;)

Hey Dacia, do you have part number for these gaskets you're referring to?