B service for my 2013 E-350
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 19
Likes: 5
From: Northern Ca.
2013 E-350 sedan
B service for my 2013 E-350
Hello all, my 2013 E-350 just turned 69K miles. It runs and drives beautifully. The garage where I have it serviced yearly recommends that I do not need to have the spark plugs changed or the B service items done until my mileage reaches 100K. The service manager said we don’t replace anything that doesn’t need replacing unlike the dealership. They have been in business for over 30yrs and has a excellent reputation in the community. My question is should I have the B service done now for $$$$ or wait until I reach 100K ?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 1,482
From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
on my 2016 E350, it says 'every 50k or 5 years' to replace spark plugs. this is not part of the B service, its a separate line item. B service is every 2 years or 20k miles.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,602
Likes: 6,549
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
The concept of time or mileage based maintenance is to maintain what you call as : It runs and drives beautifully.
It is partly preventive maintenance.
If one wait for : It runs and drives NO MORE beautifully. That is corrective repair already.
Have your car ever done tranny fluid and filter ( and gasket + all torx bolts ) replacement ?
Don't push your spark plugs passed recommended interval / life. I am amazed it can do 69K miles already.
On M271 EVO engine at 44K miles of a friend, the electrodes are like almost gone 90% ish.
Removing spark-plug out of its bore has some good too, it prevent seizure as one can inspect and clean the threads.
In this W212 section there is a sticky for all services class.
It is partly preventive maintenance.
If one wait for : It runs and drives NO MORE beautifully. That is corrective repair already.
Have your car ever done tranny fluid and filter ( and gasket + all torx bolts ) replacement ?
Don't push your spark plugs passed recommended interval / life. I am amazed it can do 69K miles already.
On M271 EVO engine at 44K miles of a friend, the electrodes are like almost gone 90% ish.
Removing spark-plug out of its bore has some good too, it prevent seizure as one can inspect and clean the threads.
In this W212 section there is a sticky for all services class.
Last edited by S-Prihadi; Dec 17, 2022 at 09:59 PM. Reason: add info
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 1,482
From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
yeah, I had a Ford van with the 5.4L V8 Triton motor, supposedly 100K mile spark plugs. asked a Ford mechanic about that, and he said if you go 100K odds are you'll rip the trheads out of the head removing them.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 739
Likes: 328
From: WA State, USA
2014 Cummins, 2014 E250 Bluetec
With that engine ya will probably rip the plug threads out regardless of 50k or 100k miles, maybe even 20k or 10k. Luck of a draw on that thing.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 1,482
From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 739
Likes: 328
From: WA State, USA
2014 Cummins, 2014 E250 Bluetec
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 1,482
From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 739
Likes: 328
From: WA State, USA
2014 Cummins, 2014 E250 Bluetec
Nice truck, went cummins then back to ford for 6.0 which was hell for first month, then back to cummins.
Off topic but the 04 f250 was actually great truck other then that engine, traded at 96k miles. The 03 with 6.0 was actually a great truck besides the 6.0 but I got it squared away right before I traded it in. The 6.0 was actually a fun engine once it was running good, traded it at 186k miles. My first cummins a '12 traded at 36k miles, my second still own a 14' has 165k miles. Its a good truck but the E250 is the commuter vehicle now.
The 7.3 would have been nice/better then the 6.0.
Off topic but the 04 f250 was actually great truck other then that engine, traded at 96k miles. The 03 with 6.0 was actually a great truck besides the 6.0 but I got it squared away right before I traded it in. The 6.0 was actually a fun engine once it was running good, traded it at 186k miles. My first cummins a '12 traded at 36k miles, my second still own a 14' has 165k miles. Its a good truck but the E250 is the commuter vehicle now.
The 7.3 would have been nice/better then the 6.0.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 1,482
From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
My F250 is the 7.3 powerstroke, which is the Navistar T444E, rock solid engine, goes a million miles with routine service. Only 250 horses, but gobs of torque (525 ft lbs).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 2,041
From: US
2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
Hello all, my 2013 E-350 just turned 69K miles. It runs and drives beautifully. The garage where I have it serviced yearly recommends that I do not need to have the spark plugs changed or the B service items done until my mileage reaches 100K. The service manager said we don’t replace anything that doesn’t need replacing unlike the dealership. They have been in business for over 30yrs and has a excellent reputation in the community. My question is should I have the B service done now for $$$$ or wait until I reach 100K ?
You paid @$50K+ for your vehicle, depending on options, and you are going to bet its maintenance on the word of somebody self-proclaimed expert on an engineered device he had not contribution to it?
it is your car, be my guest, but when the car is no longer driving beautifully or worse I hope the mechanic will step to the plate and help you fix it.
The 2013 E350 uses the M276 engine which has a few glitches: chain tensioner and oil check valve on early serial numbers, oil seeping through camshaft sensors, and camshaft adjusters if the first issue was not addressed earlier. Did the mechanic highlighted that for you? Checked your VIN to see if the engine falls into the early group?
just be careful
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,694
Likes: 1,829
From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Not to mix apples with oranges, but the engines are similar...
The Maintenance schedule for my family's 2001 C320 says replace plugs at 100,000 miles. This is the M112 3.2L V6 with 12 plugs. Reading the threads on the W203 forum, it's not uncommon to see owners driving well past 100,000 miles on a set of plugs without any problems whatever... https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...00k-miles.html
I gave the car to my live-at-home daughter at 95K miles, and she now has 165,000 miles on it. She can't be without the car long enough for anyone to change the plugs, not that they are easy to change DIY (they aren't). In view of the potential plug thread seizure issue, a decision to procrastinate on a vehicle now worth a mere $450 is easy to make. Especially since the engine still runs great. So the car is worth more to keep it running as is, than to gamble and possibly junk it in the middle of a plug change gone bad. So, I don't think this car will ever see a plug change.
All that noted... I don't think I will wait so long to change plugs on my W212. But at 7 years and 40,000 miles to date, I'm not in any real hurry, either.
The Maintenance schedule for my family's 2001 C320 says replace plugs at 100,000 miles. This is the M112 3.2L V6 with 12 plugs. Reading the threads on the W203 forum, it's not uncommon to see owners driving well past 100,000 miles on a set of plugs without any problems whatever... https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...00k-miles.html
I gave the car to my live-at-home daughter at 95K miles, and she now has 165,000 miles on it. She can't be without the car long enough for anyone to change the plugs, not that they are easy to change DIY (they aren't). In view of the potential plug thread seizure issue, a decision to procrastinate on a vehicle now worth a mere $450 is easy to make. Especially since the engine still runs great. So the car is worth more to keep it running as is, than to gamble and possibly junk it in the middle of a plug change gone bad. So, I don't think this car will ever see a plug change.
All that noted... I don't think I will wait so long to change plugs on my W212. But at 7 years and 40,000 miles to date, I'm not in any real hurry, either.
Last edited by DFWdude; Dec 19, 2022 at 06:01 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 2,041
From: US
2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
Not to argue, but M112 is 12 plugs, right? M272 is 6, and so is M276. MB botched the M272 first batch, and nearly botched the M276. M112 is known to be bulletproof, so distant cousins I would say.
MB service for M272 plugs is @100K miles. I did sister's W211 @150K+. Was the engine running bad? Not for her, but I was not convinced it was smooth enough. The gap was huge, way off specs, and after the new plugs the engine is now extremely smooth (even with intake manifold issue), then she did not notice the difference. This car has only a single code, manifold lever broken.
MB service for M272 plugs is @100K miles. I did sister's W211 @150K+. Was the engine running bad? Not for her, but I was not convinced it was smooth enough. The gap was huge, way off specs, and after the new plugs the engine is now extremely smooth (even with intake manifold issue), then she did not notice the difference. This car has only a single code, manifold lever broken.
