Took my car to dealer to get spark plugs changed as my mileage just hit 50K. I had a flyer showing price of $349, which I didn’t show at first. However, when they wrote service order, price showed $1249. I then showed him the flyer to which he said that was for the A class, 4 cylinders. I then declined the service and just had an oil change.

A few years ago, I changed those plugs on my 2013 W212 and I didn’t remove the manifold. I’d like to do those plugs just for the joy of it, and not to feel I got ripped off by the stealer.

Looking around online, there’s a lot of options. Mercedes OEM are the priciest, but is NGK a worthwhile choice? If someone could point me to a deal, I’d appreciate that. Thanks in advance.

 

Always ran NKG in my M275 and M279 engines with no issues. NKG is also the OEM supplier for those engines, not sure about yours, though. NGK's website has a plug catalog, IIRC.

 

My operators manual in the glove box lists a specific plug to use in my W204. I have the M272 engine and it says Bosch Y 7 MPP33. When I look for the Bosch brand plugs non-MB branded all im finding is a Y R 7 MPP33 which has a resistor im guessing. I had contacted FCP Euro asking if the MB plugs they have are in fact the Y 7 MPP33 and they confirmed they are. So I will be going with the Genuine Mercedes plugs when I get around to doing them.

I have no experience with different type plugs. I looked and Mercedes brand plugs is what is in the car now so I rather not change anything since the car does run great. At FCP the Mercedes plugs are only $5/each more than the Bosch brand, so only $30 more.

 

Hello,

My 2010 E550 95k miles, has an odd shudder when accelerating at low speeds. Transmission doesn’t seem to be an issue, I’m thinking fuel delivery? Spark plugs? It was especially apparent when driving up and down Old Asheville Hwy this weekend (TN-NC) and seems more obvious when engine is warmed up. Scared to take to dealer $$$$

 

An "even" shudder would have been a piece of cake to diagnose. But an "odd" shudder? Man, those shudders are just... odd... Yeah, I know, I kill me.

Could be lots of things. Plugs, coils, transmission torque converter, transmission, (how do you know transmission is not an issue?), differential(s), fuel pump / fuel filter... It's just difficult to guess at. Get codes pulled and see if it's anything you could work on yourself. Dealer or indy should be able to give you a list of stored faults.

Misfires will generally set a CEL, or if they haven't reached the CEL set threshold, the ECU will store them. When did you last change the plugs?

 

I’ll take in for a diagnosis. The odd shudder is actually pretty even, it’s on low gear acceleration only and if I push the pedal aggressively, it doesn’t happen so I think maybe spark plugs actually . Thank you for the advice about the ECU storing the codes. I do not have the dreaded CEL yet..
I have an appointment on Friday, so fingers crossed….

 

As much as I luv the best NGK quality, I had to use the Bosch plug that matched my GDI engine.

You do NOT want to mess with ignition: it must deliver a timely reliable spark.
Else it drives the computer nuts with goofy cylinder work even without CEL (crappy performance).

Replace the cheap rubber boot at the same time as plugs.

Quality-check the plug manufacturing for burs and check the gap too. Under gap is better than over gap. If a plug drop on the floor: junk it! Work over a bench to gap.

 

Buy genuine MB spark plug, it is too cheap to subtitute it with even Bosch or NGK.
Your fuel trim will be likely optimized with MB genuine s-plugs, aside from other possible benefits.

If 02 sensors, yes go direct for Bosch or NTK equivalent.

 

I'm sure you know there are no such things as "genuine" Mercedes spark plugs, since Mercedes doesn't actually make spark plugs. Mercedes farms out spark plugs from manufacturers such as Bosch , NGK, and others.The only difference between "genuine" Mercedes plugs and the same plugs directly from the same manufacturer is the Mercedes "tax" and maybe the Mercedes Star logo.

Curious, why are you pro aftermarket (non Mercedes "genuine") O2 Sensors, but aren't a fan of non Mercedes "genuine" plugs? If anything, the O2 sensors are more important than the plugs, since the O2 Sensors play a much more critical role in the ECU determining fuel mixture ratios are correct, one of the indicators of a complete or incomplete burn, that spark plugs generally initiate.

These are the original plugs I pulled out of my M279. Notice the NGK and Mercedes Star. Price for the same plugs from Mercedes is approx 8 dollars more than the same plug from NKG. Multiply that by 24.







Please don't tell me you also purchase genuine Mercedes windshield washer fluid, designed for those genuine Mercedes wiper blades...?

 

M272 engine does not like supposedly the equivalent from Bosch.
You can ask member Tesna, who was chasing fuel trim improvement and finally bought the MB genuine version. He was chasing 5% reduction.
What we do not know is the exact resistor value when MB ordered for themselves, or perhaps some other minor tweak MB requested.

02 sensors.
My engine for front sensor uses the wide band from Bosch ( under MB brand ) , it is the LSU 4.9 family.
You can get Bosch LSU 4.9 type with connector and wires length matching my M276.820.
LSU 4.9 wide band operating parameters is fixed, and MB ECM has the software to control this wide band.
MB follows what Bosch offers for LSU 4.9, therefore you can buy the Bosch suitable for your engine ( if available ) and it will behave 100% like MB genuine one.

For rear 02 sensor, that is DUMB narrow band up to 0.9x volt.
You get the Bosch or NTK one matching the heater load of your ECM and all will be good.


If M271.8 engine, you must get MB genuine one, this is oldie wide band with dumb-azz system, unlike LSU 4.9 which is Bosch best wide band.

One more thing you need to watch out, fake Bosch s-plugs and NGK are plenty out there, so another factor to worry, depending on the country you live in, of course.

-----------------

Suspension Arms, I will never get Lemforder, even if someone gave me FOC, I will not use it. It is crap.
I have replace my stabilizer link only, the front one with sportier version one, original is Japanese made ( MB genuine ). My L shaped front ball joint, I replaced MB genuine one.
All my rear suspension are genuine MB, when replaced...... I am NOW in the process of replacing 2 more, out of 5 per side. Have done 1 camber arm last year.

Engine mounts I stick to MB genuine and maximum 25,000KM I replaced them, all 3, including tranny one.
I love the new feel of engine mounts at all times.

So it depends on what component .... and I will choose MB genuine or proper OEM.

Washer fluid, I use only distilled water + a bit of simple green. I am in the tropics, so freezing is not an issue. So not MB genuine


------------


Tips :
I suggest you clean your spark plug female bore, its too much soot based on your spark plugs male thread.
It is easy to do and very rewarding, installing spark plugs is zero resistance, finger spin only, till the end and then u torqued it properly.
.

 

Ok.
That sounds like a "he" problem.

Yes, resistor values are extremely difficult to measure... without a proper volt meter with Ohm function.


Reminds me of the time I bought that fake midget. Turned out it was a kid. I was not a happy camper. I wanted a real midget, not a fake one.


But simple green is not MB approved! How dare you use a non Mercedes genuine solution? Heresy! Seriously though, even at 1:10 SG:water solution, you risk the wiper blade rubber drying out.


So, just the tip, then?

Thought about doing that, as well as sanding off all of the carbon on the top of the pistons, as well as polishing the top pistons while I was in there, but ultimately, I didn't feel like taking off the heads.


The plug orifice treads were just fine. The impact wrench I used didn't have a problem running most of the plugs back in. One of the plugs took a cheater bar to thread in, but it finally went in.

 

You’re 100 percent wrong, bud. Experience comes with time. Meanwhile, feel free to use cheaper spark plugs, you’re not obligated to know why many people eventually switch and prefer Mercedes oem stuff.

 

100% wrong or not, that is your opinion, and I can appreciate it. Never had any issues with these plugs in several 275 and 279 engines , since they're... you know, the SAME plug that comes from the factory, minus the star logo. But please, feel free to pay the Mercedes tax for everything your car needs, even if there are identical, yet less expensive alternatives that are made by the same company that supplies the OEM part(s). After all, it's your money.


What I am 100% certain of however, is that I'm not your "bud".

 

I would use Bosch plugs if I could find them but I cant. Only ones im finding have an R in the part number. My manual has info for the C63 and it says NGK ILZKAR 7 A 10 plugs.

 

if NGK the correct one for M272 is PLKR7A. The bosch Y7MP33 has different resistance value Bosch has 6K ohm resistor, whereas the NGK/original MB plug has 1K ohm resistor. I was using bosch (it was less than a year old) and cannot pass emission test. Changed to original MB plug (not that much expensive for maintenance items every 50k or so...) then it pass emissions tests (and improved LTFT!). Maybe the difference in resistance value makes the difference....

detail here https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post9070003

 

I found these Mercedes s. plugs on fleabay for cheap, how could these guys afford to sell them that cheap? Stealer sells them at $33/piece.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/28665772690...UAAOSwcxRoURGB

 

My gut instinct tells me those are fakes. Even the packaging seems... I don't know... off?

 

Fake spark plugs seem to be a thing so I would be cautious buying them on ebay or Amazon. I bought a set of "Mercedes" sway bar links off Amazon and they looked like clones, had to look closely comparing them with the old Genuine Mercedes links side by side to see the difference except the boots were totally different. One of the links failed just taking the car for a test drive after replacing them. I bought Polo Black cologne off ebay twice and both times I received fakes so I learned my lesson with certain items.

With the cologne the listing photos showed a legit bottle but what I received wasnt. Crazy thing was it said something like 50 of them sold and the person had all positive reviews. I contacted the seller about it being fake and had photos to show how I knew it was fake, my money was refunded right away. I noticed my review was not showing. I think ebay lets the seller delete reviews from buyers they refund money to. I'm willing to bet that all the cologne sold below retail price are fake. I wrote about the fakes on an eBay forum and had a few people contact me saying they think they got fakes and wanted me to look at photos of what they received.

If you have a Genuine MB plug to compare the ebay plugs to then maybe take a shot, can always file a claim if they are fakes.

I will say the box is easily faked. I bought a filter that fits in front of the blower and its aftermarket, I dont even think Mercedes makes a filter like it. Bought them off AliExpress and the filters came in a Mercedes looking box. I was surprised because I know it is aftermarket and not a Mercedes part.

Its like the center caps, I buy the inexpensive ones off ebay and Amazon knowing they arent genuine. On the back they have the MB part # stamped in the plastic.

 

the only thing worthy to buy on FleeBay is the "dummy-solenoid" - It won't really matter when it fails.
Ignition is way-way too important to trust cheap copies.

 

 

I’m too poor to buy fake stuff.

 

... "the poor pay more!"

 

Well, you're wrong, the correct spark plugs are important, especially if you have a flex-fuel car, also the correct washer fluid is actually important, but I won't waste your time or mine explaining why Fixed it for you

 

As is your spelling of "you're", but I'm not going to waste my time educating you on homophones.
I am using the correct spark plugs. Just because they don't have the Mercedes Star "tax" on them, incorrect plugs, it does not make them.

 

Ok grammar ****, best of luck getting any advice here...