pocholin

I'm new to Mercedes, this is my first one, and I hope not the last one, so far I'm extremelly satisfied with my vehicle, but I need more. I traded a 96 Impala SS which was running almost mid 12's 1/4 mile, so I still need to improve the E55 a little to be at that point.

My first steps are K&N air filters, MAF and TB ( I don't even know MAF and TB can be done in this car). Then I'm also curious about the spark plugs, I've successfully used Bosch Platinum 4 on my vehicles getting up to 3 tenth better performance (excellent for 5 bucks a spark plug)

Here is the question: How do you remove the spark plugs and does anybody recommend a particular brand??

Thanks in advanced for any replies.

mbtech208

You remove the spark plugs just like any other car, make sure the engine is cooled down so you don't take the threads out of the head, blow compressed air around the plugs to prevent debris from falling in, and then take them out. Mercedes engines don't like anything other than Bosch, so that's what I recommend. They run terrible on Champions, from what I've seen. Also, remember that your engine has 16 spark plugs, so don't get sticker shock.

JamE55

mbtech208

Just out of curiosity what about NGK Platinum spark plugs?? Comments??

E55 KEV

Hi pocholin, welcome to the board. I see you like running your E55 hard. Cool! For the ignorant - What is MAF and TB? Thanks

jswedberg

I believe MAF is "Mass Air Flow Sensor" - the hot-wire sensor used to detact air flow through the intake, and TB is "throttle body" - usually an enlarged throttle body to provide increased airflow.

pocholin

JamE55, jswedberg is right the Mass Airflow Sensor can detect air flow, air temp and density.
Usually bigger is better, up to certain point, I've always changed these two items to GM vehicles with excellent results, so I don't know if this is doable on these cars.

NGK platinum are supossed to be good plugs, but I've never been a fan of them after having Bosch Platinum 4 on my cars, there is so much difference, it is hard to belive that those spark plugs can make that much difference.


mbtech, I know how I'm supossed to do it, but I don't know how to remove the metalic cover off of the spark plug wires, do I twist it? is there a special tool?

Thanks

mbtech208

Just twist and pull the plug wire off the plug. It's no different than any other car. Just make sure you don't get the two plug wires for each cylinder confused.

Brandon @ Kleemann

Your heart will sink when you get the stock plugs out and see the three pointed star printed on the insulator of a NGK plug.

E55 KEV

My owners manual list this plug for 2002 E55:

NGK PFR 5-11

JamE55

Hey E55 KEV

Same here. Just looked at my manual and says the same thing about the spark plug model. I guess NGK is standard for E55.

stephens

pocholin
Have you tried the Bosch Platinum 4's yet on the E55?
Thks

pocholin

Not yet, I haven't even removed a spark plug to try to mach it. Bosch's website doesn't have a Platinum 4 listed for the E55.
So at this point I'm not sure what to do, depending of what I find when I remove a plug I'll make my desicion of what to try.

jcjmw

pocholin


Did you ever change the spark plugs in your E55? If so, what brand and gap?

pocholin

I've never done it, because I haven't had neither time nor the money to pay someone to do it right now.

pocholin

ohh, and besides Bosch hasn't come up with a platinum 4 for the E55 yet.

jcjmw

Thanks. I think I'll have my spark plugs replaced with the OEM plugs, which on my 99 E55 are NGK platinums.

pocholin

Why? How many miles do you have on your car? Is the dealer going to make it? How much? if you don't mind me asking.

jcjmw

The car has 39k miles and has never had the plugs replaced. Its hard for me to believe that the plugs do not be changed or that the car would not benefit from new plugs. From what I see under the hood, there is nothing unusual or difficult in changing the plugs. I never asked the dealer here about the cost to change the plugs b/c I thought I would do it myself and save some $$$.

pocholin

Cool, let me know the outcome, and how easy or difficult they were to change.

I think the ones on the driver side towards the firewall are going to be the most difficult.

Brandon @ Kleemann

Good luck getting any improved performance from BOSCH plus 4's- my experience has been they bring nothing to a modern car.

In any event here is a helpful hint to removing the plugs. The plugs themselves are easy- getting the wires off the plug is the tough part. HEYCO and others make a valve adjustment wrench for older MBZ- this wrench is perfect for removing the wires. Its a 19mm throat on the end of an S bent wrench. The throat of the wrench fits just behind the ridge of the metal boot right at the wire. Levering against the cylinder head pulls the boot right off. Using a standard 19mm open end wrench is also possible.

jcjmw

Thanks for the tip!!! When I change the plugs, I'll try to take pics to show how easy or difficult it can be. I am hoping to change the plugs soon.

jcjmw

For some reason, I automatically assumed that the OEM plugs for my 1999 E55 was the NGK Platinum Plug. I believe others on this forum checked their owner's manual, which said the same thing. However, in my 1999 owner's manual for my car, the OEM plugs are Bosch. For those of you with NGK plugs as OEM, get ready for a sticker shock. The prices that I kept getting for those NGK plugs for a 1999 E55 was around $12.00 to $13.00 a piece, times that price by 16 (2 per cylinder) and you get a very nice bill. The prices for the Bosch plugs are cheaper around $5.71 per plug (if you can call a $5.71 plug cheap - Yikes!!! I previously owned a 1987 Buick Grand National and the plugs on that car was around $2.55 and I thought that was pricey). I will now order the plugs for my car.

pocholin

You are getting Bosch, right?
I'd never get NGKs again, I hated them the only one time I used them on my Impala SS

jcjmw

Yep, Bosch (my owners manual says Bosch F 8 DPER .039 gap).