Recommended spark plug interval?
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From: Pennsylvania, USA
2011 GL450, '06 R500 traded, '08 ML350 sold
Recommended spark plug interval?
My R500 is at the dealer for service B. They tell me that MB recommends spark plug change at 78K miles or 5 years whichever comes first and since mime just hit the five year mark it needs it. They quoted $430.
Is this true? I was under the impression that plugs last about 100K miles nowadays. My car has 43K miles now. Any thoughts?
Is this true? I was under the impression that plugs last about 100K miles nowadays. My car has 43K miles now. Any thoughts?
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My R500 is at the dealer for service B. They tell me that MB recommends spark plug change at 78K miles or 5 years whichever comes first and since mime just hit the five year mark it needs it. They quoted $430.
Is this true? I was under the impression that plugs last about 100K miles nowadays. My car has 43K miles now. Any thoughts?
Is this true? I was under the impression that plugs last about 100K miles nowadays. My car has 43K miles now. Any thoughts?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Pennsylvania, USA
2011 GL450, '06 R500 traded, '08 ML350 sold
What I am curious however is why the 5 year interval? I can understand the mileage. Do spark plugs corrode or something?
Last edited by aggst1; Feb 28, 2011 at 07:07 PM.
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2011 C300 4matic, 2015 Porsche Macan S, 2006 R500 (sold)
I "tried" to replace my R500 spark plugs while I changed out the air filter last month. There is definitely not a good DIY since most of the plugs are in some rare angles with very tight spaces.
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Thread Starter
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From: Pennsylvania, USA
2011 GL450, '06 R500 traded, '08 ML350 sold
Yeah, I ve read posts describing that. Although plugs are generally an easy job to replace, they must have special angled tools to do that.
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From: California
06 R360, 06 F350 6.0, 04 CayenneS, 96 911TT 500HP, 86 928S, 74 911S, 73 914-4, 70 914-6, 02 Durrango
For the R350 it is not a challenge at all to change the spark plugs. They are right under the air filter assembly and once that is off you can pull the coils off and the spark plugs.
No way should you throw away $400-$300
No way should you throw away $400-$300
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From: Doylestown, OH
2015 Audi S4, 1982 Fiat Spyder, 2010 R350, 2013 E550 Cabriolet
Except aggst1 has an R500, that is a V8. I think it has 2 plugs per cylinder for 16 plugs which cost over $20 each.
I would agree that the 5 year time span is BS. The only part which may degrade in time with heat and fumes might be the spark plug wiring cables. But not so likely. Even the 78k miles figure sounds very conservative. Changing spark plugs is one maintenance item you can put off without risking permanent harm to the engine. No harm in waiting until performance or fuel mileage starts to drop a little. Obviously, if you waited until there was severe misfiring it might not be good for the engine. You would certainly notice it before then. Maybe plan on 100k at the latest. I would bet you don't notice any performance or mileage hit before then.
I would agree that the 5 year time span is BS. The only part which may degrade in time with heat and fumes might be the spark plug wiring cables. But not so likely. Even the 78k miles figure sounds very conservative. Changing spark plugs is one maintenance item you can put off without risking permanent harm to the engine. No harm in waiting until performance or fuel mileage starts to drop a little. Obviously, if you waited until there was severe misfiring it might not be good for the engine. You would certainly notice it before then. Maybe plan on 100k at the latest. I would bet you don't notice any performance or mileage hit before then.
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From: Pennsylvania, USA
2011 GL450, '06 R500 traded, '08 ML350 sold
I had the spark plugs changed since I had the car at the dealer already. They ended up charging me $216 for labor and $140 for the 16 plugs ($8.75 a piece) so the total for plugs was $356 plus tax and not the full $430 they quoted originally. I was told that the five year plug change is necessary in order to ensure optimum engine performance. Plugs start corroding after that interval, and sometimes even before. Probably explains why I have experienced a few hard starts on cold mornings (not very prolonged however).
Definitely, plugs is something that one can do himself if he has right tools (don't have torque wrench for example), easy access to the plugs (1/2 of the motor is hidden in the back), and also one needs to have time (a couple of hours tops). I don't have any of the above, and the days that I worked on my own cars are long gone.
Definitely, plugs is something that one can do himself if he has right tools (don't have torque wrench for example), easy access to the plugs (1/2 of the motor is hidden in the back), and also one needs to have time (a couple of hours tops). I don't have any of the above, and the days that I worked on my own cars are long gone.
Last edited by aggst1; Mar 2, 2011 at 08:39 PM.
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From: Doylestown, OH
2015 Audi S4, 1982 Fiat Spyder, 2010 R350, 2013 E550 Cabriolet
Good price for the plugs. Someone else on these forums quoted the dealer cost of over $20 per plug. Since you had hard starting, that was a good call.
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R500
I have a 2006 R500. I am looking into changing the spark plugs next weekend. I have over 100,000 miles and figure it is probably time to replace the spark plug. The dealer near by wanted to charge close to $500 for doing the job. I wanted to ask if anyone know the correct torque for putting these spark plug on?
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
I have a 2006 R500. I am looking into changing the spark plugs next weekend. I have over 100,000 miles and figure it is probably time to replace the spark plug. The dealer near by wanted to charge close to $500 for doing the job. I wanted to ask if anyone know the correct torque for putting these spark plug on?
Torque figure is 28 newton meters.
Or, you can do it like this: http://www.boschautoparts.com/Techni...ningTorque.pdf
Last edited by lkchris; Mar 5, 2011 at 01:40 PM.
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R500
Thanks to everyone for the advise... One last stupid question...could the special angle tool be purchased in advance autopart or O'Reiley auto part places? If not where about I can get the tool? I removed the filters housing and looked... I agree that it is very tight around the spark plugs access area...
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From: Chicagoland
2008 ML350 4matic
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R500
Great! I emailed the seller with regarding to this tool. It said spark plug wire removal.. I am not sure if he meant spark plug... The head looked like for the spark plugs..Anymore insights from anybody with regarding this tool will be greatly appreciated.. I have also removed the air filter housing and video recorded the spark plug access area and posted on YouTube.. I will include the links in posting later, hopefully will be helpful to anyone..
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
That is
the special 17mm spark plug boot removal tool.
It is for popping off the metal collared boots on the spark plugs.
Then you remove the plugs with a 16mm thin walled spark socket or 5/8 spark socket.
The best socket is the one with the spring loaded u joint swivel built in.
East diy if you follow directions
It is for popping off the metal collared boots on the spark plugs.
Then you remove the plugs with a 16mm thin walled spark socket or 5/8 spark socket.
The best socket is the one with the spring loaded u joint swivel built in.
East diy if you follow directions
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2007 R350 auto..
R350 question
thanks
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From: Central Indiana
2006 MB R350
