New spark plugs $800?!?!?
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From: Kildeer, IL
2004 E55
New spark plugs $800?!?!?
So I just called around to get some price quotes for an E Service. One of the dealerships I talked with told me the base price for an E service is about $400 and then the spark plugs may need to be changed since it's been about 5 years. Then he gave me the price of $800-900 on top of the base price to change out the plugs. Does this seem pretty ridiculous?
Last edited by Bisco; May 18, 2010 at 04:39 PM.
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From: Gulf, FL
Takes the bus.
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From: San Diego, CA
07 RS4 sold, R53 Cooper S, 2008 Cayman S, 2012 GTR
Book labor time for the plugs is 3.5 hours 2 $140+/hr and your at $490 just for labor! Add that you need 16 plugs at the dealer price of about $20ea and it sounds about right. Go to an indy shop and you'll end up paying half if not even less.
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
Or you can buy one step colder plugs (NGK NGK Iridium LFR7AIX) for under $100 
http://ngksparkplugs.ecrater.com/pro...hp?pid=7751083
http://ngksparkplugs.ecrater.com/pro...hp?pid=7751083
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From: Blasting off!
CLS63 Designo Edition, Hyundai Genesis 3.8 , Veloster Turbo, CLS500(Sold), E320 (SMOKED) R500 (Sold)
Yep, and meanwhile they are dumping shiat all over you.
+1, Indy shop job.
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From: Maryland
a Rivera...via a Custom 24, Strat and Les Paul
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shrimp boat
I only bring my car to the dealer when I absolutely have to. Changing the spark plugs and oil change is really easy. Do it yourselves and save some money for making it faster.
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CLS55 AMG & RRS S/C
does anyone happen to have the part numbers for the oem plugs?
i want to have mine changed as well since i am at around 91,000 kms (56,000 miles) and the car will be 5 years old in late july.
should i also change the sparkplug wires as well?
i want to have mine changed as well since i am at around 91,000 kms (56,000 miles) and the car will be 5 years old in late july.
should i also change the sparkplug wires as well?
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From: NJ/Greece
2006 CLS55 & 2002 SL55 (R129) Silver Arrow
3.5 hours to change plugs!?!....How many coffee breaks does that include?
Anyone with the right tools can gap and install all 16 in an hour, let alone a certified tech who does it all day long.
Stealers are a unique breed.
Anyone with the right tools can gap and install all 16 in an hour, let alone a certified tech who does it all day long.
Stealers are a unique breed.
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From: Northern VA
2006 E55
I think it is a very good idea to not wait longer than four years.
Besides the performance issues, time can play a factor on the ease of removal.
Several of mine required brute force to remove (just over four years). The longer you wait the greater the chance of stripping the threads. You think the plugs are expensive, try stripping the cylinder head....no thanks.
Also I think it's a good idea to throw a bit of anti-seize on the new ones to insure no future problems.
Besides the performance issues, time can play a factor on the ease of removal.
Several of mine required brute force to remove (just over four years). The longer you wait the greater the chance of stripping the threads. You think the plugs are expensive, try stripping the cylinder head....no thanks.
Also I think it's a good idea to throw a bit of anti-seize on the new ones to insure no future problems.
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Guys, it's definitely a pain in the **** to change these. I did all 16 plugs on my E, and it took the better part of an afternoon. It sounds funny, but just getting the plug boot off and on, takes a good while to master. MB sells a special tool to remove the boots, but you can use an open ended wrench and pry them off. I'm not joking, I had the busted knuckles to prove it.
Buy the OEM Bosch plugs at autohausaz.com and do it yourself if you want to save cashola.
Buy the OEM Bosch plugs at autohausaz.com and do it yourself if you want to save cashola.
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From: Houston
2003 W211 E55, 2003 W220 S600
Benz-O-rama i have 3 busted knuckles as of this weekend.
You can pry the plug wires off with a 17mm open end wrench. Key here is pry the wires off when the car is kinda hot so there is a less chance of breaking them.
You can pry the plug wires off with a 17mm open end wrench. Key here is pry the wires off when the car is kinda hot so there is a less chance of breaking them.
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From: Dunellen, NJ
Chrysler Crossfire
We've done quite a few of these and if anyone can get it done in under an hour, you are quite the skilled mechanic. If everything goes completely smoothly and nothing gets stuck or is difficult, you can probably knock it out in 2.5 hrs, and that's even tough.
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John Deere
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2005 E55
I dont see this taking over an hour either,from taking my 82mm tb off some many times I think I can do the plugs in like 45 min to an hour tops.
the whole intake can come off in about 30 seconds and you have the coil packs right there.
then say about 8 min per cyl is right around an hour,its not rocket science guys there right there in the open.
the whole intake can come off in about 30 seconds and you have the coil packs right there.
then say about 8 min per cyl is right around an hour,its not rocket science guys there right there in the open.
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From: Jacksonville, Florida
2006 E55 AMG --old cars -- E39 M5, 2.7tt Audi S4, E36 M3 **Ducati 996, 748
thats how it looks for me but i have yet to tackle this project -- i took a peek at the easiest accessible ones and they looked great -- so, maybe next year -- or when i have $100 burning a hole in my pocket.
I dont see this taking over an hour either,from taking my 82mm tb off some many times I think I can do the plugs in like 45 min to an hour tops.
the whole intake can come off in about 30 seconds and you have the coil packs right there.
then say about 8 min per cyl is right around an hour,its not rocket science guys there right there in the open.
the whole intake can come off in about 30 seconds and you have the coil packs right there.
then say about 8 min per cyl is right around an hour,its not rocket science guys there right there in the open.
