spark plugs?

[trymonlam]

i've owned my 202 for about a year now. so far i haven't had the spark plugs changed and i believe it's been a while since the last owner changed them. sincei've just got some good wires from fellow member here, i thought i should change the plugs while i do the wires.

so, what's up for suggestions, guys? what's good? what do u yourself use? and where do u think i can get it for cheap online? any ideas are welcome. thanks in advance.

[jlomon]

I used whatever they sell at the MB parts counter. The plugs are Bosch, and were specfically non-resistor type plugs. I've heard from my reading on mercedesshop.com that Bosch has plans to discontinue the non-resistor plugs (they might have already done it) but there are bound to be plenty in circulation at this point.

I don't know if your set of wires came with plug end connectors for the cylinders that have coils on top of them. If you don't have them, get them and change them out while you are changing the plugs. They're a few bucks each, and are prone to failure, which can lead to a rough idle. Some wire sets have them (like the Bosch set) but others dont have them.

[trymonlam]

i've just got magnecor wires.

[mayagman]

NGK/Denso Iridiums. Good quality plug, none of that stupid garbage with 9000 different spark surfaces. One electrode's enough. I hear platinum substrates ignite at too high a temp to be suitable for our cars, so I tend to stray away from them. Replaced the Bosch platinum II's that the last owner had in there with Denso's and the acceleration was a LOT smoother. Ive had good experiences with denso in the past both with my Mercedes and the Subarus I used to run.

[trymonlam]

ahh,
thanks. i will look into them right away. where do u usually get them? is there a site for these supplies with particularly good price?

[Denlasoul]

I am running NGK's. Not bad, not sure if they are better or worse.

Bought them from Nopi online. It was the best price I could find. Though I would recommend using froogle to find the best price for you.

[rollinrealbig]

Bosch Plat. 4-tipped!

about $7 per plug but they last .

[mayagman]

Local advance had em, military discount beats anything online, so I can't help ya there. Should be able to get em at advance/oreilley/napa/whatever. They come pregapped, and are ungappable, but I check them anyway to make sure they're sane. Usually pay about $6-8 for em

[trymonlam]

i checked nopi online, and the dense were like $10/pc and the NGK are like $6. so what's the deal? is there really that much difference in them? far as i can see, the difference were the gap length. the NGK's were .39 and the denso were .43.

[jnenad16]

I think these might be discontinued, but beru silverstone are the way to go. non-resistor, highest conductivity rate, and about 2.50 a plug. simply a perfect plug. if you cant find those, go with beru ultra-x. and STAY AWAY from platinum if you have a pre 98 benz.

nenad

[trymonlam]

Originally posted by jnenad16
and STAY AWAY from platinum if you have a pre 98 benz.

nenad

hmm... why is that? i am just curious, and this may well be the change for me to learn more about my own car, which i am always happy to.
btw, i've got a 99' v6 c280. so i think i will be needing 12 of these suckers.
also, i was reading about instructions on plug changes and it said i need to adjust the plug gap myself? can anyone tell me a bit more about this as well as a brief instruction on plug change?

[renerodz]

trymonlam,

The '99 V6 is a whole different animal. You should use exactly what the factory recommends. I bought mine $5 cheaper each than the dealer at thebenzbin.com. When you use 12 of them, it will add up.

To install, nothing much different that any other V6. The only problem is that the wires are a bitch to remove, and you must be very carefull because they cost about $40 each (x12), or the set for about $200. They recommend to use a 17 wrench to pry on them, which works good for most people. Use the correct torqe also.

Plugs on these should be changed every 100K miles or every 4 years. They say that if over 4 years regardless of milage, the plugs may freeze on the block.

I am not a tech, so it took me about 2 hours, 6 beers, and moved muscles that I haven't moved in 15 years, which I felt very nicely for a week. But I saved more than $450 as compared to what the dealer wanted to charge for the job. It cost me all together including plugs and a torqe wrench about $125. The dealer wanted $575 + tax.

Rene

[jnenad16]

Originally posted by trymonlam
hmm... why is that? i am just curious, and this may well be the change for me to learn more about my own car, which i am always happy to.
btw, i've got a 99' v6 c280. so i think i will be needing 12 of these suckers.
also, i was reading about instructions on plug changes and it said i need to adjust the plug gap myself? can anyone tell me a bit more about this as well as a brief instruction on plug change?
in that case, go with bosch platinum.

nenad

[trymonlam]

so...
either bosch platinum or denso/ngk iridium.
except for spark plugs and wires, anything else i should change along the way?

[renerodz]

For the V6 engine, factory recommends:

BERU 14FGH 8 DPURX 2

Bosch* DPER or f8DPP332

Champion KC 11 PYP

NGK IFR5D 10 or PFR 5r-11

I used the ones factory installed on my engine which were the Bosch f8DPP332. These need no gap adjustment.

Rene

[jnenad16]

Originally posted by trymonlam
so...
either bosch platinum or denso/ngk iridium.
except for spark plugs and wires, anything else i should change along the way? since you are doing ignition might as well take care of the air and fuel, so change the fuel and air filters.

nenad

[OCKlasse]

Originally posted by jnenad16
I think these might be discontinued, but beru silverstone are the way to go. non-resistor, highest conductivity rate, and about 2.50 a plug. simply a perfect plug. if you cant find those, go with beru ultra-x. and STAY AWAY from platinum if you have a pre 98 benz.

nenad

I have a 98 C230...would platinum plugs be beneficial for me? or are these only for the V6 guys...

[jnenad16]

Originally posted by OCKlasse
I have a 98 C230...would platinum plugs be beneficial for me? or are these only for the V6 guys...
if Im not mistaken, your car still uses copper plugs as standard, so platinum is not recommended. remove a spark plug and see if its copper or platinum, and get appropriate new plugs.

nenad

[MECP Must Be]

I just bought 4 AutoLite Double Platnum plugs for my c230, Ill let you know how they are. They got a 5 year warrenty so I'm hoping for a good experience. Our coil things the spark plug wires come out of ( 2 from each one) Like to go bad also.

[OCKlasse]

Originally posted by MECP Must Be
I just bought 4 AutoLite Double Platnum plugs for my c230, Ill let you know how they are. They got a 5 year warrenty so I'm hoping for a good experience. Our coil things the spark plug wires come out of ( 2 from each one) Like to go bad also.

please do keep up posted! :D

[97C28O]

Sorry this thread is kinda old but I don't want to start another thread on Spark plugs..

So.. I read that the V6's have 12 spark plugs?! Dang thats a lot! But some said only 6 for those inline? I have a 97 C280 Sport do i have 12 or 6? What brand do you recommend? Thanks in advance.

[1995c280]

97C280, u have a inline 6. you will only need 6 plugs and don't get platinum. i always use the OEM bosch plugs from the dealer and have never had a problem. i change mine every year though. along with doing a complete 60k on my car every year, HAHA. i like the fact of keeping it well maintained.
i have tried ngk and denso in the past with other cars and they are great plugs too! basically just DO NOT get platinum

Jason

[trymonlam]

so will someone actually do a write up on this stuff? we seemed to have everything but this.

[84benz98]

what is the problem with the platinum plugs? put Bosch Platinum +4's in my '98 c230 and they seem to be doing fine. could they be a problem down the road?

[trymonlam]

Originally posted by 84benz98
what is the problem with the platinum plugs? put Bosch Platinum +4's in my '98 c230 and they seem to be doing fine. could they be a problem down the road?
welcome to the club. the thing is a number of owners of preupdate w202s got a drop in compression when they put in platinum plugs. so, do with the type of plug the factory comes with is the safest.
as an update, i did have new ngk iridium plugs and new magnecor wires put in a while ago(BIG thanks to jason), and they's been working very well.