Spark plugs C280 (V6 engine)

[Dave Bailey]

Can anybody tell me what the sparkplug gap should be on a 1998 C280 please?

Cheers,

Dave

 

[guydewdney]

www.dewdney.co.uk/guy/202spark.pdf

cos i'm nice

 

[Dave Bailey]

www.dewdney.co.uk/guy/202spark.pdf

cos i'm nice

Nice one Guy - you're a star

 

[guydewdney]

www.dewdney.co.uk/guy/202data.pdf for a more incluseive version

no prob dude - takes me seconds to do.

 

[Alex Argent]

Dave,
I appreciate that the original question has been answered more than satisfactorily. However, I'm interested in whether (or not) you intend, or have already removed the original spark plugs yourself. It's a job I was going to do myself on a C240 which has roughly the same V6 layout as the C280. I've read on this forum though that it's a hell of a job to do, and even worse some stealerships are charging up to £250 to do this. This includes the (sales) cost of 12 x plugs (say £120 ish?), balance = £130+ labour! I seem to recall someone indicating on here not so long ago that the MB service deptartments list a labour time of about 2.5 hours (I'm assuming here that the 280's also use 2 plugs per pot).
It's not that I have a problem in getting the dealer to do it, but this sort of cost does seem excessive for seemingly such a simple job like a plug change.
I would be interested to hear how you get on, and if any MB special tools are required. I think the MB recommended change interval is 100k, so I'm nearly there.
Thanks in anticipation of an interesting response!
Best regards
Alex

 

[Dave Bailey]

Dave,
I appreciate that the original question has been answered more than satisfactorily. However, I'm interested in whether (or not) you intend, or have already removed the original spark plugs yourself. It's a job I was going to do myself on a C240 which has roughly the same V6 layout as the C280. I've read on this forum though that it's a hell of a job to do, and even worse some stealerships are charging up to £250 to do this. This includes the (sales) cost of 12 x plugs (say £120 ish?), balance = £130+ labour! I seem to recall someone indicating on here not so long ago that the MB service deptartments list a labour time of about 2.5 hours (I'm assuming here that the 280's also use 2 plugs per pot).
It's not that I have a problem in getting the dealer to do it, but this sort of cost does seem excessive for seemingly such a simple job like a plug change.
I would be interested to hear how you get on, and if any MB special tools are required. I think the MB recommended change interval is 100k, so I'm nearly there.
Thanks in anticipation of an interesting response!
Best regards
Alex

Alex,

The plugs cost £75.85/set (12 off) from the local MB Emporium. It might be possible to get a set of NGK's or equivalent for less, but to be honest I haven't tried looking into that option as yet. The change interval according to the MB handbook is 90 - 110,000 km, which equates to roughly 55,800 - 68,200 miles. Getting to the plugs looks like a real horror of a job. I'm planning on getting this done on Friday, so I'll be able to let you know exactly how bad it is then.....

All the best,

Dave

 

[Alex Argent]

Hi Dave
Thanks for that.
Since posting, I've done a bit more digging and have come up with the following link that may be of some use to you. It refers to a C280 plug change on a U.S. site. Biggest problem seems to be the need of a 'special' tool to remove the metal H.T. boot. http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php3?threadid=33346&perpage=15&pagenumber=1
Hope this helps and look forward to hearing how you get on. Thanks for your interest and good luck on Friday!
Best regards
Alex

 

[lotusmark2]

look forward to hearing how this goes

 

[Dave Bailey]

Hi Dave
Thanks for that.
Since posting, I've done a bit more digging and have come up with the following link that may be of some use to you. It refers to a C280 plug change on a U.S. site. Biggest problem seems to be the need of a 'special' tool to remove the metal H.T. boot. http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php3?threadid=33346&perpage=15&pagenumber=1
Hope this helps and look forward to hearing how you get on. Thanks for your interest and good luck on Friday!
Best regards
Alex

Hi Alex,

Mission accomplished..... No special tools required, just lots of patience.

This is how it went:

Remove air box and hoses
Remove washer bottle
Carefully pull off plug caps
Remove ignition packs
Remove plugs. You need some extention bars to do this as the plugs are very deeply recessed. Feed the plug spanner in first, then add extentions as required until it is possible to fit the handle.
When replacing the plugs, you need to take great care to "feel" the thread starting correctly. Cross threaded plug holes are a bit undesirable at the best of times.
Then as per the gospel of St Haynes, "reassembly is the reverse procedure of disassembly".....

I'd say 2-3 hours is a fair time allowance. Especially bearing in mind the learning curve and due care aspects of the task.

Prior to changing the plugs, the engine ran well, though there was evidence of a very slight misfire at idle. The plugs that came out looked shot. The centre electrodes appeared eroded when compared to the new plugs. After fitting the new plugs, the difference was immediately noticeable. The slight misfire at idle has gone. The car feels much more urgent and willing. According to the service records, the old plugs were in for 52000 miles, or about 84000 km. Judging by the state of the old plugs, I'd be less than happy about a change interval of 100000 miles, as suggested by the US website you offered a link to. 100000 km would seem to be more appropriate. Naturally if somebody with more MB experience can suggest otherwise, I'd be happy to take note, but believe me, those old plugs didn't look as though they had long to live.

Hope this helps,

Dave

 

[Paul Grainger]

Has anybody changed the plugs on a 320 engine? Mine has done over 50K on the original plugs, it seems to run OK but I figured that perhaps I ought to change them.
Any special tools needed? It looks like a complex job to get to the plugs before you even start......

PS - I don't fancy paying dealer prices

Paul G

 

[lotusmark2]

Cheers for that Dave
May now give that a go when I need to do mine. MB did mine at 26,000 miles so still got about 20,000 miles to go.

 

[Alex Argent]

Hi Dave,

Well done!

And many thanks for posting the detailed procedure. I take note re. being very careful not cross-threading the new plugs on fitting. The cost of a replacement head far outweighs the labour charge that MB charge to do this! Anyway, you have put me in the right mindset to do this myself. I intend having a go someday next week, so I'll also put up a post here as to how I get on, for the information of any others that may be interested.

This is really what the forum is all about, i.e. helping each other out.

Thanks once again ,

Kind regards,

Alex

 

[Dieselman]

So as not to cross thread the plugs simply rotate the new plug as if to undo for one turn before then tightening. You will feel the thread roll to it's natural start position then click.

 

[nickmann]

Hi Alex,

Mission accomplished..... No special tools required, just lots of patience...

Hope this helps,

Dave

Hi Dave, it sure does help. Mine is about due for a plug change so this has got me in the mood for it.

Just two questions, to save me digging in far enough to realise I need a trip to the tool shop to get any further.

- did you use a 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2 inch socket set?
- what lengths extensions did you need?

 

[paresh]

Alex,

Maybe you could take some photographs of your plug change and post them on the forum as a "How To".

I'm sure that would be helpful for a lot of us who have the V6 engines.

Mine need a change soon and I don't fancy paying stealer prices.

Regards


Paresh

 

[Alex Argent]

Alex,

Maybe you could take some photographs of your plug change and post them on the forum as a "How To".

I'm sure that would be helpful for a lot of us who have the V6 engines.

Paresh

Excellent idea! It will also give me an opportunity of running-in my new digital camera, due to arrive tomorrow. Regrettably, due to other, unforseen commitments I cannot promise any further action on the plug change for the next week or two. I'll put a new post in the "How To" section as soon as I have completed the task.

Regards,

Alex

 

[kjgood]

Plug Change

Had the plugs changed today (01/04/04) on my C240 V6 sport. Plugs from dealership cost £4.50 plus VAT each, total of £63.45 which although it sounds a lot, I didnt think so bad for 12, especially considering the mileage that they should cover.

On top of that two hours labour from my trusted man who's always looked after my cars. total bill including plugs, labour etc £120.

Looking at the condition of the old plugs I wouldnt want to go more than 50K miles on a set

 

[C240Sport97]

I had my plugs done last Sept when it was about 48k miles and 6 years old. Car is smoother, faster and more economical. Worth it. Cost me about £120 too. And the old plugs looked knackered. They fit Bosch Platinum ones that looked just like the ones the pulled out. Big hassle it looked like, even if it wasn't an especially delicate job.

 

[nickmann]

Hi All,

I just changed mine (c240 V6) last night and this morning. Not easy, but not hard either.

I took some pics and will do a HOW TO: in the next couple of days. I would do it now but it's my son's birtday party in approx 9 minutes' time!!

What do I do - just post it to the Engine Forum and leave it for a moderator to move into the HOW TO: Section?

 

[sym]

What do I do - just post it to the Engine Forum and leave it for a moderator to move into the HOW TO: Section?

Yep - that's right - we'll take care of the rest.

S.