Spark plugs on CLK320 - What a b££tard

[jblackCLK]

AS the title says, I spent 5 hours over the weekend changing all 12 spark plugs on my CLK320. All I can say is what a B??tard of a job.

The worst part I found was getting the HT leads off and on especially the back two. Trying to unclick them and then reclicking them on without damaging them with the angles involved in the tight spaces took a lot of time, much bad language and a lot of skin off my knuckles. And what possessed the designers at MB to put that Air Con pipe right by the front two passenger side plugs is beyond me.

I've got two pre cat Lamda sensors to fit now, I cannot even see them so that should be interesting.

Anyway just thought I'd put up a warning for other to see.

Cheers

 

[BlackC55]

It great that you did them your self. They can be fiddly.

You could have done with the special tool to remove the leads. IBW made one.

 

[BTB 500]

Plenty of people complain about being ripped off by a dealer for "simply changing the plugs" ... they should read your post!

 

[Dieselman]

Plenty of people complain about being ripped off by a dealer for "simply changing the plugs" ... they should read your post!

Absolutely. Dealers charge 2 hours for this job, the O-p took 5..

Anyway, well done for saving yourself £200 labour costs, your skin isn't worth that much..

 

[jaymanek]

yes we charge 3 hours labour for this!

 

[GRAV888]

When I had my exhaust done a few years ago, I asked the owner of the garage how much to change the plugs on the E55.
He said £20, so I went and got 16 of the little buggers

Took him bleeding ages

Literally 'bleeding'

 

[A-AvantGarde]

When I had my exhaust done a few years ago, I asked the owner of the garage how much to change the plugs on the E55.
He said £20, so I went and got 16 of the little buggers

Took him bleeding ages

Literally 'bleeding'

Excellent!

Had mine done by MB when it was in for a service, yep it may be £££'s but I certainly wasn't planning on doing it myself and didn't have the time (at that time) to take it to an Indy. Can't recall the price I paid but I did get a discount on the plugs & the labour as I told them I didn't want them to do it as I had planned on taking it to an Indy

 

[stats007]

Isn't the boot puller very similar to an angled 17mm spanner?

 

[BlackC55]

Yes, very similar

 

[stats007]

That's what I thought - levered off using the inlet manifold. Luckily you have a bit more room in an R129. Only took an hour to do 16.

Did you remove the coil packs? Made it a lot easier for me though not familiar with a CLK layout.

 

[Ian B Walker]

To change the lamda sensors its easier to remove the exhaust system then do it on a bench. Did it with Flyers car on Sunday. The exhaust is easy to remove on a V6, easier than on a straight 6.

 

[ollya]

Waking up an old post.
A local garage, reputable but not a Merc Specialist, have fixed price servicing (inc parts) for £225 including oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, brake fluid, anti freeze and spark plugs. I mentioned that I'd been quoted fairly close to that for spark plugs alone but he says he'll honour the price.

Would you take them up on the offer?

P.S. I want them to do a few other things too - MoT, fix air con leak and change auto fluid so there'll still be a margin in those jobs.

 

[grober]

I would ask him if he's done an M112 before. If he says no then be up front and tell him whats involved. If he's still prepared to do it fine but bear in mind there's potential damage to plugs, plug leads, coils etc for the inexperienced- your cheap service may turn out expensive.

 

[ollya]

I would ask him if he's done an M112 before. If he says no then be up front and tell him whats involved.

I told him it's a big job but he's adamant he'll stick to the price

... but bear in mind there's potential damage to plugs, plug leads, coils etc for the inexperienced- your cheap service may turn out expensive.

That's exactly what concerns me - I guess if they damage stuff that has to be replaced then they will pay for parts - that's what (I hope) fixed price means. My worry is they might cause damage that's not apparent until later. It's an old car that's not particularly valuable - perhaps £2000 - I think it could be worth the risk.

 

[Lyserman]

When I bought my C32 the seller had a receipt from the garage saying all 12 plugs had been changed.
When I checked, just to make sure, only the front four had been done and the original MB were in the remainder.
They felt like they had not been touched since the car was new.
They were very stiff to undo.

The cranked 17mm spanner makes the job so much easier and I found it a simpler job on the M113 in the E class. Must be the bigger engine bay.

 

[190]

I have to do the plugs on my M271 soon so I hope it's a lot easier on the 4 cylinder engines.

I like the plugs to be sat there looking at you. There isn't an engine in the world that's quicker to do a plug change on than my BMW flat twin. 60 secs tops for both plugs.

 

[merc85]

Not a nice job, it took me 2hours to do my e55k, I used a Spanner to lever the leads off.

 

[grober]

Make sure he has one of these or buy one and lend it to him!
https://youtu.be/3MkrQ7X4Q8g
[YOUTUBE HD]/3MkrQ7X4Q8g[/YOUTUBE HD]

 

[BlackC55]

Does my record still stand in a CLK430? 23 minuites.

 

[wu56Shoozz]

It great that you did them your self. They can be fiddly.

You could have done with the special tool to remove the leads. IBW made one.

Do you have a photo of "the tool" that removes the leads please.. just curious..