Diesel glow plug

[SGD]

Hi

My 2001 ML 270CDI glowplug light came on & so had 1 plug replaced at 30k miles at cost of £48+VAT! This was after arguing for a discount. The cost comprised £19 to test which plug was faulty + £19 to fit + £10 plug.

A month later, another plug was replaced at a cost of £22 to fit + cost of plug £12 = £34+Vat. Now 3 mths later the light has come on again.

Should I not bother replacing the plug as the car starts perfectly well & perhaps wait until the winter? How long should the plugs last? Should I get the remaining 3 plugs all done at the same time? Do these costs seem excessive?

Apologies for all the questions but I'm thoroughly fed up & confused!

Thanks for you help

 

[teky]

i would have changed them all at the same time, they last a long time but seems you have a bad batch or you have very high milage

 

[OlafMaxwell]

My glowplug light came on at about 65k.

Dealer confirmed it does that if there is a dodgy glow plug. We changed them all, its better because you will find they will go one after the other. Engine was very sweet after it, made a big difference to starting.

Best to do this anyway, its only one trip to the dealer. Not sure I would bother testing them though. Most diesel cars I had previously I changed the plugs myself but Merc is not so easy. Hard to comment on the life, I had expected about 50k and got to 65k, previous Peugeot [405] did 75k, a Mondeo was still on originals at 55k, two Bluebirds went over 100k on originals, one Fiat they had to be changed every 12k [a 20 minute job at home].

Maybe someone else can comment on them going at 30k.

 

[seasons]

I have a W210 300Turbo Diesel that has now covered 127K miles from new. Car used for private hire, so gets properly warmed up, with engine running typically 3-4hours once started.
I have not replaced any glow plugs yet.
They have an extremely long life when the car does not make lots of cold starts. A good friend only replaced his at about 200K miles, on the non turbo E300.

I suspect there is something else wrong!.

 

[190]

Glowplug

I have had a 190D for eight years have never replaced a glowplug I always wait until the light goes out before i start it because if you dont you are bombarding the plug with diesel and it moistens the tip you probibily noticed when you replaced it the old one was thicker at the tip
i have had three diesels & never chnged a heater plug yet give this a try

 

[landrover]

Re: Glowplug

I have had a 190D for eight years have never replaced a glowplug I always wait until the light goes out before i start it because if you dont you are bombarding the plug with diesel and it moistens the tip you probibily noticed when you replaced it the old one was thicker at the tip
i have had three diesels & never chnged a heater plug yet give this a try[/quote] [ NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER RUN ] DID YOU GET YOUR GEARBOX OUT YET.[TRY A STILTH SAW] can you still not spell { PROBABLY} YET