how do i change glow plugs?

[mushypig]

I have a w210 e300td and need to change the glow plugs. I have had a look and only way i can see of getting manifold off is to undo all the screws on top and then 4 where it joins the exhaust, but two of the exhaust bolts look inaccedible. Is this the right way or is there some other way of doing it?

Cheers

 

[mushypig]

Anyone know this? The problem starting the car is getting worse so really need to change the plugs soon.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Its a tricky job. Are you certain you want to do it yourself? The plugs have a habit of siezing in the head, and snapping off when you attempt to remove them.


http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=25922

That thread will tell you how to remove the manifold. You may as well clean the manifold out, it won't harm it not to. Also while you're there, check the condition of the fuel pipes around the fuel pump and filter, if they're dark brown then replace them while the manifold is off. Check the plastic clips that secure the injector lines, if they're brittle or broken then order new ones. There is a big O-ring at the bottom of the EGR valve, order a new one of those they're only a few pence.

You may also need to order a new manifold gasket, it won't be expensive though.

I can't remember the torque setting for the manifold bolts but be careful as you're screwing into aluminium.

Be very careful taking the glow plugs out. Give yourself 2 days at least, and work slowly. A combination of the following may help:

1) Impact tool (to break up the carbon deposits)
2) Freeze-release spray (ditto)
3) Penetrating oil

The shafts get coated in carbon gunk which makes it extremely difficult to get them out. If they snap, you're faced with drilling them out in-situ, using a stud extraction tool in-situ, or removing the head completely and having them drilled out properly.

Be warned.

 

[mushypig]

thanks, a very usefull how to, gonna need to wait until i can get access to the ramp at work to do this as dont like lying under the car while its parked on the road.

 

[w210chap]

I broke a glow plug while trying to remove it

Parrot of Doom's advice is spot on - be very cautious when removing glow plugs. I'm just a keen DIY'er. My glow plug warning light had been coming on after starting the car for some months - finally got around to swapping them out last weekend. The 1st one I tried to unscrew (ie engine still very warm), the plug separated into 4 parts - the central core of the plug stayed in the hole and the screw part and top separated as I unscrewed it. The other 3 came out OK, just plenty of squeaking noises as I slowy unscrewed them.

I could get a pair of long nose pliers onto the stuck plug, but no amount of pulling would get the blighter out. WD40 and freeze-spray also didn't help. After several hours of spraying and pulling I gave up. Had my breakdown recovery Co take her to my preferred Indie - they got it out by getting a better grip of it and pulling it out (they said they made a special tool to grab it).

My car has 99,000 on the clock, so I'm sure the plugs were original from new (MB). The used ones all had a fair amount of soot/carbon on the ends. The glow plug indicator light no longer comes on after the engine's been on for a minute, so all in all I'm glad I changed them.

(I bought new plugs at £14 each plus VAT from my local MB dealer.)

For other DIY'ers I only had to remove the metal fuel lines that run over the engine compartment to get decent access to each of the 4 plugs. A mechanic told me that when he removes glow plugs he unscrews them a bit, puts WD40 in, rescrews them to get the spray down the thread, and repeats this process to prevent the plugs seizing or breaking.

 

[BenzBill]

Glow plugs snapped by Mereced Benz garage.

As Parrot Doom says- sometimes the plugs can be hard to remove, I believe.
I left my car with the Mercedes benz dealer at Manchester yesterday. The MB dealer said that all plugs had to be changed on a 12 year old C220 CDI, as I was having problem to start in the morning. He also said I had to change the fuel pipes. The cost for the plugs was quoted as 260 GBP and fuel pipes at 300 GBP. I agreed to have them sorted atthat price.

Now i have a phone call saying that the glow plug snapped while removing and a metal piece has gone into the engine. The MB-dealer is not accepting responsibility for his workmanship and says it was a complication of the procedure. I am now told a specialist engineering company will attend to it and i will have to bear the cost. If they cannot remove it, I believe they will have to remove the head, which cost aas well i will have to bear.

Is this reasonable? Any advise or help will be appreciated.

Mainly, do i need to see a solicitor ?

Thanks
B.

 

[Roxie]

Get a second opinion.

M.B. list a tool to remove the broken plug without having to remove the head. If used properly it is very successfull however every case has the potential to go wrong.

 

[BenzBill]

The MB dealers ent it to an engineering company who could not do much. I believe now they have to take the head off and mend it which is approximately £1500, i have been warned.

Waiting to hear from Manager before taking legal advice. What else could i do ?

B

 

[Alex Crow]

BenzBill, you have had really really bad service from MB here. The snapping plug issue is very well known and not too tricky to resolve, how on earth they have managed to allow the tip to drop into the cylinder is very hard to understand...

For the record, I charge 1/2hr to change the glow plugs if they come out OK, and about £35 plus vat for the Beru glow plugs. If any do snap (with customer consulted first), I allow 1 hr extra for each one.

For fuel pipes on this car, perhaps 1/2hr labour and the pipes can be expensive, maybe £50-60 for all of them.

 

[DB autos]

Hi Mercedes should have warned you that this could appen as it is common before any one should try to remove they should get the engine as hot as you can then work them in and out very slowly while some wd40 on them. Dan

 

[Frontstep]

Its still a relevant thread but it seems the glow plug composition is the problem VW claim theirs come out easily, I wonder who makes them ?
Beru Bosch ?

http://www.volkswagen.com/vwcms/mas...uine_parts/glow_plugs/corrosion_adhesion.html

 

[BenzBill]

I was not informed of anything before the job. I am hoping the guys will resolve it without much damage to my wallet. I am more annoyed by the lack of acceptance of responsibility to put it right.

 

[BenzBill]

They did not warn me that this could happen. I believe their labour charge is 120 GBP/hr. I would have taken the car elsewhere than going to a MB dealer. I have taken advise and i have been told not to pay up for additional costs unless its is an extra 100/200 GBP because i was not notified of it before taking up the job.

I am going to speak to Customer Services at MB- UK and see what they can do to advise the dealer.

B

 

[Frontstep]

The premis of your argument is that all work to your car cannot have consequences in its scope, effect and resulting price, even a simple wheel change can be complicated by a broken wheel bolt.
In all honesty I think you must or should have that thought in the back of your mind when putting your car (or anything else) in for repair.
You have to accept some responsibility even though you weren't explicitly told of the problems that could arise otherwise your car handover would involve some considerable time and presumably you taking along a Lawyer with you too explain your committments.
You will I think negotiate some discount as a Goodwill gesture, or take the car as is, to somewhere else, they may find evidence of poor practice.
The worms are in the can, yours.

 

[Rory]

The premis of your argument is that all work to your car cannot have consequences in its scope, effect and resulting price, even a simple wheel change can be complicated by a broken wheel bolt.

I think that if you entrust a repair to a franchised dealership then it's reasonable to regard them as the absolute experts and they will have the proper tools and know-how to complete a job as advised.

OK, sometimes it will go wrong, but my view is they just have to suck it up, as long as there's nothing the customer has done to exacerbate the problem (ie with the wheel bolts, by fitting them far too tight).

If they're not going to stand behind their capability then you might as well get your local garage to work on your car.

 

[BenzBill]

Just an update: I got my car back a week ago from the Manchester dealer with all glow plugs and fuel lines changed at agreed initial price of £570.00. The consequential damage that came up was also sorted by the dealer after a complaint to Mercedes Benz -UK regarding the dealer's workmanship.
An extra £100 was charged for head gasket and a total of £670 was settled.

I am glad that MB put it right in the end, but it caused me a hassle of not having my car for 20 days and i received no apology for the inconvenience caused by the dealers attitude.

I believe the job has a 2 yr guarantee on it. Touch wood, the car is running fine now.

 

[BenzBill]

Just an update: I got my car back a week ago from the Manchester dealer with all glow plugs and fuel lines changed at agreed initial price of £570.00. The consequential damage that came up was also sorted by the dealer after a complaint to Mercedes Benz -UK regarding the dealer's workmanship.
An extra £100 was charged for head gasket and a total of £670 was settled.

I am glad that MB put it right in the end, but it caused me a hassle of not having my car for 20 days and i received no apology for the inconvenience caused by the dealers attitude.

I believe the job has a 2 yr guarantee on it. Touch wood, the car is running fine now.

B

 

[bigbear]

Find yourself a local MB Indie they will save you a fortune over dealer prices

 

[sfc501]

Just an update: I got my car back a week ago from the Manchester dealer with all glow plugs and fuel lines changed at agreed initial price of £570.00. The consequential damage that came up was also sorted by the dealer after a complaint to Mercedes Benz -UK regarding the dealer's workmanship.
An extra £100 was charged for head gasket and a total of £670 was settled.

I am glad that MB put it right in the end, but it caused me a hassle of not having my car for 20 days and i received no apology for the inconvenience caused by the dealers attitude.

I believe the job has a 2 yr guarantee on it. Touch wood, the car is running fine now.

B

Why should you accept responsibility?
There's absolutely no chance I would have paid anything towards the extra work, not a hope in hell.

You want an apology from MB? demand one! along with some sort of compensation, reduction for next service along with a courtesy car, the list is endless...
If you don't get a response, find a sales showroom desk where the potential buyers are and demand an apology for the shoddy treament, oh and don't forget to raise your voice, always works...

 

[holbay]

If a part of the glowplug has fell into the cylinder then could they not have removed an injector and used a boroscope to see the broken bit and removed it with a flexgrab or a welding rod with sticky grease on the end of it and bring it out the injector hole..George..