Plug question

[jberks]

Hi all,
quick question before I get myself into trouble. The time has come to swap the plugs in the old 210 V6. Not wanting to blow £200 on labour I figure I should be able to swap them myself. I had a look at the weekend and access isn't quite as easy as my old transverse Ford CVH! (apart from having 3 times as many plugs) So a few quick questions if anyone knows:
1) Presumably I need a very slim plug spanner? (my escort one was nicked - same again?)
2) It looks like the air intake pipe needs to come out, is there anything else I should remove, or is it just scraped knuckles and a UJ? (and some swearing no doubt).
3) What is the correct plug gap? (or are they pre-set these days?)

Its been a while!
thanks all,
JB

 

[Myros]

it does you good to get up to your elbows in engine

JB, all I can help with is that the plug gap will be on the end of the box if you buy Bosch or NGK. I think the plug socket will be on of the diddy ones. I recommend those Bosch Yttrium electrode plugs, if they do them for yours. My C280 loves them.

 

[jberks]

Thanks.
I will see what plugs are available. As they are 60k ones, I suspect there isn't a lot of choice.
Looks like i'm the only one to do this. Just hope there's not a good reason for it! Oh well, time will tell.

 

[stwat]

Just make sure you dont get the leads mixed up :-?

Stu

 

[marshie001]

ok, ok was that a dig? lol

its easily done!!! :mrgreen:

 

[stwat]

ok, ok was that a dig? lol

its easily done!!! :mrgreen:

No dig mate. As you say, it is easily done As i know well :mrgreen:

I did just that many moons ago on an XR41 V6. It took me the best part of a day to work out id put them back on in reverse!!!!!!!!!! :Oops:

Why i didnt do them a plug at a time il never know :mrgreen:

Stu

 

[jberks]

Yup - We've all been there!!!! - Not quite so simple too - no working out the 1,3,4,2 on a Merc system. One of those once learned, never fogotton lessons.

Fortunately on the ones with the little plastic ignition boxes above each cylinder, each lead appears to only reach the required plug. - so at least thats one thing I can't cock up. With all the sensors and wiring I'm still not convinced I should be playing in there though. Going to do a proper reccie at the weekend.

 

[pascal]

Well MB put in 1.7 hours labour cost on mine to previous owner + £5.38 x 12 + vat.

£265 total for plugs........ as part £839.70 'B' sevice:-(

And some dealers charge for over 2 hours to change the 12 plugs..

Pascal

 

[marshie001]

No dig mate. As you say, it is easily done As i know well :mrgreen:

I did just that many moons ago on an XR41 V6. It took me the best part of a day to work out id put them back on in reverse!!!!!!!!!! :Oops:

Why i didnt do them a plug at a time il never know :mrgreen:

Stu

do you know what the worst thing is?.......
i only had 4 leads and i DID do them one at a time :mrgreen:
and it was recently!
i could have just deleted the 'help' thread i posted and not mentioned it but i thought id come clean!