Plugs and leads

[bigian]

Hi
I am about to fit new plugs to my e240,would it be a good idea to change the leads at the same time as I can find no record of them ever being changed and the milage is now 97k
Thanks in advance Ian

 

[rpe2]

Could do, but will be bigish expense. If it's not misfiring, then don't bother.

 

[DougCLK320]

With double plugs per cylinder, if one plug lead is failing you won't always notice it, since at least one plug (per cylinder) will be sparking correctly and there won't be a detectable misfire (without specialist equipment).
I only discovered a faulty plug lead on mine when I started noticing interference on FM radio, which speeded up with the engine revs.
If you've no misfire and the radio's good .... then I'd leave it alone and spend the money on beer instead.
Doug

 

[bigian]

Thanks for the advice..found NGK plugs on ebay @ £76.50 delivered for 12
Platinum plugs and the part numbers check OK on the NGK site so may give him a try.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Hi
I am about to fit new plugs to my e240,would it be a good idea to change the leads at the same time as I can find no record of them ever being changed and the milage is now 97k
Thanks in advance Ian

At that milage i would go for a knew set, spost to be changed every 50.000 miles!

 

[DougCLK320]

Thanks for the advice..found NGK plugs on ebay @ £76.50 delivered for 12
Platinum plugs and the part numbers check OK on the NGK site so may give him a try.

Sounds a good price, but don't forget to buy a box of plasters in ready for your poor knuckles !!!
Doug

 

[Cole@MBS]

Dont say that Doug!! its not really that bad!! or is it??

 

[DougCLK320]

Not if you take your time!!!

Each cylinder's coil pack has two leads and, helpfully, which one's which is embossed in the coil's plastic casing. Best if you do one at a time and be gentle when removing the leads from the plugs - a suitably sized open ended spanner is useful for easing them off the plugs. DON'T pull them off by pulling the wire !!!!
Doug

 

[Cole@MBS]

I know Doug, done thousands of them, just trying to make the poor sod feel better about doing them!!!

 

[bigian]

I must own up to not doing it myself as we have a mechanic on site and he is happy to do bit's and pieces after work for a beer or two.
I may have a chat with S-A-M/U-N-I-T
about getting the oil changed in my auto box we are not far away and visit Southampton
regularly as we used to live in Hamble and I think it would be nice to give a bit of work to SAM as he is so helpful with his advice as indeed is everyone on here that I have had any contact with. Now I sound like a creep !!!
Ian

 

[Cole@MBS]

No worries Ian, pm me what you want done and when!

 

[bigian]

No worries Ian, pm me what you want done and when!

Will do thanks..I expect she who must be obeyed will demand a West Quay fix soon !!!
Ian

 

[television]

I am only asking,, what happens if you do not obey one of these" she's that must be obeyed" beings.

 

[turnipsock]

Can you still buy proper cored copper leads? They were done away with because it interfered with peoples TVs. Now that we have all gone digital, the only people that may be affected are the Burberry clad youths that play their car sound systems at great volume.

 

[bigian]

I am only asking,, what happens if you do not obey one of these" she's that must be obeyed" beings.

No idea what happens never been brave/foolish enough to try...lol

 

[television]

Can you still buy proper cored copper leads? They were done away with because it interfered with peoples TVs. Now that we have all gone digital, the only people that may be affected are the Burberry clad youths that play their car sound systems at great volume.

You can damage the ECU with copper leads, the loading is too much, though there are other ways of suppressing interference

 

[jberks]

Always better to get the proper spec kit - avoids a lot of problems in the long run, though from memory MB charge a fortune for a set so maybe an after market OEM supplier could be the way forward.
I changed the leads on my 240 twice in the 5 years I had it and it made a big difference each time. Not so much to the running as twin spark engines don't tend to show misfires above idle but at idle they tend to knock when a lead is on the way out. I guess the carbon leads don't last as well as the old copper ones.