Hi All,
For documentation and future reference I wanted to supply a report on a recent Service G I performed. The service was calling for the following services:
1) Spark Plugs
2) Engine Air Filter
3) Cabin Dust Filter
4) Oil & Filter change
5) Brake Fluid
6) Fuel Filter
7) Service 14 which includes pulling all four wheels for a detailed brake check among other minor checks and lubrications
8) FSS reset
1) Replaced all 16 plugs. This took a long time and was the most difficult replacement on any car I have undertaken. Probably spent 4 to 5 hours on this alone. Probably could do it in 3 or 4 next time around.
2) This was easy. Everything is attached by clips and pulls right off. There are two sections: one towards the grill and one towards the firewall. Be careful as someone before me broke one of the clips on the front piece. Pull up at the front of the front piece until you feel it disengage then pull towards you. The front clips are verticle and clips towards the fire wall are horizontal on the front piece. The back piece pulls off vertically.
3) This was easy. One plastic nut and I installed a combo filter even though my VIN calls only for a dust filter
4) Done this many times before. With an oil extractor this takes me 20 minutes start to finish. I have done the tests where I extract with the oil extractor and then pull the drain plug and nothing comes out. Be sure to push the filter all the way in place. The new filters have a line on them that should go all the way to the cover.
5) Use a SpeediBleed (Search for it on google, this is a great tool and is very compact) and this will be a 1 hour job start to finish. You will need two quarts of fluid. I use ATE which is made by the manufacturer of the brake system. It comes in Blue and Gold and if you alternate each time you can see when the old fluid is out.
6) Doing this this weekend. Will add to post to report out next week.
7) This one is a matter of looking over the car. I would recommend having the dealer do this one as I and probably you have no idea what to look for. My plan is to ask them to do it when I take it in for some warranty work. Make sure they check for any outstanding recalls or bulletins. I pulled all four wheels and did a detailed brake pad examination. The rear pads are very low and I am getting no warning from the FSS system and none of the pad sensors are tripped. I would estimate that one of the rear pads is about 3mm and ready to start cracking off at the edges. Lesson here is don't trust the sensors implicitly. If they warn then you probably should replace. If they don't warn it does not mean you are good to go till you are warned. I have 47,000 on the car as a reference. I have not changed any pads yet.
8) FSS reset. On my "05" wagon this is very easy. When is park hold in the reset button on the bezel of the instrument cluster until the FSS menu appears. Then navigate via the page up and down and + and - buttons on the steering wheel. Tip: look below the items and you will see icons for which steering wheel button is appropriate for input. I kicked myself out of the system a few times before I finally confirmed but once I recognized the steering wheel icons I caught on faster. Know that when you confirm you are confirming all service items for that service. It does not allow you pick some and not others. I have read some posts that suggest FSS+ should allow this but my VIN number does not.
Jeff.
__________________
Jeff
2005 E500S4 Everything except Distronic and Heated Steering Wheel. "87" Porsche 928S4, "87" Porsche 944
Vehicle: 2003 E320 - wife's car now; 07 Porsche Boxster S - my car!!
Location: Boston, MA USA
Posts: 497
Jeff,
Did you remove the coil packs? I did when I changed out my plugs and it gave me a little extra room to work with. If my hands were the size of a 5 year old, I could have changed all the plugs in half an hour!!
I agree with pulling the wheels to inspect the brakes and not depending on the sensors. I posted a long time ago that one of my rear pads dug into the rotor when it wore down -- this was the pad with no sensor on it, and the pad set on the sensor'd wheel only had about 50% wear but didn't trip the sensor yet.
Good luck with the fuel filter change out -- when you're done, you'll put that job on the same PITA list as the spark plugs!!!
I have already done.
Air filter
Transmission fluid / filter
engine oil/filter
cabin filter
front brakes
broken fog lense replacement
paint touch up using the MB system.
Plugs are comming up in the next 6000 miles so any tips pics you can poste would be great. Thanks again.
I have already done.
Air filter
Transmission fluid / filter
engine oil/filter
cabin filter
front brakes
broken fog lense replacement
paint touch up using the MB system.
Plugs are comming up in the next 6000 miles so any tips pics you can poste would be great. Thanks again.
Don't have any pics. But I do have some tips.
1) Use a spark plug socket with a universal and flex handle 3/8 drive ratchet
2) Use small pair of plyers to pull on the metal part of the plug wire. They are a pain to get off with only your fingers.
3) Reach in from the front of the engine and your whole arm will fit between the inner fender and slightly under the head (working area). You can't see the plugs but you can feel them. guide the socket on with one hand that is in the working area and use the other work the ratchet.
4) I used duct tape to the keep the plug wires out of the way. Paul removed the coils. I think I will remove the coils next time.
5) I had trouble keeping track of the plugs and loosened a newly installed plug a couple times. Figure something out to keep track of this.
6) I used an antiseize on the threads of the plug. Not sure if this is recommended by Mercedes but porsche recommends it and I do it on my other cars so I did it on this one.
what plugs did you go with? And what was the verdict on the fuel filter? Also how many miles is on your rig? My car is coming up on the G Service and it just rolled over 40K. Seems a bit soon to be changing plugs- My wifes ML and my G both did not see new plugs until 80K. Anyone know what the dealer charges for this service?
what plugs did you go with? And what was the verdict on the fuel filter? Also how many miles is on your rig? My car is coming up on the G Service and it just rolled over 40K. Seems a bit soon to be changing plugs- My wifes ML and my G both did not see new plugs until 80K. Anyone know what the dealer charges for this service?
thanks!
I went with the factory plugs purchased at MB dealer. Will be doing the Fuel Filter this weekend. I have 47,000 miles on it. The plug change is 50,000 or 5 years whichever comes first.
The fuel filter is under the rear seats. The filter is a combined unit that also serves as the fuel level sending unit. The filter is expensive and you have to remove the filter on the left side along with the fuel pump on the right side and fish the tubing from one to the other. MB was faced with some tradeoffs in the design and they chose not to make it easy to replace. Some dealers are recommending that it not be changed.
not replacing the fuel filter? that sounds like a great idea ! i have done all the other services and when it came to the fuel filter i got a headache i was about to do it but thought it was to much work! and ask the dealer but they kept telling me different price ranges. but for real what happened if i don't change the fuel filter? will any problems occur?
pualv nice to see your still active on the forum! : )
Linear Mode
