£1,512.00 to replace a single faulty glow plug in my Mercedes Hymer B580 !!

[sparkyvanman]

Should I spend the money ? . I took my 2019 Hymer to the Mercedes dealer as it had a factory recall (number 8). They asked if there was anything else I wanted them to look at while it was in the garage .

I told them that I had notice that occasionally the glow plug light on the dash stayed on for a few seconds after the engine had started , I didn't know if this was normal I haven't seen it before on other diesel vehicles that I own . It does not happen every time the engine is started . They said they would have a look at it.

When I went to pick the van up they told me that cylinder 2 glow plug was showing a fault and did I want it replacing? They said the cost of the glow plug was £61 but because the engine was so difficult to get to because of the hymer bodywork it was going to cost £1,200 in labour charges . I told them I didn't want to go ahead, and I would think about it. They charge VAT on top so the total cost would £1,512.00

Does anyone have any advice I have never had a problem starting the engine in cold weather and as I assumed that the glow plugs only ever work when the engine starts. Does anyone know that a faulty glow plug will cause a bigger problem with the engine that could cost me a lot more in the long run?

? Any thoughts

 

[The Old Man]

Just phoned the garage but they wamted more info than I had, but suggested someone is taking the urine.

Phone Cassely 02920362070, speak to Ritchie or Ross and maybe plan a short ov-ernight to Cardiff.

 

[JJ]

I’m not learning to fire juggle just to start an engine

Fair enough...

JJ

 

[Badknee]

Should I spend the money ?

No!

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

As others have said, your local specialist diesel workshop will be the best place,it's probably where the garage would take it anyway. They'll charge more due to the access issues.Perhaps wait and see if any more go down, it's almost the same cost for 2 as 1 to repair once the panels are off.
Mike.

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[Kelvin8tor]

On my wife’s mini if the glow plugs are faulty the car will not complete the regeneration of the diesel particulate filter no idea if Mercedes are the same

 

[Nigel Thomas]

My 2008 Vito has had a glowplug warning light on for the last 6 years!

Goes out after 2 miles...

 

[Barclaybasher]

If you pay and sods law it happens on another cylinder how would you feel?

If it starts carry on...save your money

 

[EuroTrotters]

Have you had it serviced by Mercedes, if so are you not covered by their warranty extension?

Not covered. Mercedes class them as consumables . See my post for warranty dispute

My 2008 Vito has had a glowplug warning light on for the last 6 years!

Goes out after 2 miles...

I ran 5 2001 Vitos in myfleet, All suffered glow plug failures. Two had to have cylinder heads removed and repaired as mercedes damaged them.

4 out of 5 had to have new alternators. These were too expensive at Mercedes. So I paid Dronsfields to fit new ones at a fraction of the cost.

The problem as I understand is. Technicians simply go in heavy handed and try to wrench Glow Plugs. Often results in the glow plugs snapping.

 

[Fdhadi]

Just following on from my recent post.
As an example, this is from the Fiat Ducato Owners Manual.

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[Silver-Fox]

The problem as I understand is. Technicians simply go in heavy handed and try to wrench Glow Plugs. Often results in the glow plugs snapping.

You’re probably correct, most of them are parts fitters with little mechanical sympathy

 

[Yorick]

If it ain't broken, don't fix it

 

[TheBig1]

If it ain't broke don't fix it used to work. It's a warning light so an MOT fail now

 

[Daffy64]

Many moons ago lorry drivers lit a fire under the engine to warm it for starting and then held a burning rag by the air intake to help the diesel engine fire up. The glow plug does the same

And many HGV mechanics had to remove inlet manifolds to drift out pieces of rag that had been pulled so hard into a confined space they were like steel - DAMHIK.

With reference to the OP’s question, the light tells you the glow plugs are operating and providing it starts OK and goes out after a few seconds then I’d not worry about it.

 

[Daffy64]

If it ain't broke don't fix it used to work. It's a warning light so an MOT fail now

The op says it goes out after a few seconds so I’d be surprised if an MOT tester would give it a second glance..

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[sparkyvanman]

Have you had it serviced by Mercedes, if so are you not covered by their warranty extension?

It’s been service by Mercedes since new (5 years and 25k on the clock now) I have never been told about the warranty extension, i guess this is something I should have paid for a couple of years back

 

[andysam]

Glow plugs- lots of penetrating fluid, ideally over the preceding couple of days and remove gently with a warm engine. You can heat the head with a hot air gun. The max torque for the M6 thread is about 35Nm. I set my wrench to 25Nm to undo the plug. Very gently and if it squeaks, loads more penetrating fluid, slowly tighten before trying again. There's nothing wrong with spending 20mins trying to remove one, because snapping one off is a world of hurt involving drilling it out, often having to remove the head. My middle boy was away in the west county a few weeks ago and was having difficulty starting. The "garage" diagnosed glow plugs and my boy watched as they tried to undo the first one like a bolt, which promptly snapped.

 

[Ninjabob]

Notorious for snapping off on the head great advice from andysam

Glow plugs- lots of penetrating fluid, ideally over the preceding couple of days and remove gently with a warm engine. You can heat the head with a hot air gun. The max torque for the M6 thread is about 35Nm. I set my wrench to 25Nm to undo the plug. Very gently and if it squeaks, loads more penetrating fluid, slowly tighten before trying again. There's nothing wrong with spending 20mins trying to remove one, because snapping one off is a world of hurt involving drilling it out, often having to remove the head. My middle boy was away in the west county a few weeks ago and was having difficulty starting. The "garage" diagnosed glow plugs and my boy watched as they tried to undo the first one like a bolt, which promptly snapped.

 

[Gizmouk]

I am not surprised at the cost. Garages now are charging ridiculous prices.
At £100 an hour you are not long getting into thousands and if they have to remove body parts to get at it it would probably need two of them.
But as others have said, if it's still running ok I'd leave it alone.
If they break it off or something else happens or even if they do it and it's no different you could well be doubling your estimate.
Oh for the joys of having plenty of family mechanics.

And the rest ...
My local BMW dealership charge £160 an hour plus VAT - I would suggest Mercedes will be on a par
My local garage, who is extremely good, charge £45 an in VAT.

 

[Yorick]

The op says it goes out after a few seconds so I’d be surprised if an MOT tester would give it a second glance..

Aye, ignore the grumpy folk

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[Rapido925M]

Early February 2020, with Storm Ciara about to arrive, I decided to leave John O’Groats and head for shelter. The glow plug light stayed on (2002, 2.7litre, 5-cylinder Merc).
First thought (7am): PANIC!

Rang “know it all” son who advised not switching off until I was safe.
Rang “my” garage when they opened who offered to look at it once I was back in Norfolk: “don’t panic”.

They checked and said two plugs were “off” but I should be okay for a month touring the West Country. Then COVID hit!

Eventually took it to a local Mercedes specialist who dropped the engine out (Aclass), replaced all five plugs and renewed gearbox bearings to remove an annoying thumping. They also fitted a new clutch and flywheel.

I thought it was expensive at £1800 but perhaps not?

Gordon

 

[jongood]

Should I spend the money ? . I took my 2019 Hymer to the Mercedes dealer as it had a factory recall (number 8). They asked if there was anything else I wanted them to look at while it was in the garage .

I told them that I had notice that occasionally the glow plug light on the dash stayed on for a few seconds after the engine had started , I didn't know if this was normal I haven't seen it before on other diesel vehicles that I own . It does not happen every time the engine is started . They said they would have a look at it.

When I went to pick the van up they told me that cylinder 2 glow plug was showing a fault and did I want it replacing? They said the cost of the glow plug was £61 but because the engine was so difficult to get to because of the hymer bodywork it was going to cost £1,200 in labour charges . I told them I didn't want to go ahead, and I would think about it. They charge VAT on top so the total cost would £1,512.00

Does anyone have any advice I have never had a problem starting the engine in cold weather and as I assumed that the glow plugs only ever work when the engine starts. Does anyone know that a faulty glow plug will cause a bigger problem with the engine that could cost me a lot more in the long run?

? Any thoughts

My ML420 does this, apparently its got 3 duff but 5 working, it starts without any problems. Ive discussed getting them done with my garage guy ( not MB) and he says they can be difficult to get out because of corrosion so leave it until its causing a problem.

Only issue I could see is spooking potential buyers if you decided to sell.

 

[bobnick]

In the recent very cold weather i switched on let the glow signal go out swithch off switch on again immediately let the glow go off start. In my head it helps, i think, maybe.

 

[flatpackchicken]

Well I don’t want to worry you but I had exactly the same problem with my No 5 glow plug not working and inaccessible to remove on A class Without the complete engine being removed !!!!!!
I went a couple of years with the problem and spending over £3000 with Mercedes trying to discover the problem of rough tickover and slight smoking but always passed the emissions on mot
I think they knew the problem but said could not find fault as they knew engine had to come out just to get at the glue plug !!!!!
Anyway I was in Portugal and near a motorhome garage and asked them to have a look and straight away the master mechanic (old boy) NOT a new type technician!!!! Said it was glow plug problem and engine had to come out to get to it !!!
Well I eventually agreed as wanted problem solved and in the end it cost me over £8000!!!!!! For new head valves and other stuff that I renewed whilst engine out like pulleys and the glow plug brain that was also part of problem, but overall the glow plug had disintegrated at the end and tiny bits damaged the valves and to much diesel getting through !!!!!!! See pics !!!!
Also led to new turbo following year because of all the bits getting through to turbo and another £1600 !!!!!!!

 

[L' Hobo]

Well I don’t want to worry you but I had exactly the same problem with my No 5 glow plug not working and inaccessible to remove on A class Without the complete engine being removed !!!!!!
I went a couple of years with the problem and spending over £3000 with Mercedes trying to discover the problem of rough tickover and slight smoking but always passed the emissions on mot
I think they knew the problem but said could not find fault as they knew engine had to come out just to get at the glue plug !!!!!
Anyway I was in Portugal and near a motorhome garage and asked them to have a look and straight away the master mechanic (old boy) NOT a new type technician!!!! Said it was glow plug problem and engine had to come out to get to it !!!
Well I eventually agreed as wanted problem solved and in the end it cost me over £8000!!!!!! For new head valves and other stuff that I renewed whilst engine out like pulleys and the glow plug brain that was also part of problem, but overall the glow plug had disintegrated at the end and tiny bits damaged the valves and to much diesel getting through !!!!!!! See pics !!!! View attachment 858357View attachment 858359View attachment 858360

View attachment 858358

One of the reasons I bought a PVC.
Coach-built's are nice until they go wrong, then they are an expensive PITA (even for just a windscreen.)
My Ducato's screen exchange is just min/ hours, not days/weeks!

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[andysam]

Eventually took it to a local Mercedes specialist who dropped the engine out (Aclass), replaced all five plugs and renewed gearbox bearings to remove an annoying thumping. They also fitted a new clutch and flywheel.

I thought it was expensive at £1800 but perhaps not?

Gordon

A very good price for that lot! Share their name, may be of use to other members.

 

[andysam]

If it ain't broke don't fix it used to work. It's a warning light so an MOT fail now

I'm not a tester and don't know the rules, but I understood that it was only the MIL light that was a failure. Certainly TPMS is an advisory? Does anyone know for certain?

 

[Lenny HB]

One of the reasons I bought a PVC.
Coach-built's are nice until they go wrong, then they are an expensive PITA (even for just a windscreen.)
My Ducato's screen exchange is just min/ hours, not days/weeks!

I don't understand that argument I rather by something I will enjoy using.
My windscreen only cost me the £75 excess, but did cost the insurance company £2½k plus fitting, only took 10 days to get a OEM screen & fit.
Cambelt change was the same price as a PVC.

 

[Rapido925M]

A very good price for that lot! Share their name, may be of use to other members.

Sadly there is a little bit more to the story

10 months later, on a bend on the North Norfolk Coast road at dusk, I lost the ability to change gear. I was eventually rescued back to "my" garage which informed me that the gear selector cables had been held in place by plastic "electrician" ties, which had broken. They built a metal bracket to hold them in place and they've been fine ever since: cost £110.

They produced a written report which I submitted to the original repairer, asking for £110 to cover my cost (recovery was via Nationwide Flex policy, so foc). I delivered it by hand to the same guys in the same premises.

A week later I got a reply refusing my claim, as the original company had gone bankrupt. It also stated that plastic ties were a genuine Mercedes technique, something which I doubted but couldn't be bothered to challenge.

So not a company I can recommend, although everything else seems to be ok.

Gordon

 

[L' Hobo]

I don't understand that argument I rather by something I will enjoy using.
My windscreen only cost me the £75 excess, but did cost the insurance company £2½k plus fitting, only took 10 days to get a OEM screen & fit.
Cambelt change was the same price as a PVC.

I like the ONLY took 10 days.

As some will tell you, 10 days of your holiday, waiting for a windscreen on an industrial estate in France with a dog and invalid partner, can be a very long time!
Mine can be done in 4hrs.

Convenience can sometimes mean more than money!

PS. If I didn't enjoy my Murvi, I wouldn't have bought it!
I could have bought a coach-built for the same price,
Murvi's, with a few added extras, are not cheap!

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[TheBig1]

I'm not a tester and don't know the rules, but I understood that it was only the MIL light that was a failure. Certainly TPMS is an advisory? Does anyone know for certain?

Yes, any warning light is an issue. All the lights that come on need to go off when the engine is started