Does anyone recognize these spark plug wire ends.

[Shvegel]

Hi,
I bought this used wire set on eBay.  I really needed the Beru Veso 1K ends on the distributor ends of the wires as they are the correct ends for the electronic ignition on the 70-71 US spec cars. The dark brown distributor cap was a bonus.

 The thing I am curious about is the spark plug ends.  They are not the normal slender Bakelite ends and I am wondering if maybe they are very early electronic ignition ends or ends from some other model?

[MikeSimon]

The spark plug ends on my car are neither this nor Bakelite. They are a thin metal.

[Shvegel]

The original 70-71 US spec cars have the metal ends.  I am not sure about the Euro version. I think the proper metal ends were Beru from introduction. I would guess they are tied to the Transistor ignition cars needing radio interference protection.

[Pawel66]

Perhaps in here you will find some answers: https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/en/mercedes-230-280sl-w113-/15-electrical-equipment-at-engine/15-a-ignition

The connectors are relatively well described... No, but I looked again, they are different than yours.

[Jordan]

I did a search in the tech manual about spark plug ends but didn't find anything.  Are these metal ends original for a 230SL (later)?

[mbpaul]

Jordon, my 1966 230SL has plug ends that look very similar to the pictures you show but they are Bosch, not Beru.

[Shvegel]

Pretty sure the Bosch wires were never installed from the factory but may be allowed for judging purposes as Mercedes may have supplied them as replacements at some point. 

[Shvegel]

Well,  I think I just figured out the mystery. They are 5K Ohm ends so definitely Transistor ignition.   The Veso 1K ends at the distributor point me that way as well so they are either really early Transistor ends or the metal covered ends with the metal removed.  There are zero marks on them so I am going with they went with Transistorized ignition so they needed 5K Ohm ends then discovered an issue with noise suppression and added the metal shields.

[mbpaul]

I am sure Bosch was used in my 1966 230SL.  I have had the car since new and the wires themselves have been changed but the ends have not.  I do not know about other years--only the one that I have.

[ja17]

I have a huge box of misc. wires and ends Pat. Let me know if you need to look through the inventory. Maybe if the car was delivered with the optional radio, then the metal shields were provided?

[MikeSimon]

Beru used to be a really small, local supplier and Mercedes Benz (before the push to source globally and from EM countries) supported the local industry by sourcing OE equipment with them. As quite a few did not have the capacity to supply worldwide markets with spare parts, MB released other brands for that purpose, i.e.: spark plugs.

[Pawel66]

It is, as I understand, a reputable parts supplier these days. But I had quite negative surprise with these spark plug connectors - bought a set of them, then replaced with Bosch one by one as they kept failing.

And another experience with Beru part was the distributor cap for my W463 with M103 engine - it was just rubbish. My troubles ended when I bought Bosch cap from the dealer.

[Shvegel]

Thanks for the offer Joe.  I might take you up on it.