#1 Spark Plug Wire

[Charles 230SL]

hello all, Bud's Benz installed new plug wires on my 230sl several years ago and I've often wondered by the #1 wire has a 90 degree elbow on the plug end. Is this plug wire correct for a W113? thanks in advance for any insight...Charles

[Jonny B]

The angled plug wire for the No1 cylinder is incorrect for the Pagoda. It was used for the carbureted in line six. All the plug connectors on the 113s should be the same for each cylinder.

[Benz Dr.]

That's right. It's angled 90 degrees so it can fit behind the distributor on engines with carbs. This spark plug terminal is often 5K ohms with a carbon core coil wire. If anything, remove the carbon coil wire and replace it with a metal core type.

Almost every car I look at has the wrong ignition wires. The owner orders a set of wires and expects them to be correct not realizing they're  far from it and then wonders why their car doesn't seem to run all that well. 

[ja17]

Yes if you have the correct wire ends, they will unscrew off the wires. If so you can cut the wires to the correct length, as original, so they are routed correctly.

[mdsalemi]

This kind of issue with wires comes up so frequently.

Is it safe to say that one CANNOT buy "commercially made" and "correct" plug wire sets for Pagodas?
I know mine were custom made using Beru wire, Beru ends, and all the correct angles--meaning all straight.
The only thing wrong with my wire set (which Dan Caron took care of years ago) was that one of the wires was excessively long; it was the coil to distributor wire.

[Charles 230SL]

..The angled plug wire for the No1 cylinder is incorrect for the Pagoda. It was used for the carbureted in line six...

thanks guys, I appreciate the quick responses. I figured it was probably incorrect for a w113. The plug wires are labeled 'Bosch Ultra-Premium 7MM Opti-Layer Copper Core' so at least they're not carbon core. I'll go through my parts bin and see if I've got a set of plug wires with the correct wire end. thanks again,,charles

[Pawel66]

Perhaps the easiest thing is to just replace the plug connector for straight one..

[Benz Dr.]

thanks guys, I appreciate the quick responses. I figured it was probably incorrect for a w113. The plug wires are labeled 'Bosch Ultra-Premium 7MM Opti-Layer Copper Core' so at least they're not carbon core. I'll go through my parts bin and see if I've got a set of plug wires with the correct wire end. thanks again,,charles

Check the coil wire. It may be carbon - most are.

[Benz Dr.]

Only correct wires that actually look and perform as needed, are those sold by K&K. You can order sets for 230 or 280SL.

[dirkbalter]

Only correct wires that actually look and perform as needed, are those sold by K&K. You can order sets for 230 or 280SL.

I was looking at these. The 230‘s have plastic plug connectors versus metal ones on the 250 /280. Why is that and what are the advantages?

[mbpaul]

The KK 230SL show the angle connector for plug 1.  The 280SL picture looks more like the wires that came on my 1966 230SL.

[dirkbalter]

The KK 230SL show the angle connector for plug 1.  The 280SL picture looks more like the wires that came on my 1966 230SL.

You are right. I didn’t recognize that. So, according to earlier posts these are not correct ?

[Benz Dr.]

I was looking at these. The 230‘s have plastic plug connectors versus metal ones on the 250 /280. Why is that and what are the advantages?

I just bought three sets and they're all straight plug connectors. 230 and 280 are the same basic components with the 280 style having metal ends. Full metal core with 1k plug connectors, and no resistors on the coil wire or distributor cap. This will give you a total of 6K ohms at your spark plugs.

[dirkbalter]

I just bought three sets and they're all straight plug connectors. 230 and 280 are the same basic components with the 280 style having metal ends. Full metal core with 1k plug connectors, and no resistors on the coil wire or distributor cap. This will give you a total of 6K ohms at your spark plugs.

Great. Thank you.

[Leester]

Do the K & K wires work with the thin style (4mm I think) spark plug tips or the larger (SAE I think) spark plug tips?  TIA  Lee

[Benz Dr.]

You would want to make sure that you buy spark plugs that have threaded ends. I'm fairly sure that's been the MB standard since at least post WW2.

[Leester]

OK, many thanks.

[Grummaneer]

Where can I buy some KK Plug Wires? I'm not finding them.

Also, my current plug wires on my '66 230SL rub the inside of the hood. Should the proper plug wires have a 90 degree connection at the distributor?

Thank you,

Jay Williams
1966 230SL
Tulsa, OK

[Jonny B]

The number one wire does not have a 90 degree bend. It is the same as the other wires. The 90 degree was only used on the carbureted engines.

[Pawel66]

Also, my current plug wires on my '66 230SL rub the inside of the hood. Should the proper plug wires have a 90 degree connection at the distributor?

To the best of my knowledge they were straight. When they are straight they should not rub against the hood. Are you routing the leads under the fuel lines?

[Charles 230SL]

Jay, here's how mine are routed..

[mdsalemi]

Jay,

K&K is one of the vendors listed in our vendor section. They are pretty well known, particularly for their supply of sheet metal parts.

https://www.kkmfg.com

You may want to call them first; Dr. Benz (Dan Caron) has suggested that "Only correct wires that actually look and perform as needed, are those sold by K&K. You can order sets for 230 or 280SL." however the set pictured on their web catalog doesn't look right, and the price seems very low; I know that the Beru or Bosch metal ends are in the range of $20 each, so that would put the wire set at a cost of more than $120. It's not; so a call is in order to see what they are actually sending you and if its appropriate for your 230SL.

[Benz Dr.]

Their picture shows 90 degree ends at the distributor cap but that's not what you will receive. They're just simple push on ends without any resistors.

[TJMart]

I bought mine from Mercedes in 1995 part number 930-150-00-18 and they are similar to the ones Charles posted but are labeled with "Bosch-7MM Silicone-High Temperature" and has the 90 degree at the #1. They have Bosch metal ends 1 ohm as shown in my picture.

Does anyone know where I can get a straight Bosch metal end for my #1 to match my other 5? Also I noticed that they can be unscrewed from the wire but can't seem to unscrew mine. Am I missing something?

[Pawel66]

I bought them form Mercedes dealer, PN A 000 156 52 10. If they tell you the PN changed - be careful, tell then you need to look at it before you take it.

Bosch PN BOSCH 0356301022