Coil and Plug Wire Replacement Intervals?

[mackeroni]

Looking for the recommended replacement mileage for coils and plug wires. I am getting ready to replace my plugs (50,000 miles) and wonder if the coils or wires should be done too.

Thank you!

Peace... Mack

[Stewy_604]

Coils should still be fine. I would leave them, unless you're seeing issues with them.

[mackeroni]

Originally Posted by Stewy_604

Coils should still be fine. I would leave them, unless you're seeing issues with them.

No issues yet, but there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that keeping the same coils too long can result in adhesion of the rubber/silicone boot material to the plugs caused by high heat. This can make plug removal problematic. I certainly want to avoid that issue.

[Dackelone]

Our cars don't have any plug wires. Just the tube from the coil down to the spark plug - but its all sold as part of the coil pack.



Even though your coils are still working... I think at around 50K miles... you might want to replace the coils... bc when you remove them, one or two might break apart. Sometimes its just easier to replace them. Also you will have a better spark at the plugs with new coils, bc they due wear over time.

Dack

[HomoPirate]

Just replace the plugs and you're doing good. If you have software tune, you will need to consider gapping new plugs.

[STR8-6IX]

change spark plugs every 60k, this will prolong the life of your coils.

worn plugs = failed coils

[jlc45]

How do you figure that? What's the science?

[KNS]

Originally Posted by STR8-6IX

change spark plugs every 60k, this will prolong the life of your coils.

worn plugs = failed coils

Yep!

I've got 211,000 miles on my E46 and the original coils (I'm the original owner of the car). I asked a BMW tech why the coils have lasted so long. He asked me how often I changed the plugs. I told him every 50 or 60,000 miles.

He said: "that's why your coils have lasted so long".

He explained that as the the plugs age (and the spark grows gradually weaker) the car's DME will tell the coils to throw more spark to the plugs to compensate. In doing so the life of the coil is shortened (little by little...).

That might not be his exact wording but that was the gist of it. Certainly seems true in my case.

[JIM1inWisconsin]

Has anyone installed upgraded high performance coils? They don't cost that much more and promise more torque, hp and better fuel economy resulting from a better fuel burn. I suspect the gains are modest but if you're going to change your coils why not.

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by JIM1inWisconsin

Has anyone installed upgraded high performance coils? They don't cost that much more and promise more torque, hp and better fuel economy resulting from a better fuel burn. I suspect the gains are modest but if you're going to change your coils why not.

I would just stick to bosch to be safe.

[Mr Rooty Von Tooty]

I must be very old fashion. I only replace stuff when it breaks. Also I don't try to get ahead of maintenance, because it gets too expensive.

Parts are very expensive, and for some cars (like I have), they are not only difficult to find but extremely costly. I also don't replace things in pairs or groups like brake pads. I get every last mile I can out of a part.

[Rallim]

Originally Posted by Mr Rooty Von Tooty

I must be very old fashion. I only replace stuff when it breaks. Also I don't try to get ahead of maintenance, because it gets too expensive.

Parts are very expensive, and for some cars (like I have), they are not only difficult to find but extremely costly. I also don't replace things in pairs or groups like brake pads. I get every last mile I can out of a part.

So you're saying you only replace one brake pad? Can you send me a link to where you only get one of these because I need my front right done

[mackeroni]

I need two spark plugs replaced. The remaining four have about 500 miles left in them.

[jlc45]

This is funny stuff!
A friend of mine has a V6 Camry. He asked me if he should have his plugs changed when the car was 10 years old. I asked when they were last done. He said "never".
His plugs were 10 years old and the car ran fine. I wouldn't recommend it, but it is possible.

[mackeroni]

Originally Posted by jlc45

This is funny stuff!
A friend of mine has a V6 Camry. He asked me if he should have his plugs changed when the car was 10 years old. I asked when they were last done. He said "never".
His plugs were 10 years old and the car ran fine. I wouldn't recommend it, but it is possible.

Funny. I met a Corolla owner who had never changed the oil in ten years. She told me it didn't really matter because, "When I add a quart every couple of months, that is just like changing it...only one quart at a time, right?"

[Mr Rooty Von Tooty]

Originally Posted by Rallim

So you're saying you only replace one brake pad? Can you send me a link to where you only get one of these because I need my front right done

You aren't too bright or creative?

There are dozens of foreign car salvage yards all over America. They'll sell you anything you want. Why even in your impoverished state, you might be able to afford a pair.

I have kept a large inventory of parts for all the cars I have owned over the years. Yes, even spark plugs are an item that can be salvaged. There are lots of cars with minimum miles sitting around rotting away with fine plugs.

You people have so much money. You all want to buy everything new, shiny, and in pretty packages.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by STR8-6IX

change spark plugs every 60k, this will prolong the life of your coils.

worn plugs = failed coils

BMW says the plugs on a 135i should be changed every 45K miles. On a 1M(basically a tuned N54)they say every 30K miles.

On a 128i - BMW says every 100K miles. But I bet IF you had a 128i, if you were to changed the plugs at say 50K miles... you could feel the engine perform better(snappier throttle response & better power).

Toyota owners have different priorities than BMW drivers. Different flavors for different types of drivers.

Dackel

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by JIM1inWisconsin

Has anyone installed upgraded high performance coils? They don't cost that much more and promise more torque, hp and better fuel economy resulting from a better fuel burn. I suspect the gains are modest but if you're going to change your coils why not.

I've seen those red coil packs on the web... but I have never seen any 1Addicts members talk about personal experience with them. I have a feeling the claims are just that! Even IF they were to make more power and torque... I would think its on the order of ~5hp which no one could actually feel on a 300+ hp engine.

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

BMW says the plugs on a 135i should be changed every 45K miles. On a 1M(basically a tuned N54)they say every 30K miles.

On a 128i - BMW says every 100K miles. But I bet IF you had a 128i, if you were to changed the plugs at say 50K miles... you could feel the engine perform better(snappier throttle response & better power).

Toyota owners have different priorities than BMW drivers. Different flavors for different types of drivers.

Dackel

I actually have a 528i. one of the ignition coils failed so i replaced it. minimal gain in performance just smoother operation. the new spark plugs helped smooth out the idle, maybe slighly better performance but nothing to write home about.

[STR8-6IX]

funny i thought i should mention so i have the 8 speed ZF and recently upgraded the exhaust system and it would burble on aggressive upshifts sounded amazing. unfortunately the sound went away when i changed the ignition coil. so apparently the failing coil was not properly burning off fuel on upshifts and causing this amazing sound

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by STR8-6IX

I actually have a 528i. one of the ignition coils failed so i replaced it. minimal gain in performance just smoother operation. the new spark plugs helped smooth out the idle, maybe slighly better performance but nothing to write home about.

I wonder what is the BMW recommended replacement for 528i spark plugs? Mileage wise?

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I wonder what is the BMW recommended replacement for 528i spark plugs? Mileage wise?

I have the N52 engine. probably the same as for any other n52 engine. changing your spark plugs every 60k will make your coils last much longer. I just changed 1 coil and all 6 spark plugs at 75k will see how long the rest of the coils last now