Spark plug replacement

sergeremi · 07-08-2012, 11:04 AM

So I had my oil changed at the dealer this weekend (and got them to change the transmission fluid - MTF-LT-5 per my instructions) without incident. Price was a bit steep so I think I'll be doing my own "in-between" oil changes from now on.

Anyway, while the service advisor was going through some of the other 1M service intervals he noticed that the spark plugs were to be replaced at the third service interval (third oil change at ~31k miles).

I thought the spark plugs would be good to 60k or at least 45k. I guess it'll be covered under the free maintenance plan, but anyone know why the change so soon and will the need to be changed every 30k miles?

takrdown · 07-08-2012, 11:49 AM

Just a shot in the dark because I have a 135 and not a 1M, but the spark plug change interval is 45K for my N54 and you have a more "tuned" N54 than I do so I would think a shorter interval of 30K would make sense.

I know that anyone that has a piggyback or ECU reflash is recommended to change at 25K, so that kind of falls in line with my logic.

KIYO · 07-09-2012, 03:12 AM

Mine were changed at 40000km the other day.

Artemis · 07-09-2012, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIYO

Mine were changed at 40000km the other day.

1M with already 40K kms ? Wow, you must have the highest 1M mileage to date.

Dackelone · 07-09-2012, 07:19 AM

Makes sense... BMW says to change them very 45K miles for a N54/N55. And all the tuners say to change them at half that interval.

I think spark plugs are like oil changes, transmission oil and diff oil services too... they cost is so low but the pay offs are so large. It should be done IF you plan on keeping your car for the long haul.

NYC6 · 07-09-2012, 08:18 AM

This past Dec I had the PPKI installed on mine. At that time they stuck a sticker on my fan shroud reminding to change the plugs at 45K due to the PPK. I didnt know that was for a stock 135 also. Guess I need to refresh my memory about the car by reading through the owners manual again. After 2+ years I forget alot it seems.

Dackelone · 07-09-2012, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYC6

This past Dec I had the PPKI installed on mine. At that time they stuck a sticker on my fan shroud reminding to change the plugs at 45K due to the PPK. I didnt know that was for a stock 135 also. Guess I need to refresh my memory about the car by reading through the owners manual again. After 2+ years I forget alot it seems.

I took this pic last year at a BMW car show near Würzburg. I asked the owner about it... he said his BMW Zentrum put it on his car when he had the PPK2 installed. The sign looked "home made" to me, so I just had to take a pic.

Name: PPK2_Sparkplugs.jpg
Views: 526
Size: 80.9 KB

Also strange is that BMW says first to change them at 67K kms and then every 60K kms!

Also... my Spark Plug DIY might be of interest to anyone who wants to change their plugs. Watch the Cobb video... its very helpful.

135i Spark Plug replacement DIY...
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=602804

NYC6 · 07-09-2012, 08:43 AM

Thats basically the same sticker installed on my shroud, except in English. It also has the nicer metal sticker installed on the radiator support and another cheap paper one on the drivers side door jamb. That one is starting to fall of already after only a couple months.

Read through you DIY plug swap and will refer to it in the future after the warranty expires. Great info there.

orange flash · 07-09-2012, 01:48 PM

Plugs were changed at 22,500 mile service along with transmission and rear axle fluids.

bavariantune · 07-09-2012, 06:07 PM

My advice, based on experience, is to use the stock plugs. I have seen problems with aftermarket plugs.

(such as a slight misfire on cold start)

sergeremi · 07-09-2012, 08:25 PM

Ah well, good to know and keep in mind. I assume the spark plug placement is the same in the 1M as the 135i?

07-08-2012, 11:04 AM	#1
sergeremi Lieutenant 41 Rep 574 Posts Drives: 1 Series M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Spark plug replacement So I had my oil changed at the dealer this weekend (and got them to change the transmission fluid - MTF-LT-5 per my instructions) without incident. Price was a bit steep so I think I'll be doing my own "in-between" oil changes from now on. Anyway, while the service advisor was going through some of the other 1M service intervals he noticed that the spark plugs were to be replaced at the third service interval (third oil change at ~31k miles). I thought the spark plugs would be good to 60k or at least 45k. I guess it'll be covered under the free maintenance plan, but anyone know why the change so soon and will the need to be changed every 30k miles? __________________ there is no effing automatic
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07-08-2012, 11:49 AM	#2
takrdown Other car was a submarine 94 Rep 704 Posts Drives: i4M50 (waiting), 2013 R56 JCW Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central CT iTrader: (7)	Just a shot in the dark because I have a 135 and not a 1M, but the spark plug change interval is 45K for my N54 and you have a more "tuned" N54 than I do so I would think a shorter interval of 30K would make sense. I know that anyone that has a piggyback or ECU reflash is recommended to change at 25K, so that kind of falls in line with my logic.
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07-09-2012, 03:12 AM	#3
KIYO Private First Class 23 Rep 143 Posts Drives: 1er M Coupé Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vienna Austria -> Tokyo, JAPAN iTrader: (0)	Mine were changed at 40000km the other day.
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07-09-2012, 07:19 AM	#5
Dackelone European Editor 10589 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Makes sense... BMW says to change them very 45K miles for a N54/N55. And all the tuners say to change them at half that interval. I think spark plugs are like oil changes, transmission oil and diff oil services too... they cost is so low but the pay offs are so large. It should be done IF you plan on keeping your car for the long haul. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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07-09-2012, 08:18 AM	#6
NYC6 Banned 71 Rep 2,070 Posts Drives: '10 135i PPKI/06 C6 Z51 Vette Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: LI/NY iTrader: (0)	This past Dec I had the PPKI installed on mine. At that time they stuck a sticker on my fan shroud reminding to change the plugs at 45K due to the PPK. I didnt know that was for a stock 135 also. Guess I need to refresh my memory about the car by reading through the owners manual again. After 2+ years I forget alot it seems.
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07-09-2012, 08:43 AM	#8
NYC6 Banned 71 Rep 2,070 Posts Drives: '10 135i PPKI/06 C6 Z51 Vette Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: LI/NY iTrader: (0)	Thats basically the same sticker installed on my shroud, except in English. It also has the nicer metal sticker installed on the radiator support and another cheap paper one on the drivers side door jamb. That one is starting to fall of already after only a couple months. Read through you DIY plug swap and will refer to it in the future after the warranty expires. Great info there.
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07-09-2012, 01:48 PM	#9
orange flash Private 56 Rep 64 Posts Drives: BMW 135 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	Plugs were changed at 22,500 mile service along with transmission and rear axle fluids.
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07-09-2012, 06:07 PM	#10
bavariantune Database Hackmeister 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 1m, track days Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: vancouver BC iTrader: (0)	My advice, based on experience, is to use the stock plugs. I have seen problems with aftermarket plugs. (such as a slight misfire on cold start)
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07-09-2012, 08:25 PM	#11
sergeremi Lieutenant 41 Rep 574 Posts Drives: 1 Series M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Ah well, good to know and keep in mind. I assume the spark plug placement is the same in the 1M as the 135i? __________________ there is no effing automatic
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