135i Spark Plug replacement DIY...

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

Bumping an old thread. I'm curious as to how many of you have had a coil pack stick to the plug on removal, ultimately destroying the pack trying to get it out? Seems this has happened to some, and I'm wondering if I should play it safe by having a fresh coil or two on hand when changing my plugs (which I believe are factory)? This is my only car & I can't have me leaving it stranded in my garage.

(and to clarify, there is no coil extension as in the older motors, just one part[the coil]... right?)

You know if you're round 60K or so... it probably wouldn't hurt replacing all your coil packs. Thru BMW they are around $50 each. But sometimes you can find deals on them for as little as $25 on ebay or the like. I think Bav Auto even sells a higher performance coil pack set - too.

Having a spare one or two coils on hand when doing your spark plugs isn't a bad idea as well. Maybe stop by your dealer and ask a tech or two their experiences about the coil packs sticking together to the plugs. I bet most dealers would have a set of coils in stock.

Dack

[cpnbnanamn]

I know, I know.. I'm resurrecting an old thread, but I wanted to find out if anyone has ever gone this route to get plugs. It's a good price, and the part number matches my 2010 128i, according to realoem.

https://www.amazon.com/BMW-Spark-Gen...MW+12122158253

I just flipped over 100K miles, and I have no idea if/when the last time the plugs were changed, as I bought the car used. I DO know that I'm well over the 40K miles mark sine I've owned it, and it's started to act funny when under acceleration (surges, hitches). I'm gonna change these and the fuel filter, and I'm hoping that clears it up.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by cpnbnanamn

I know, I know.. I'm resurrecting an old thread, but I wanted to find out if anyone has ever gone this route to get plugs. It's a good price, and the part number matches my 2010 128i, according to realoem.

https://www.amazon.com/BMW-Spark-Gen...MW+12122158253

I just flipped over 100K miles, and I have no idea if/when the last time the plugs were changed, as I bought the car used. I DO know that I'm well over the 40K miles mark sine I've owned it, and it's started to act funny when under acceleration (surges, hitches). I'm gonna change these and the fuel filter, and I'm hoping that clears it up.

Those Amazon plugs looks legit.

128i's have a 100K replacement interval. But I would probably replace them every 50K. 135i's have a 45K replacement interval. 30K(or even 25K) miles IF your tuned or are a 1M.

It seems that only the turbo car are very sensitive to OE plugs. You could probably go with some NGK's and save a bunch on plugs. You might need some new coils - bc the old ones will probably break when you start tugging on them.

Dack

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

It seems that only the turbo car are very sensitive to OE plugs. You could probably go with some NGK's and save a bunch on plugs. You might need some new coils - bc the old ones will probably break when you start tugging on them.

Dack

FWIW: NGK 95770 (ILZKBR7B8DG) formally 5992’s are fantastic plugs on the N54.

I have been using them since upping boost to 18-19psi (0.022) and they have definitely smoothed things out.

Good thing to keep in mind with NGK (as opposed to OE BMW) is that the service interval is shorter, more in line with 15k lifespan, and gap should be checked every once in a while. The N54 is very sensitive to plug gap, things get wonky quick.

[cpnbnanamn]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Those Amazon plugs looks legit.

128i's have a 100K replacement interval. But I would probably replace them every 50K. 135i's have a 45K replacement interval. 30K(or even 25K) miles IF your tuned or are a 1M.

It seems that only the turbo car are very sensitive to OE plugs. You could probably go with some NGK's and save a bunch on plugs. You might need some new coils - bc the old ones will probably break when you start tugging on them.

Dack

Thanks, Dack. I took the plunge and bought those. I was lucky that none of the boots on the coils split, BUT, I did discover that one of the coils was bad, too. yay me. New coils from Turner Motorsports installed, and she's right as rain, now! I have NO idea when the plugs were changed before, but they looked pretty bad.
Oh, and the one pictured, is the BEST of the 6!!

-Roger

[doublevanosrc]

Gonna replace my plugs this weekend I already got the BMS socket tool and the plugs are on the way from getbmwparts.com. Anything else I should look into? I'm not very mechanical or great with my hands. I can change the oil and replace a tire but my experience has been pretty limited. I did change out plugs on a 1990 325is when i was 17 but that was a real basic car.

Thanks.

[kioneo]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Gonna replace my plugs this weekend I already got the BMS socket tool and the plugs are on the way from getbmwparts.com. Anything else I should look into? I'm not very mechanical or great with my hands. I can change the oil and replace a tire but my experience has been pretty limited. I did change out plugs on a 1990 325is when i was 17 but that was a real basic car.

Thanks.

A torque wrench will provide peace of mind. You can do it without but be careful.

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by kioneo

A torque wrench will provide peace of mind. You can do it without but be careful.

Def get a torque wrench...If you wanna return it after you "test it out" then I'm sure the store won't mind.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Gonna replace my plugs this weekend I already got the BMS socket tool and the plugs are on the way from getbmwparts.com. Anything else I should look into? I'm not very mechanical or great with my hands. I can change the oil and replace a tire but my experience has been pretty limited. I did change out plugs on a 1990 325is when i was 17 but that was a real basic car.

Thanks.

IF you are going to change the spark plugs... you might also want to change the pollen filter too - while your in there. You have to remove the pollen filter tray to get the plastic (fake - outer) valve cover off to get at the coil packs/plugs.

Don't use any anti seize on spark plug threads. Change the plugs on a cold engine. Use a torque wrench with a low scale calibration: 23Nm

Before starting work... double check that you have the correct part number spark plugs. Quite a few people have gotten N54 plugs for a N55 motor. They are not interchangeable! Double check.

Also... you might want to have a new spare coil pack on hand... incase one of your old coils breaks when removing. I used a six inch 1/2" extension inside the coil's "loop" pull tab as I slowly pulled up on the coil. Go slow... some of those coils are really stuck into those "holes".

You can also use some dielectric grease(just a smidge) on the top of the plug where it snaps onto the coil pack. But I did not use any.

Also having some 6mm allens or 6mm hex 1/4 sockets or bits might help in removing that one rear hex bolt that holds the fake valve cover on. Also have one of those telescoping magnetic tools for finding anything you drop down into the belly pan.


And lastly... IF you can change your own oil... you can change your spark plugs. Its not hard.


Btw... its almost time for me to change my plugs again too. I just bought a set of six coil packs from Oembimmerparts.com for $176 for the set of six coils. Just FYI. I didn't get any kickbacks... I just thought it was a good price on OEM factory coils. Now I just need a warm day to go work on my car in the garage.

https://www.oembimmerparts.com/1-Ser...rts-s/2196.htm


Good Luck,
Dackel

[infinitekidM2C]

Was it foolhardy of me not to check the gap on BMW OE plugs?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by infinitekid2002

Was it foolhardy of me not to check the gap on BMW OE plugs?

No. I didn't either. Then come pre-gapped and they have that paper tube that protects the end/tip of the plug from damage during shipping. I think you are fine as long as the engine idles and runs fine afterwards.

Dack

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

No. I didn't either. Then come pre-gapped and they have that paper tube that protects the end/tip of the plug from damage during shipping. I think you are fine as long as the engine idles and runs fine afterwards.

Dack

That's what i reckoned, thanks.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by kioneo

A torque wrench will provide peace of mind. You can do it without but be careful.

Forgot to mention one of my neighbor's has one which he will let me borrow. Well I did not get an extra coil pack, I plan on being extra careful since I have read on here that they're delicate.

[doublevanosrc]

Thank you sir!

Originally Posted by Dackelone

IF you are going to change the spark plugs... you might also want to change the pollen filter too - while your in there. You have to remove the pollen filter tray to get the plastic (fake - outer) valve cover off to get at the coil packs/plugs.

Don't use any anti seize on spark plug threads. Change the plugs on a cold engine. Use a torque wrench with a low scale calibration: 23Nm

Before starting work... double check that you have the correct part number spark plugs. Quite a few people have gotten N54 plugs for a N55 motor. They are not interchangeable! Double check.

Also... you might want to have a new spare coil pack on hand... incase one of your old coils breaks when removing. I used a six inch 1/2" extension inside the coil's "loop" pull tab as I slowly pulled up on the coil. Go slow... some of those coils are really stuck into those "holes".

You can also use some dielectric grease(just a smidge) on the top of the plug where it snaps onto the coil pack. But I did not use any.

Also having some 6mm allens or 6mm hex 1/4 sockets or bits might help in removing that one rear hex bolt that holds the fake valve cover on. Also have one of those telescoping magnetic tools for finding anything you drop down into the belly pan.


And lastly... IF you can change your own oil... you can change your spark plugs. Its not hard.


Btw... its almost time for me to change my plugs again too. I just bought a set of six coil packs from Oembimmerparts.com for $176 for the set of six coils. Just FYI. I didn't get any kickbacks... I just thought it was a good price on OEM factory coils. Now I just need a warm day to go work on my car in the garage.

https://www.oembimmerparts.com/1-Ser...rts-s/2196.htm


Good Luck,
Dackel

[doublevanosrc]

Just finished changing out the spark plugs and the now the car is running lumpy. The SES light just came on, sounds like a misfire.

Just got error code P305 on the obdII scanner indicating a misfire on #5. I bet a million bucks its a bad coil, whos with me?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Just finished changing out the spark plugs and the now the car is running lumpy. The SES light just came on, sounds like a misfire.

Just got error code P305 on the obdII scanner indicating a misfire on #5. I bet a million bucks its a bad coil, whos with me?

Move that coil pack and see IF the code moves to that cylinder.

Also make sure you have the correct spark plugs. Its common to get the wrong ones. N55 vs N54 plugs. Also check the flip top coil connector - it's easy to install the electrical connector wrong. Remove the connector and reinsert it.

good luck
Dack

[doublevanosrc]

Coil#5 was not plugged in, gave it a nudge and its all good now. Old plugs looked in good shape for 50k miles.

[WP1]

Is there directions or video in how to change the Cabin Microfilter inside the box glove?

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by WP1

Is there directions or video in how to change the Cabin Microfilter inside the box glove?

Well, it might take you a LONG time to change it through the glove box.

When you open the hood, it is sitting on top of the cowl panel.

[WP1]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Well, it might take you a LONG time to change it through the glove box.

When you open the hood, it is sitting on top of the cowl panel.

Oh, this is the long rectangular filter in that panel. So, there is no "air filter" inside the glove box to replace?

[infinitekidM2C]

mighty mouse doesn't know about the secret mini micro filter for the elves that live in the glove box...

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by WP1

Is there directions or video in how to change the Cabin Microfilter inside the box glove?

First hit/return on YT...