Quote:
Originally Posted by Jrman
Quote:
Originally Posted by nachob
FCP Euro sounds great. I believe you will need thin walled socket to change them and it's not a simple project as you have to work a bit to get access to all of them. Here is what I know and recommend.
1. If your car is running well, check the maintenance history. There were some coil issues and TSBs on them if it is running great, most likely they were changed before you bought it. Most likely if they changed the coils, the plugs were replaced since it's not that much more work to do it. So you could be throwing away plugs and coils with let's say only 50K miles on them. I mention that because you said it runs great.
2. If you still want to replace them, people swear by NGK and I love them as well. My other BMW came with NGKs from the factory and it never ran as well when I replaced them with Bosch plugs. I went back to NGK OE version and it ran better. I am not saying that NGK is better, I am saying that your car is running awesome at 100K miles and the plugs that were put in it from the factory are your best bet. My N54 1M came with Bosch plugs and I decided to just use Bosch as well. Yes, you could replace them with another brand and it might not matter but it could possibly make things worse so if it's running great stick with the same type/brand of plug so you don't regret it and have to redo it.
3. Coils have been an issue with BMW and were made by different manufactures. At one point BMW switched to Eldor made coils but went back to Delphi as OE. So you can buy BMW original equipment (O.E.) coils, but if you get an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) brand, which is a company that makes them for BMW but not necessarily for you model car or the latest version. I would get Delphi brand. Eldor is also an original equipment manufacturer but BMW dropped them and went back to Delphi. I don't know why, it could be price or it could be they got tired of replacing under warranty but for whatever reason, I would recommend Delphi brand for OEM.
4. Most likely you will find oil in the spark plug holes. These cars have valve cover gaskets that don't age well. Check when the valve cover gasket was replaced. If it is the original, you really should go ahead and do that at 100K and that is a good time to do it. Make sure you get all the parts ahead of time. Look at a diagram on the realoem.com. On the e46 for example the VC kit does not include the rubber grommets for the screws and I believe the aluminum screws are a one time use thing so you will need a new set. There are a ton of good DIYs on that.
best of luck! |
Thank you for all the information.
I did have them changed.
I went with NGK.
OEM ignition coils.
It still runs great. Maybe even a bit smoother. |
Good to know. Part of the problem with changing both is knowing if the coils or plugs make it smoother. But in the end it's good to know the NGKs work well too.