[woodpecka]

There is a nice guide about how to analyse your old plugs

[supergoat]

Thanks for the thread. Helped me remove that shelf to get to the other 3 plugs. Just changed the originals out for some Denso Iridiums.

[TheTallJS]

thanks for the DIY. Just did it today my first time by myself, took maybe 2 hrs taking my time.

[f0xfire021]

Thanks to the OP on this DIY. The job was simpler than I thought it would be. Removing the cowling is the hardest part of the job.

To that end, I'd recommend anyone doing this to be very gentle with the electrical harness that sits in front of the cowl (and hooks onto it). I thought it was too easy coming off at first, and turns out it was*–*I ended up breaking several plastic clips as I tried to use a screwdriver to pop the plastic hooks.

At 95k the old plugs were totally gone (almost literally on several of them). No issues with rough idles after installing new NGKs. Car feels like it revs more quickly now, and feels "zippier" in the upper rev range.

[Alarbus]

Originally Posted by AlanAZ

2/09 and EARLIER Spark Plugs/Ignition Coils: 12122158253(NGK PLZFR6A11S/BOSCH FR7NPP332); BOSCH 12137571643(BOSCH 12137594937 Upgraded Replacement)
3/09 and LATER Spark Plugs/Ignition Coils: 12120037663(NGK LZFR6AP11GS); BOSCH 12137594937

Question on this. If I decide to do plugs and coils all at once, on a September 2008 build of a 2009 328 with the N52K engine, I can just use the newest coil and the newest plug, right?

[bvanderhaar]

Thanks for this guide. Replaced all 6 coils today. Took less than 2 hrs; inspected all spark plugs.

[E90Noob]

Around 65k miles few years back I had to replace my plugs as well as the car was misfiring from failing plugs, I will be replacing my plugs tonight as I am about to hit 100k miles soon and maintenance notice popped up that is will be due soon ha

[maxq]

OP, your DIY saved me my behind today!!! Thanks!

[Ccdscott]

OK, I tried to follow this DIY and I couldn't get the plugs out!!! I have the wrench with the 10" extension but they wouldn't turn or twist out. I had to be at work this morning so I just put the coils back in and put everything back together and went on in to work.

Memo to self: *Don't try DIY at night without all of the proper tools*

The spark plug service light is on although I've only had the car for three weeks, the cold starts are rough, as there is a quick vibration upon startup. After I put everything back together, it starts a little longer than normal (not by that much) and the gas needle fluctuates at E for a couple minutes then goes to normal.

Got an appt with an indy on Monday for the plugs. I'll just grin and bear it. Ugh. Any ideas?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Ccdscott

OK, I tried to follow this DIY and I couldn't get the plugs out!!! I have the wrench with the 10" extension but they wouldn't turn or twist out. I had to be at work this morning so I just put the coils back in and put everything back together and went on in to work.

Memo to self: *Don't try DIY at night without all of the proper tools*

The spark plug service light is on although I've only had the car for three weeks, the cold starts are rough, as there is a quick vibration upon startup. After I put everything back together, it starts a little longer than normal (not by that much) and the gas needle fluctuates at E for a couple minutes then goes to normal.

Got an appt with an indy on Monday for the plugs. I'll just grin and bear it. Ugh. Any ideas?

Not to flame here, but the plugs on the N52 take a 5/8" socket wrench. Not that hard. Counter-clockwise to remove...

[AlanAZ]

Originally Posted by E90Noob

Around 65k miles few years back I had to replace my plugs as well as the car was misfiring from failing plugs, I will be replacing my plugs tonight as I am about to hit 100k miles soon and maintenance notice popped up that is will be due soon ha

I replaced mine about the same 65K, but will wait until 115K to replace again. As that will be 50K on the plugs (and I'll replace my other fluids then also, as they were replaced at 65K.)

[TNradcon]

Originally Posted by hugus311

Plasma Direct Ingition Coils maybe overkill for a NA engine.OEM perfectly fine. consensus seems to be around 100k. so i personally will change all six with my plugs at 100k.

What about a 335i? I've found two different coil pack upgrades. One is the Okada and the other is Ignition Project. Okada says they purchased a company called Ignition Solutions. The Ignition Project coil pack on vivaperformance.com and the Okada at Topgearsolutions.com have almost identical descriptions. The IP are black and the Okada have a metal looking finish. There is also a $400 difference. Anyone have experience or more info?

[crashoverride]

Dis mine yesterday super easy...although I did something wrong and waited to start the car till it was all buttoned back up... it idled horribly... I pulled out all my coils and use a gun rifling cleaning tool both ends the cloth and screw part to scrape and wife inside where plugs connect... replaced restarted no luck... I pulled every plug replaced and torqued again and it worked... not sure why as it's pretty much idiot proof... only I can prove that wrong


Quick note another reminder contrary to first page...don't use anti-seize with the NGK plugs as NGK states not to and it can cause over torquing

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by crashoverride

Dis mine yesterday super easy...although I did something wrong and waited to start the car till it was all buttoned back up... it idled horribly... I pulled out all my coils and use a gun rifling cleaning tool both ends the cloth and screw part to scrape and wife inside where plugs connect... replaced restarted no luck... I pulled every plug replaced and torqued again and it worked... not sure why as it's pretty much idiot proof... only I can prove that wrong


Quick note another reminder contrary to first page...don't use anti-seize with the NGK plugs as NGK states not to and it can cause over torquing

Probably a speck of dust - happened a year ago to me when I swapped coils from one car to another to test, when I fitted the coils back into the car they belonged to, the engine was misfiring badly! What had happened was the owner had seen some dust and his OCD couldn't resist cleaning it off with a brush. Some of this dust must have found its way into one or more of the plugs for the coils. Removed, carefully blew into each of the plugs, refitted, and then before starting, reset the throttle adaptation (was a Z4 with the M54B30 motor), all was fine after this.

[TheBigYahi]

Funny you should mention dust...

Finally got a cylinder 4 misfire code (I can't believe I was hoping for one) instead of just getting random hesitations with no codes so I'm pulling the trigger on 6 new plugs and coils (121k miles on coils, 40k on plugs).

The other day while I was checking something else out I decided to inspect my cylinder 6 plug and coil. Everything looked OK except that there was a ton of dirt/residue near the top of the plug tube. The plug itself and what I could see of the head looked shiny and new, however I could tell some of the dirt was dislodged by removing the coil and was sitting at the bottom. I'm assuming this is 121k of blow-by, but whatever the cause, how should I clean it? I was planning on getting in there with a dry paper towel and shop vac followed by a blast of shop air. I'll do this with the old plug in place to keep it out of the cylinder.

Anyone think I won't be able to suck out all the debris from the bottom of the tube? Better ideas welcomed.

[Three_thirty_I]

With the plug in place, probably best would be to just blow the dust out with some compressed air. Try and get the nozzle in as deep as you can.

[gaurjai]

I have got service indicator and CBS is showing spark plug change. I have done 62K. I want to DIY. But not sure how many spark plugs I need. I have seen couple of videos for e90 series and this post also, all show 6 plugs to be changed. But on realoem website, it shows 4 spark plugs required.

My car is 318i sedan 07 model, engine is N46 and UK model as per realoem website.

Please advise.

Thanks.

[riteristrob]

What a great thread! Main reason is all the individual contributors providing a piece of the puzzle. Thanks to OP.

I'm about to replace plugs and coils on my 06 330xi N52 engine and 117,000 mi (purchased last May at 114,000 mi.) I used MyCarly Android app and found consistent miss fires on 3 cylinders. I don't think the original plugs are still in. Two coils have been placed.

I bought hi performance coils from BavAuto.

Does anyone know whether the hi performance coils will have a negative effect on other electrical components?

[TheBigYahi]

I would be concerned that those BavAuto coils won't fit. There was a revision to the wiring harness in 04/2006 which changed the connector (I just did this repair so it's fresh in my mind). Since you have a pre-04/2006 build date and BavAuto doesn't offer 2 versions you should call them to verify they'll fit. I also noticed their install guide doesn't cover E90's at all.

Edit to add:
If you decide to go away from the BavAuto's, here's the link to the correct Bosch ones from Amazon. AMAZON SAYS THEY DON'T FIT, but that's not true, they are not taking into account the pre-vs-post 04/2006 change.

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by TheBigYahi

I would be concerned that those BavAuto coils won't fit. There was a revision to the wiring harness in 04/2006 which changed the connector (I just did this repair so it's fresh in my mind). Since you have a pre-04/2006 build date and BavAuto doesn't offer 2 versions you should call them to verify they'll fit. I also noticed their install guide doesn't cover E90's at all.

Edit to add:
If you decide to go away from the BavAuto's, here's the link to the correct Bosch ones from Amazon. AMAZON SAYS THEY DON'T FIT, but that's not true, they are not taking into account the pre-vs-post 04/2006 change.

Ah, actually good that you mention that. And for reference, check this thread:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=914418

I spoke to a chap at a BMW specialising workshop and he said that he has encountered this problem a number of times. Apparently, the only difference is the centred or off-centred tab on the particular coil pack that causes the problem. The plug itself and the coil pack is otherwise the same. So according to him, all you do is simply cut those tabs off and presto it works. I have not tried this, and am only going according to what he said, but I have not been able to find any other difference aside from the silly wiring harness that is different along with the tab on the plug.

So, has anyone here experienced this and had success modifying the coil packs to just fit? Why BMW made this silly change is also beyond me! The "newer" type is in essence the older type as used in most of the E46 engines! Go figure...

[Rulz]

Hey guys, thanks for the guide, really help and with this video as well.

It actually help me a lot... but weird, i notice it that my 328i 2011, has 1 coil that it was totally different than the other one, for example, it was grey/metal without rubber band, it is actually design like that ? because all the other 5 were brown/rubber cover.

[Phil325i]

The rubber covered ones look like the old Bosch design. The one with the metal heat shield/shroud is the revised design from Delphi.