N54 335 spark plug change at 17k... Looking for an opinion.

down4it · 03-04-2008, 12:38 AM

I should have done my dyno after the plug change, the car feels even more powerful and the throttle is way more smooth and responsive... Even idle sounds better, the car overall runs stronger.

Now im posting some pics, the first 4 pics are the plug from cylinder #6 and the last pic is the plug from cylinder #1 just to give a comparison, they dont look to good to me but im no expert on plugs so im looking for an opinion from someone who knows about them... There seems to be some kind of buildup on them but more on #6 then #1...

I was running the procede since it came out and had it for about 15,000 miles on these plugs and ive been to the track and have been on a dyno a few times, overall i drive the car pretty hard and mostly on 100oct and used to run 91 mixed with 100...

HP Autosport · 03-04-2008, 12:54 AM

Yours look much better than ours after about 18K miles - 8 track events and at least 20 dyno sessions!

We finally decided to change them after some misfire faults.

leftcoastman · 03-04-2008, 01:13 AM

Did your misfire faults cause a CEL and OBD2 codes?

HP Autosport · 03-04-2008, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftcoastman

Did your misfire faults cause a CEL and OBD2 codes?

It was severe enough to illuminate the CEL.

sambonator · 03-04-2008, 01:47 AM

Haha looks worse than mine

down4it · 03-04-2008, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

It was severe enough to illuminate the CEL.

My misfires at higher boost threw a limp and then i said time to buy some plugs... I just dont like the build up on the plug and was wondering if someone knew what caused it...

Jonmartin · 03-04-2008, 02:18 AM

Probably the Constant 100 octane.

rambino · 03-04-2008, 02:49 AM

What did you guys replace them with? Anything better than stock..

down4it · 03-04-2008, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambino

What did you guys replace them with? Anything better than stock..

At this point there is nothing you can buy other than stock plugs...

sambonator · 03-04-2008, 03:03 AM

There are no other plugs other than stock that currently fit the N54 engine.

As for plug fouling, the higher concentration of aromatic compounds like toluene in race gas causes this... you might also notice more black soot in your tail pipes too when you run race gas.

Sneeze · 03-04-2008, 03:08 AM

How much the stock spark plugs cost?

down4it · 03-04-2008, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thr33fivei

How much the stock spark plugs cost?

about $20 each plus a $50 socket you need to pull them out with...

DrewKo · 03-04-2008, 07:38 AM

Interesting information. I'm going to change mine out as well, but you pretty sure the change made a difference in the car's general performance?

Booster · 03-04-2008, 07:51 AM

Mine were changed at 17k as well...

The throttle and idle will change back to how it was within 1k miles...

Bubbles · 03-04-2008, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booster

Mine were changed at 17k as well...

The throttle and idle will change back to how it was within 1k miles...

Plugs going bad at 15k? Thanks for the pictures OP. For grins, I may have to pull my plugs this weekend.

1clean335i · 03-04-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by down4it

about $20 each plus a $50 socket you need to pull them out with...

i found a socket for $30 bucks..

i guess i should probably change mine soon too since im coming up on 19k miles soon...

Bubbles · 03-04-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1clean335i

i found a socket for $30 bucks..

i guess i should probably change mine soon too since im coming up on 19k miles soon...

where?

1clean335i · 03-04-2008, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubbles

where?

Got it from the Snap-on guy that comes by my job. I will ask him next week for more info on it if you guys are interested.

fast_lap28 · 03-04-2008, 11:13 AM

+ 1 here....

Snap on tools are good deals in my book! better than going BMW, too expensive for a socket! geez....

down4it · 03-04-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1clean335i

Got it from the Snap-on guy that comes by my job. I will ask him next week for more info on it if you guys are interested.

You better make sure it fits before you pay for it, its some special size and i think its a 12 point...

sambonator · 03-04-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sambonator

Haha looks worse than mine

Oh ya forgot to mention, my plug pics are from less then 6000 miles.

1clean335i · 03-04-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by down4it

You better make sure it fits before you pay for it, its some special size and i think its a 12 point...

it fits.... its about 10" long 14mm 12-point thin wall socket

03-04-2008, 12:38 AM	#1
down4it Banned 64 Rep 1,743 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (3)	N54 335 spark plug change at 17k... Looking for an opinion. I should have done my dyno after the plug change, the car feels even more powerful and the throttle is way more smooth and responsive... Even idle sounds better, the car overall runs stronger. Now im posting some pics, the first 4 pics are the plug from cylinder #6 and the last pic is the plug from cylinder #1 just to give a comparison, they dont look to good to me but im no expert on plugs so im looking for an opinion from someone who knows about them... There seems to be some kind of buildup on them but more on #6 then #1... I was running the procede since it came out and had it for about 15,000 miles on these plugs and ive been to the track and have been on a dyno a few times, overall i drive the car pretty hard and mostly on 100oct and used to run 91 mixed with 100... Attached Images
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03-04-2008, 12:54 AM	#2
HP Autosport Supreme Allied Commander 4096 Rep 55,895 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Santa Barbara, AP, Brembo, GIAC, Koni, Ohlins, Performance Friction, www.hpautosport.com iTrader: (36)	Yours look much better than ours after about 18K miles - 8 track events and at least 20 dyno sessions! We finally decided to change them after some misfire faults.
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03-04-2008, 01:13 AM	#3
leftcoastman Lieutenant Colonel 55 Rep 1,714 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Near some canyons iTrader: (1)	Did your misfire faults cause a CEL and OBD2 codes?
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03-04-2008, 01:47 AM	#5
sambonator Samtaro! 128 Rep 2,609 Posts Drives: 2014 F32 N55 Alpinweiß Join Date: May 2007 Location: Newport Beach, CA, USA iTrader: (7)	Haha looks worse than mine Attached Images __________________
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03-04-2008, 02:18 AM	#7
Jonmartin Banned 124 Rep 2,097 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angles (818) iTrader: (1)	Probably the Constant 100 octane.
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03-04-2008, 02:49 AM	#8
rambino M Master 76 Rep 551 Posts Drives: M6 / X6M Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SoCal / Florida iTrader: (3)	What did you guys replace them with? Anything better than stock..
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03-04-2008, 03:03 AM	#10
sambonator Samtaro! 128 Rep 2,609 Posts Drives: 2014 F32 N55 Alpinweiß Join Date: May 2007 Location: Newport Beach, CA, USA iTrader: (7)	There are no other plugs other than stock that currently fit the N54 engine. As for plug fouling, the higher concentration of aromatic compounds like toluene in race gas causes this... you might also notice more black soot in your tail pipes too when you run race gas. __________________
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03-04-2008, 03:08 AM	#11
Sneeze Captain 34 Rep 793 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: LA iTrader: (3)	How much the stock spark plugs cost?
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03-04-2008, 07:38 AM	#13
DrewKo Lieutenant Colonel 46 Rep 1,568 Posts Drives: 335i Montego Blue Saddle Brown Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	Interesting information. I'm going to change mine out as well, but you pretty sure the change made a difference in the car's general performance?
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03-04-2008, 07:51 AM	#14
Booster Pave The Rainforest 274 Rep 1,197 Posts Drives: Wagon Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norfolk, VA iTrader: (33) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00]	Mine were changed at 17k as well... The throttle and idle will change back to how it was within 1k miles... __________________ Sold: 2015 Pyrite Brown M3 Sold: 2020 Sunset Orange M340i Xdrive Sold: 2021 Bluestone 540i Xdrive Msport
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03-04-2008, 11:13 AM	#19
fast_lap28 Lieutenant 40 Rep 494 Posts Drives: '07 335i Montego Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	+ 1 here.... Snap on tools are good deals in my book! better than going BMW, too expensive for a socket! geez....
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