[viper32cm]

I just purchased the Bentley manual and it references putting the hood in "service position" before removing the cowl above the engine to access the engine cover and eventually the spark plugs. The manual also references some special BMW part (51 2 170) that you need to raise the hood to service position. Is this necessary? None of the stuff that I've read here or anywhere else on the internet as a DIY manual references raising the hood to service position.

Also, one is not supposed to use anti-seize or silicon when doing the spark plug change, right?

[obert]

Service position it probably the up position

I have changed plugs before so this is my guess

I did not use any of that stuff to install them

[Efthreeoh]

I'm not sure what the Bentley is referring to. When I did my plugs, I just opened the hood like normal. There is plenty of room to work with to remove the cabin airfilter housing and cowl cover.

I use copper (high temp) antiseize with no ill effects. Don't use the regular low-temp silver stuff on plugs.