Proper Spark Plug Gap for N55

actionj_99 · 04-05-2013, 04:45 PM

Guys,

What is the correct factory gap for N55 engine? Is it 0.7mm?

I'm a bit confused because I just ordered the ZR5TPP33S Bosch branded plugs from ECS and on the box its labeled 0.8mm

I measured them on a cheap spark plug gauge and they are indeed ~0.8mm

I then took my original plugs out of my engine and measured them at ~0.85mm!

The car only has 26K miles and my wife drives it most of the time, so can someone weigh in on what I should set the gap to?

Thanks,
Sam

Slops · 04-05-2013, 06:06 PM

Keep in mind the gap increases as time / miles go by. I won't recommend re gapping the new ones as its the correct gap. Just throw them in and forget about it.

madmanhiker · 04-05-2013, 07:12 PM

^ this +1

especially those of us running tunes, FBO, meth etc - ur spark plugs will wear faster - it's totally ok to swap them at 20k... I am getting ready to swap mine soon and I'm only at 11K ... I'll take a couple out and measure them... I'm sure I'm not at ~0.8mm lol

fasteddie222 · 04-05-2013, 08:05 PM

Damn I guess I should change my spark plugs I'm at 27k. How much does a shop charge to do it BMW? I don't have my tools up with me in orlando

madmanhiker · 04-06-2013, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fasteddie222

Damn I guess I should change my spark plugs I'm at 27k. How much does a shop charge to do it BMW? I don't have my tools up with me in orlando

I'm fairly certain BMW won't do it unless your FOB reads that they are out of tolerance.... it's under the maint program for them to not even look at them until 40k (don't quote me on that)

fasteddie222 · 04-06-2013, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmanhiker

I'm fairly certain BMW won't do it unless your FOB reads that they are out of tolerance.... it's under the maint program for them to not even look at them until 40k (don't quote me on that)

Do you know how much a local shop charges? Also which spark plugs do you guys recommend. Sorry I don't mean to thread jack.

actionj_99 · 04-06-2013, 02:42 PM

Thanks... I kept the gap @ 0.8mm and all seems well. Will log a few runs with my COBB to verify.

BTW: will be posting a complete video DIY as soon as I finish editing the footage.

UPDATE: Part 1 of the DIY video is here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...7&postcount=13

trixdout · 11-10-2014, 06:52 PM

If you are running really high boost on upgraded turbos, you might want to make the gap a bit tighter. Spark blowout will be an issue. Just an fyi based on what I've been reading about with different misfire issues people have had and what they have done to remedy it.

mike5809 · 11-10-2014, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmanhiker

I'm fairly certain BMW won't do it unless your FOB reads that they are out of tolerance.... it's under the maint program for them to not even look at them until 40k (don't quote me on that)

I believe n54 is 45k (3rd oil change) and n55 is 60k (4th oil change).

Knobi · 11-13-2014, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike5809

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmanhiker

I'm fairly certain BMW won't do it unless your FOB reads that they are out of tolerance.... it's under the maint program for them to not even look at them until 40k (don't quote me on that)

I believe n54 is 45k (3rd oil change) and n55 is 60k (4th oil change).

^^This. Unless you have the PPK on the N55. If that's the case, they will change them at 45K as well.

Bigtimers227 · 04-08-2016, 04:39 PM

Old thread but gap should be at .280inches if you have inch gap tool instead of metric. That is stock for n55b30a engines

houtan · 04-10-2016, 09:55 AM

I think you mean .028". A .28" gap is over a quarter of an inch.

Cory S · 04-12-2016, 04:55 AM

I gapped mine at .022-.025" Not taking a chance on spark blow out. Runs MINT and strong.

The platinum/iridium plugs don't really wear the gap at all with under 30K miles. My plugs had almost 45K miles on them, and they all still had a .029-.030" gap.

olivojoe · 04-12-2016, 07:16 AM

I was getting misfires with the "stock" gap on my pro-tune.

I changed to a colder N20 plug and gapped it down to .018" per Dzenno's instructions at PTF. I would recommend this if you are running a tune...

Delta0311 · 04-12-2016, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmanhiker

I'm fairly certain BMW won't do it unless your FOB reads that they are out of tolerance.... it's under the maint program for them to not even look at them until 40k (don't quote me on that)

They will replace them every 30k miles.. If you have the maint. program then you are g2g.

JETmn · 04-12-2016, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta0311

They will replace them every 30k miles.. If you have the maint. program then you are g2g.

You must have a friendly dealer. I had two tell me they are scheduled at 60k and wouldn't do them sooner. Other members said the same on here, there was just a thread about it a few weeks ago. It used to be 45k on the N54.

Delta0311 · 04-12-2016, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JETmn

You must have a friendly dealer. I had two tell me they are scheduled at 60k and wouldn't do them sooner. Other members said the same on here, there was just a thread about it a few weeks ago. It used to be 45k on the N54.

It is supposed to be every 30k.. I had mine done at 30k and it was not an issue.

JETmn · 04-12-2016, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta0311

It is supposed to be every 30k.. I had mine done at 30k and it was not an issue.

Sorry, that is incorrect. Per BMW it is 60k. Please find a source that says it is 30k.

This tech bulletin PDF from BMW shows 45k for the N54 and 60k for N55, page 12 right under the highlighted portion.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...oL7Fy-PUFULgiA

Delta0311 · 04-12-2016, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JETmn

Sorry, that is incorrect. Per BMW it is 60k. Please find a source that says it is 30k.

This tech bulletin PDF from BMW shows 45k for the N54 and 60k for N55, page 12 right under the highlighted portion.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...oL7Fy-PUFULgiA

Open Road BMW in NJ change mine at 40k, no questions asked.. Sorry I did make a mistake earlier, it should be 40k not 30.

Rob_BMW_PNW · 04-13-2016, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cory S

I gapped mine at .022-.025" Not taking a chance on spark blow out. Runs MINT and strong.

The platinum/iridium plugs don't really wear the gap at all with under 30K miles. My plugs had almost 45K miles on them, and they all still had a .029-.030" gap.

.022 is what I have read in several places as well.

jus2sikwitit · 05-23-2017, 11:04 AM

Whats the correct spark plug gap size for e92 n55 running jb4 and bef with catless dps i ordered the genuine bmw plugs so im wondering what i should gap those "high power" plugs to since im running a tune

Cory S · 05-23-2017, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jus2sikwitit

Whats the correct spark plug gap size for e92 n55 running jb4 and bef with catless dps i ordered the genuine bmw plugs so im wondering what i should gap those "high power" plugs to since im running a tune

.018-.020"

04-05-2013, 04:45 PM	#1
actionj_99 Private 29 Rep 57 Posts Drives: Ex-BMW Owner Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Proper Spark Plug Gap for N55 Guys, What is the correct factory gap for N55 engine? Is it 0.7mm? I'm a bit confused because I just ordered the ZR5TPP33S Bosch branded plugs from ECS and on the box its labeled 0.8mm I measured them on a cheap spark plug gauge and they are indeed ~0.8mm I then took my original plugs out of my engine and measured them at ~0.85mm! The car only has 26K miles and my wife drives it most of the time, so can someone weigh in on what I should set the gap to? Thanks, Sam
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-05-2013, 06:06 PM	#2
Slops Major General 188 Rep 5,417 Posts Drives: 2005 C55 AMG Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oxford iTrader: (2)	Keep in mind the gap increases as time / miles go by. I won't recommend re gapping the new ones as its the correct gap. Just throw them in and forget about it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-05-2013, 07:12 PM	#3
madmanhiker Lieutenant Colonel 82 Rep 1,615 Posts Drives: '11 E92 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jacksonville, Fl iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 335i M-Sport [6.00] 2008 328i Sport Pre ... [0.00]	^ this +1 especially those of us running tunes, FBO, meth etc - ur spark plugs will wear faster - it's totally ok to swap them at 20k... I am getting ready to swap mine soon and I'm only at 11K ... I'll take a couple out and measure them... I'm sure I'm not at ~0.8mm lol __________________ -madmanhiker jax,fl
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-05-2013, 08:05 PM	#4
fasteddie222 Colonel 105 Rep 2,317 Posts Drives: e30 and x1 35i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Miami/Central Florida iTrader: (8)	Damn I guess I should change my spark plugs I'm at 27k. How much does a shop charge to do it BMW? I don't have my tools up with me in orlando __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-06-2013, 02:42 PM	#7
actionj_99 Private 29 Rep 57 Posts Drives: Ex-BMW Owner Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks... I kept the gap @ 0.8mm and all seems well. Will log a few runs with my COBB to verify. BTW: will be posting a complete video DIY as soon as I finish editing the footage. UPDATE: Part 1 of the DIY video is here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...7&postcount=13 Last edited by actionj_99; 04-08-2013 at 11:54 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-10-2014, 06:52 PM	#8
trixdout Lieutenant 57 Rep 439 Posts Drives: '11 335xi 6mt Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: NNJ iTrader: (1)	If you are running really high boost on upgraded turbos, you might want to make the gap a bit tighter. Spark blowout will be an issue. Just an fyi based on what I've been reading about with different misfire issues people have had and what they have done to remedy it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-08-2016, 04:39 PM	#11
Bigtimers227 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 36 Posts Drives: Modded 135i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Old thread but gap should be at .280inches if you have inch gap tool instead of metric. That is stock for n55b30a engines
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-10-2016, 09:55 AM	#12
houtan Colonel 706 Rep 2,446 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: socal iTrader: (17) Garage List 2011 135i [9.80]	I think you mean .028". A .28" gap is over a quarter of an inch.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-12-2016, 04:55 AM	#13
Cory S Major 305 Rep 1,163 Posts Drives: 2011 335i-X Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: N.H. iTrader: (0)	I gapped mine at .022-.025" Not taking a chance on spark blow out. Runs MINT and strong. The platinum/iridium plugs don't really wear the gap at all with under 30K miles. My plugs had almost 45K miles on them, and they all still had a .029-.030" gap.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-12-2016, 07:16 AM	#14
olivojoe Second Lieutenant 93 Rep 213 Posts Drives: 2011 335i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Mims, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i xDrive [0.00]	I was getting misfires with the "stock" gap on my pro-tune. I changed to a colder N20 plug and gapped it down to .018" per Dzenno's instructions at PTF. I would recommend this if you are running a tune...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-23-2017, 11:04 AM	#21
jus2sikwitit Private 7 Rep 53 Posts Drives: e92 335i xdrive Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: new york iTrader: (0)	Whats the correct spark plug gap size for e92 n55 running jb4 and bef with catless dps i ordered the genuine bmw plugs so im wondering what i should gap those "high power" plugs to since im running a tune
	Appreciate 0 Quote