[ny330xi]

The Bosch part number listed on the coil I just pulled is as follows:

0221504467

This part number neither corresponds with the RealOEM part number for post 04/06 nor the pre 04/06 build dates, which are:

BOSCH - 0221504470 /OEM - 12137594937 - post 04/06
BOSCH - 0221504465/OEM - 12137594936 - pre 04/06

My car is an 06/06 build, and the 470 part is clearly visually different.

Same problem with the plugs. I assume mine are original. The car has 53k miles. So, there have been a number of revisions on the part numbers, which has led people to say that certain coils do not fit with certain plugs.

Should I just get the latest revision (OEM - 12122158253), which appears to be an NGK laser iridium? Current plugs are Bosch.

Thank for any help...there's a lot of discussion on this point, but no real clear answers.

UPDATE:

I spoke with Bosch today, they confirmed to me that the Bosch part number ending in 470 supersedes the part number ending in 467. And the 470 part number corresponds with BMW's most recent part revision - 12137594937

Hope this helps someone.

It's a mess sifting through all the coil/plug threads around here.

[Phil325i]

Coils seems to be regularly being revised/upgraded and new part number issued. This is one part I wouldn't trust RealOEM on. I suggest you ask your BMW dealer for the correct part number based on your chassis number...

[W37V]

Physically inspect existing coils to see if you have a notch. If you do have one, coils for 328 will not fit. At least you will know what you need to get.

[ny330xi]

Dealership suggests the same part number as RealOEM - BOSCH - 0221504470 /OEM - 12137594937.

And yes, there is a notch on the socket.

I'm going with the NGK iridium plugs - I'm going to replace them tonight which hopefully solves the misfire, since replacing coil #6 did not.

After that, if that isn't the answer, I'm going to try the newest revision coil and see if that gets me there.

Fingers crossed on just a bad #6 plug.

[El Cheapo Loco]

My 07/06 build N52 also uses 0221504467. I bought a Duralast coil at Autozone and it is also very different visually but it works flawlessly. So you can't judge by the look alone.

[ny330xi]

Originally Posted by elcheapoloco

My 07/06 build N52 also uses 0221504467. I bought a Duralast coil at Autozone and it is also very different visually but it works flawlessly. So you can't judge by the look alone.

Absolutely. I bought a coil yesterday at pep boys and while it wasn't visually the same, it fit right - although it hasn't solved my stumble.

[ny330xi]

I spoke with Bosch today, they confirmed to me that the Bosch part number ending in 470 supersedes the part number ending in 467. And the 470 part number corresponds with BMW's most recent part revision - 12137594937

Now hopefully the coil fits without issue with the NGK iridium plugs I just ordered.

[E93M3-08]

Originally Posted by ny330xi

Absolutely. I bought a coil yesterday at pep boys and while it wasn't visually the same, it fit right - although it hasn't solved my stumble.

Have you tried swapping the coil out onto another cylinder to find out if the problem follows the coil?
If not, do the same with the plug.

[ny330xi]

Originally Posted by e9106

Have you tried swapping the coil out onto another cylinder to find out if the problem follows the coil?
If not, do the same with the plug.

I have a code indicating cylinder 6 misfire. I replaced plug 6 today which substantially solved the issue - now back to just a small very intermittent stumble at idle. This weekend I'll replace the rest of the plugs and hopefully that will do it. If not, I'll go through the coils and I'm convinced it'll be solved. It's clearly an ignition issue.

[E93M3-08]

Originally Posted by ny330xi

I have a code indicating cylinder 6 misfire. I replaced plug 6 today which substantially solved the issue - now back to just a small very intermittent stumble at idle. This weekend I'll replace the rest of the plugs and hopefully that will do it. If not, I'll go through the coils and I'm convinced it'll be solved. It's clearly an ignition issue.

Understood.

Re: "Substantially solved the issue" - is the misfire solved or almost solved?

If you move the #6 coil to, say, #5 cylinder and you get an #5 cylinder misfire, you've narrowed it down to the coil. If the misfire remains on #6 cylinder with the coil that was originally in #5, then the problem is due to something else. Swap spark plugs between #6 and #5 to determine if it is at fault. If the fault always stays on #6 cylinder after these tests, then replacing all the coils and plugs probably won't solve the problem.

Did you do any other work on the car before the misfire appeared?

After I finished replacing the eccentric shaft sensor on my car I noticed a misfire on #6. After a bit of It turned out to be the locking clip on top of the coil not folding all the way down and snapping into the locked position. I found the pushing the connector into the coil as I pushed down on the locking cover helped.

[ny330xi]

Originally Posted by e9106

Understood.

Re: "Substantially solved the issue" - is the misfire solved or almost solved?

If you move the #6 coil to, say, #5 cylinder and you get an #5 cylinder misfire, you've narrowed it down to the coil. If the misfire remains on #6 cylinder with the coil that was originally in #5, then the problem is due to something else. Swap spark plugs between #6 and #5 to determine if it is at fault. If the fault always stays on #6 cylinder after these tests, then replacing all the coils and plugs probably won't solve the problem.

Did you do any other work on the car before the misfire appeared?

After I finished replacing the eccentric shaft sensor on my car I noticed a misfire on #6. After a bit of It turned out to be the locking clip on top of the coil not folding all the way down and snapping into the locked position. I found the pushing the connector into the coil as I pushed down on the locking cover helped.

The misfire isn't completely solved. It's not stumbling a lot or hard, but it is still stumbling at idle occasionally.

The problem is that for the most part it hasn't thrown a code - it's been intermittent since the summer. Only when the stumble became severe 2 days ago did it finally throw a code. It doesn't seem acute enough to move coils/plugs around to find the issue.

I've tried disconnecting and reconnecting all of the coils and made sure theyre fully seated. No difference.

Plugs were $50, and replacing them isn't a bad idea anyway at 50k, so hopefully that solves it.

I haven't done any other work recently.

[E93M3-08]

Originally Posted by ny330xi

The misfire isn't completely solved. It's not stumbling a lot or hard, but it is still stumbling at idle occasionally.

The problem is that for the most part it hasn't thrown a code - it's been intermittent since the summer. Only when the stumble became severe 2 days ago did it finally throw a code. It doesn't seem acute enough to move coils/plugs around to find the issue.

I've tried disconnecting and reconnecting all of the coils and made sure theyre fully seated. No difference.

Plugs were $50, and replacing them isn't a bad idea anyway at 50k, so hopefully that solves it.

I haven't done any other work recently.

While you're in there, check for oil at the bottom of the spark plug wells. Oil accumulating down there from a leaking valve cover gasket has been known to cause misfires.

Just a thought. As long as you have the engine cover off, remove the Eccentric Shaft Sensor connector and check for the presence of any oil inside the sensor connection area. A failing ESS can cause hard starting and random misfires, although not consistently on any single cylinder. It's probably (hopefully) not that, but worth looking at IMO.

[ny330xi]

Thanks...I'll check. I had the lifters replaced 4/13, so the VCG at that time, too. I'm sure hoping it's nothing more than the age on the plugs (or coils, worst case scenario). I'll update on Saturday with the new plugs in. Probably clean the vanos solenoids at that time, too, for good measure.

[E93M3-08]

Originally Posted by ny330xi

... I had the lifters replaced 4/13, so the VCG at that time, too...

Ouch! That must have put a dent in the pocketbook.

If you don't mind my asking, how much did that set you back?

[ny330xi]

Nothing actually...It was done during the 90 day warranty period after I purchased the car. I'll have to take a look at the invoice to see what was billed...as I recall it was ~$2000.

[E93M3-08]

Originally Posted by ny330xi

Nothing actually...It was done during the 90 day warranty period after I purchased the car.

[ny330xi]

Just to update...seems like changing out just the plugs has fixed the misfire.

[E93M3-08]

Originally Posted by ny330xi

Just to update...seems like changing out just the plugs has fixed the misfire.

Glad that fixed it.

In case anyone has ever wondered how SOME spark plugs are made:

.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by e9106

Glad that fixed it.In case anyone has ever wondered how SOME spark plugs are made.

This is awesome! Where the hell did you find these?

[E93M3-08]

A colleague of mine who also works in the field of industrial automation came across them a few years ago and sent them to me.

Pretty nasty working conditions, huh? Probably not the worst example either.

That's the price we all pay, mostly them though, when we insist on "cheap".