[2turbodinan]

Hey guys ...
I was getting ready to change out my spark plugs finally only to start and get held back by the freaking spark plug socket. I read a few posts so decided to go down to sears to purchase the 14 mm 12 point 3/8 drive spark plug socket only to be disappointed again. Sometimes I love BMW and the intricacies, but at times it is a B.....! to do anything. I just ordered one off line because it is impossible to find one locally here, but I guess you need the thin walled socket. So for future reference make sure you have the right socket before doing anything else. Such a pain to be held back by something so small I think I would have been done in half an hour. Sheesh! just frustrated and wanted to forewarn anybody that is thinking of doing this yourself. Plus, its funny how none of the BMW dealerships sell this. I wonder why? Hmmmm ...

[enrita]

its pretty known about the thin wall socket ;-) You can grind the one you have a bit or buy the BMS one.

[NiVeDh]

Assenmacher SP1412 is good too.

[Brey335i]

My dealership sells it... for hundreds of dollars. You're better off getting the BMS one. I use it and it's great.

[pimple]

My experience with the Sears Schwaben socket is that the magnetic ring inside needs to be knocked out. Then, I used a paper towel as a friction insert to hold the spark plug in place while installing the spark plugs. Worked fine with the workaround. Otherwise, useless.

[brakeboost]

I have a friend at the dealer and I got to barrow it

[2turbodinan]

I was able to flag one down at an INDY! But hopefully my amazon order for for the assenmacher doesn't go through. As soon as I ordered the socket the INDY shop called me saying they tracked one down for me for $15. We'll see I still have to pick it up and use it.

[335xi Kevo]

I bought the amazon one. Works great, fast shipping as well. 3 days early.

[phipark]

The sears one works. All you have to do is knock out the magnet ring inside. Then just use a magnet or one of those grabber tools to retrieve the spark plug.

[Szemenyei]

I bought the bmw one from the dealer for 55.00.. with the amount of times I am going to end up changing my plugs and as often (yay tune!) I figured might as well buy what they are using to do it.. especially at the price might as well. I have heard horror stories about the after market sockets, never once heard something bad about the oem one

[GmoBmw]

I just bought the BMS one When I ordered my spark plugs from them.

[rader1]

I bought the Snap-On version for $33. It's more expensive, but the diff between $15 and $33 isn't that much and i know snap-on=quality.

[BoostedE90]

You definitely have to remove the magnet to make the socket from sears work. If you don't have a magnet/grabber tool handy you can use the coil pack to pull the plug out. And you can use the coil pack to install the new plug as well. Just slightly fit he plug in the coil pack, insert, give it a few turns till you feel the plug thread, pull the coil pack out, and tighten with the socket. I know it's not convenient to do it this way, but it's really not that much of a PITA. I've changed my plugs twice this way.

But as others have mentioned just buy the BMS socket or the Assenmacher socket. A socket from a stealership is way over priced.

[2turbodinan]

I initially bought the one from sears the 12pt 14mm 3/8 drive socket, but i'm not sure I'm following the magnet that you take out. My socket seems to not go into the cylinder where the plug is. I think to make it work I would have to shave the socket so it slips in. Still wondering if we bought the same socket from sears. Is it Craftsman? Anyway the indy shop seemed to be confused what socket I needed. Still no socket and hood opened with everything disassembled. Gonna go with the online order

[Kris 335i]

I got mine from Tischer for around $55, definitely a good investment. I had ordered the plugs and socket awhile ago, but kept putting it off since my car still seemed to run great at 30,000. I swapped them out today and now the engine is butter smooth, should have done them sooner. Plugs in this car are definitely easier to change than I thought, especially with the BMW socket.

[marv85]

I bought the BMS one for Mike@n54tuning. Hope i get it before the weekend...

[335iJWC]

Back when our only option was the OEM a couple of years ago I just gridded down my own socket and been using it since, it works great!

[skinrock]

When I got my misfire Saturday, I really really wanted to replace the plugs that day. Local shop didn't have it, but they put me in touch with a local Snap-On sales guy, who drove to the part store and sold it to me in the parking lot. Worked out great.

[E92murdered]

get the snap on one, item number S9714MK. google search snap-on in your area and you should find a number they are usually in work trucks!

Originally Posted by rader1

I bought the Snap-On version for $33. It's more expensive, but the diff between $15 and $33 isn't that much and i know snap-on=quality.

[Tzu]

BMS one here, no issues.

[Kevin@AKMotorwerk]

instead of using a towel or magnet or coil to retrieve the plugs, take a standard spark plug socket and take the rubber insulator out of it and put it into the bmw one, thats what we did, works perfect

[wrrush]

I would like to put my .02 cents in here and say that the snap-on magnet fell out too. so if you are just going to break the magnet out go with the cheapest one you can find, knock the magnet out and keep using it. worst case scenario you have to pull the plugs out with needle nose pliers yourself like i had to. got a full reimbursement from snap-on after the job was done.