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      12-10-2017, 10:43 PM   #1
Azines
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Spark Plugs - Time to Change?

Hi everyone,

I purchased my 2008 328xi e92 back in the summer of 2016 from the first owner. The car had only 46k miles on the clock when I picked it up. In the past 18 months of ownership i put on a few miles, it now has just a little over 73k.

I did a lot of preventive maintenance like changing the AT Fluid and gasket, fluid for both differentials, as well as fluid for the transfer case.
I read in the manual that spark plugs need to be replaced at 100k, but being that the car is almost 10 years old, would you advise to change them sooner?

The car runs fine, nothing out of the ordinary, just thinking that maybe the age factor might come into play, or is it more mileage dependent?
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      12-10-2017, 11:13 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inline-6IX View Post
I believe BMW changed the interval to 60k miles after. change em.

have you done brake fluid? caliper service, lube the sliding pins? check your alignment, air filter, etc
Thanks for the heads up on the interval change!

Yes I changed the air filter, as well as the cabin filter soon after I picked up the car.

I replaced all 4 rotors as well as brake pads to ceramic ones at around 60k miles. Couldn't stand all the brake dust build up, even a day after a wash, however I haven't touched the brake fluid.

Would you suggest changing the ignition coils as well?
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      12-10-2017, 11:29 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Azines View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inline-6IX View Post
I believe BMW changed the interval to 60k miles after. change em.

have you done brake fluid? caliper service, lube the sliding pins? check your alignment, air filter, etc
Thanks for the heads up on the interval change!

Yes I changed the air filter, as well as the cabin filter soon after I picked up the car.

I replaced all 4 rotors as well as brake pads to ceramic ones at around 60k miles. Couldn't stand all the brake dust build up, even a day after a wash, however I haven't touched the brake fluid.

Would you suggest changing the ignition coils as well?
If your gonna change the spark plugs just change the coils too while you're at it
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      12-11-2017, 07:50 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric_M328i View Post
If your gonna change the spark plugs just change the coils too while you're at it
why? they don't fail all that often. If one fails, you can limp it to the parts store and get another one for $50. Not a big deal.

If you just replace them all when they are still working, you're throwing away your money.
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      12-11-2017, 08:33 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hassmaschine View Post
why? they don't fail all that often. If one fails, you can limp it to the parts store and get another one for $50. Not a big deal.

If you just replace them all when they are still working, you're throwing away your money.
Thank you

Idk what it is with BMW forums and people changing coil packs like they're spark plugs
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      12-11-2017, 10:44 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric_M328i View Post
If your gonna change the spark plugs just change the coils too while you're at it
Unless they fails, or else there's no point changing them.

The only reason coils fail because the spark plugs are overdue which stresses out the coils. People who believe "spark plugs will last 100k" will probably end up with failed coils and spark plugs.
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      12-11-2017, 10:47 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Azines View Post
Hi everyone,

I purchased my 2008 328xi e92 back in the summer of 2016 from the first owner. The car had only 46k miles on the clock when I picked it up. In the past 18 months of ownership i put on a few miles, it now has just a little over 73k.

I did a lot of preventive maintenance like changing the AT Fluid and gasket, fluid for both differentials, as well as fluid for the transfer case.
I read in the manual that spark plugs need to be replaced at 100k, but being that the car is almost 10 years old, would you advise to change them sooner?

The car runs fine, nothing out of the ordinary, just thinking that maybe the age factor might come into play, or is it more mileage dependent?
Off the topic, did you have a hard time taking the AT trans filling plug off? and also the front diff diff plug? Thanks in advance!

BTW, change the spark plugs, i suggest you to change it asap unless you want a misfire and need to replace few coil packs. Get NGK spark plugs
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      12-11-2017, 10:48 AM   #8
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Alright guys i get it. I didnt notice he was at 73k. In that case ur fine for a good amount of time. I was saying it for preventive maintenance
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      12-11-2017, 11:17 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueeyesredpanda View Post
Off the topic, did you have a hard time taking the AT trans filling plug off? and also the front diff diff plug? Thanks in advance!

BTW, change the spark plugs, i suggest you to change it asap unless you want a misfire and need to replace few coil packs. Get NGK spark plugs
Yes, the fill plugs, and the drain plug as well were quite a hassle to take off, a lot of people say they become stripped during the process and that's why it's suggested just replace them.
I found a kit for the transmission, it comes with a new drain and fill plug. The transmission fill plug is about $2-3, the diff plugs are about the same price you need 2 for each diff, the only more expensive part compared is the AT drain plug, which is about $20.

FCP Euro sells nicely priced maintenance kits, AT kit comes with fluid, filter, new gasket, bolts, and plugs. Differential kits come with fluid and bolts as well.
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      12-11-2017, 11:50 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Azines View Post
Yes, the fill plugs, and the drain plug as well were quite a hassle to take off, a lot of people say they become stripped during the process and that's why it's suggested just replace them.
I found a kit for the transmission, it comes with a new drain and fill plug. The transmission fill plug is about $2-3, the diff plugs are about the same price you need 2 for each diff, the only more expensive part compared is the AT drain plug, which is about $20.

FCP Euro sells nicely priced maintenance kits, AT kit comes with fluid, filter, new gasket, bolts, and plugs. Differential kits come with fluid and bolts as well.

I found the Xdrive + AT causes a lot of hassles when it comes to maintenance.
The transfer case fluid is a B to change too due to the fill plug.
So did you use any specific tool to take off the fill plug of the front diff and trans?
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      12-11-2017, 03:56 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueeyesredpanda View Post
I found the Xdrive + AT causes a lot of hassles when it comes to maintenance.
The transfer case fluid is a B to change too due to the fill plug.
So did you use any specific tool to take off the fill plug of the front diff and trans?
I can't help you with that I usually try to work on my car by myself but after trying to take those bolts off with no luck, I took my car with the parts to my local Indy Shop, he did all the fluids for a reasonable price with the parts I provided. I'm sure they might have used some different tool to take out the old bolts, as he told me that the bolts do really seize up with age.
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      12-11-2017, 04:43 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Azines View Post
I can't help you with that I usually try to work on my car by myself but after trying to take those bolts off with no luck, I took my car with the parts to my local Indy Shop, he did all the fluids for a reasonable price with the parts I provided. I'm sure they might have used some different tool to take out the old bolts, as he told me that the bolts do really seize up with age.
That's alright! I think i will jack up the car really high to gain some space
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      12-11-2017, 07:43 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inline-6IX View Post
I believe BMW changed the interval to 60k miles after. change em.

have you done brake fluid? caliper service, lube the sliding pins? check your alignment, air filter, etc
We've got an infestation again?
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      12-12-2017, 09:57 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tlow98 View Post
We've got an infestation again?
It's almost like Inline-6IX wants to know he's back.

Why the heck not just go with a new subject matter for a screen name?... he'd be able to write the same drivel for much longer before he's banned again.
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      12-13-2017, 12:45 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N52UNED View Post
It's almost like Inline-6IX wants to know he's back.

Why the heck not just go with a new subject matter for a screen name?... he'd be able to write the same drivel for much longer before he's banned again.
Also, why did he delete his post?
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      12-13-2017, 05:29 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueeyesredpanda View Post
Unless they fails, or else there's no point changing them.

The only reason coils fail because the spark plugs are overdue which stresses out the coils. People who believe "spark plugs will last 100k" will probably end up with failed coils and spark plugs.
Ah BS, I changed plugs every 100,000 miles and lost my first coil at 287,000 miles.
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      12-13-2017, 11:11 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
Ah BS, I changed plugs every 100,000 miles and lost my first coil at 287,000 miles.
I don't see why you should wait that long, risk having a misfire.
Of course, you can drive it until it hits 100k. But this is a really basic tune-up,
Over time the spark plugs gap will be wider than it's supposed to be and it reduces performance. Takes about 30mins and $60 to avoid future problems.
I don't see why not? They said a lot of things too, like 15,000 miles oil change interval, do you do that too?
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      12-13-2017, 02:54 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueeyesredpanda View Post
Unless they fails, or else there's no point changing them.

The only reason coils fail because the spark plugs are overdue which stresses out the coils. People who believe "spark plugs will last 100k" will probably end up with failed coils and spark plugs.
Ah BS, I changed plugs every 100,000 miles and lost my first coil at 287,000 miles.
Bought a 2011 328i with 57k miles last year. At 60k miles I started noticing a misfire. Bought new plugs and checked the gap on everyone I removed. They all ranged between .54-56. Car ran better afterwards with no misfires.

At 67k miles I started to get the same misfire symptoms so I Bought new Delphi coils. Pulled the plugs again to check them and regap them. They were found to be between .50-54.

How in 7k miles could they be over .10 over again?? Bad coils?

Now that I've got new coils the car runs smoother at idle, has much better throttle response, and pulls hard to redline. It's like having a different car!!
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      12-13-2017, 08:47 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueeyesredpanda View Post
I don't see why you should wait that long, risk having a misfire.
Of course, you can drive it until it hits 100k. But this is a really basic tune-up,
Over time the spark plugs gap will be wider than it's supposed to be and it reduces performance. Takes about 30mins and $60 to avoid future problems.
I don't see why not? They said a lot of things too, like 15,000 miles oil change interval, do you do that too?
As a matter of fact I do and the car has 337,000 miles on it. Between 3 miles and 177,000 miles I had 4 OCI's above 18,000 miles, 4 OCIs above 17,000 miles, and two above 16,000 miles. All well documented here on E90 Post.
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Last edited by Efthreeoh; 12-13-2017 at 08:59 PM..
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      12-13-2017, 10:15 PM   #20
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my e91 just hit 60k miles so I purchased the 6 NGK plugs...wud I need to adjust the gaps or do they come out of the box already spec'd....I used to work on 964s and 993s and those plugs came already spec'd so there was no need to play w/ the gaps...thanks
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      12-14-2017, 11:30 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luckyJ View Post
my e91 just hit 60k miles so I purchased the 6 NGK plugs...wud I need to adjust the gaps or do they come out of the box already spec'd....I used to work on 964s and 993s and those plugs came already spec'd so there was no need to play w/ the gaps...thanks
Did you get the NGK plugs that are for N52? If yes, then you dont need to adjust anything
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      12-25-2017, 06:18 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueeyesredpanda View Post
I don't see why you should wait that long, risk having a misfire.
Of course, you can drive it until it hits 100k. But this is a really basic tune-up,
Over time the spark plugs gap will be wider than it's supposed to be and it reduces performance. Takes about 30mins and $60 to avoid future problems.
I don't see why not? They said a lot of things too, like 15,000 miles oil change interval, do you do that too?
Risk having a misfire? Misfires from coils don’t damage anything.

If you like to spend money, that’s fine, but seems pretty unnecessary.
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