Anyone run 1 new ignition coil on an early build 2008 (with 7 old coils)?

[bond_007]

Referencing this other thread I started on the multiple vendors/distributors/batches of defective ignition coils in mid-2022...

I am wondering if anyone with an early build 2008 has replaced a single ignition coil ignition coil with a newer design of coil but did not replace the other seven coils. Doesn't seem like this should be a problem on a part that is listed as exchangeable retrospectively. Anyone know if there was an ECM update to deal with this sort of issue?

I have eight original coils that I believe are part number 12137838388 (they look different than the current production coils which have the nubs/rivets/buttons on the bottom metal) with one perceptibly misfiring but not enough to shut the car down or throw a hard code resulting in reduced power.

Plug has been examined (okay and recently replaced NGK OEM spec) and the misfires follow the coil when moved, which should rule out ECM, wiring and plug...

Numerous attempts to replace only that one coil (#7) EXCEPT for a brand new OEM BMW of the new design, which given my luck with all the others I've tried (including a used OEM of the newer design which ALMOST worked) have failed and do not result in a fully-operational vehicle.

Will be ordering a new OEM new design which one hopes will not be DOA to try but I'm skeptical...hence this line of questioning...I hope the solution is not that I have to have all eight coils of the exact same specification...or even 4...if that is the next acceptable grouping...

[Ervin87]

Yes not a problem.

[bond_007]

Originally Posted by Ervin87

Yes not a problem.

That's somewhat reassuring that someone else has made this work. I guess I will see next week.

[Ervin87]

Originally Posted by bond_007

That's somewhat reassuring that someone else has made this work. I guess I will see next week.

My build is 03/08 and no issues with only two new coils and others all original.

[deansbimmer]

There's absolutely no problem using old style and new style coils on the same engine. Your problem is coil related but has more to do with the coil source and being a defective part. If you're using an NGK coil you need to make sure it's the Eldor made coil. NGK distributed a run of bad coils made by an inferior Chinese supplier.

[bond_007]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

There's absolutely no problem using old style and new style coils on the same engine. Your problem is coil related but has more to do with the coil source and being a defective part. If you're using an NGK coil you need to make sure it's the Eldor made coil. NGK distributed a run of bad coils made by an inferior Chinese supplier.

Agreed and that is what I originally was under the impression of…but I have had a bunch of other non-BMW parts come in for other projects all DOA or half-functioning which makes you question your sanity on what should have been be a simple project!

[bond_007]

New OEM BMW coil seems to be working fine.

No fault codes and the tachometer spins to the orange and red zone without a fault code (secondhand OEM BMW didn't work at high RPM/load).

In summary:
Seven original early model ignition coils do work with one newer or different coils provided that the new coil isn't faulty.