Replacement ignition coil insanity (2022 edition)

[bond_007]

Against my better judgement, I got a secondhand BMW coil.

Seemed to be perfect and passed all the previous benchmark points until I tried a victory lap run and went for the orange part of the tachometer and it threw down a different misfire code.

I don’t know if this DME or software or something doesn’t like mixed and matched coils. I’ll have to order a new coil and if that fails, there is something else going on that makes no sense or is going to be more expensive to fix…

[Scrippy]

I feel everyone's pain here. I bought (8) NGK coils from Autozone. Did my plugs as I usually do. I got about 3 miles from home on my test drive and right about when my motor got to normal operating temp I got the reduced engine power CEL. I had my laptop and cable with me so I cleared coil errors for all 8 and restarted. I drove about 80ft and all 8 coils threw the same codes again. Cleared them again and they returned in another 50ft. I basically ripped the rubber insulating boot on cylinder #1 original coil and that is why I chose to just buy 8 NGK's. I just took them back and bought 1 OEM plug from my dealer and put my original 7 others back in. I've seen a lot of questions about coils on the forum and for what it's worth I'm still running 7 original coils at 240,XXX miles. Another thing worth noting is when I ran those NGK's my engine idled and ran perfect before the error codes popped up. I do believe it's an issue with aftermarket knock sensor applications that simply don't suit our ECU on the S65. Typical complex German engineering.

[bond_007]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

I feel everyone's pain here. I bought (8) NGK coils from Autozone. Did my plugs as I usually do. I got about 3 miles from home on my test drive and right about when my motor got to normal operating temp I got the reduced engine power CEL. I had my laptop and cable with me so I cleared coil errors for all 8 and restarted. I drove about 80ft and all 8 coils threw the same codes again. Cleared them again and they returned in another 50ft. I basically ripped the rubber insulating boot on cylinder #1 original coil and that is why I chose to just buy 8 NGK's. I just took them back and bought 1 OEM plug from my dealer and put my original 7 others back in. I've seen a lot of questions about coils on the forum and for what it's worth I'm still running 7 original coils at 240,XXX miles. Another thing worth noting is when I ran those NGK's my engine idled and ran perfect before the error codes popped up. I do believe it's an issue with aftermarket knock sensor applications that simply don't suit our ECU on the S65. Typical complex German engineering.

Interesting that your NGKs made it a few miles where both of them that I tried immediately shut down the cylinder.

240k?
I thought I was pushing it at 182k!

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by bond_007

Interesting that your NGKs made it a few miles where both of them that I tried immediately shut down the cylinder.

240k?
I thought I was pushing it at 182k!

Yeah that's why I shared the experience. NGK's website said the coils were for our motor and my part numbers matched. The plugs pretty much look identical to OE minus the BMW stamped plastic tops. The car started right up and I let it idle for around 4-5 minutes before I drove off. But like I said as soon as the heat came up they failed. I even gave them a couple mild pulls prior to the errors without issue. Major packaging difference though because BMW packages the coils in static protective plastic. Lol that's whatcha get for $238 at a dealer.

[bond_007]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

Yeah that's why I shared the experience. NGK's website said the coils were for our motor and my part numbers matched. The plugs pretty much look identical to OE minus the BMW stamped plastic tops. The car started right up and I let it idle for around 4-5 minutes before I drove off. But like I said as soon as the heat came up they failed. I even gave them a couple mild pulls prior to the errors without issue. Major packaging difference though because BMW packages the coils in static protective plastic. Lol that's whatcha get for $238 at a dealer.

The NGKs I got have the roundel logo embossed.

The others I tried, did not. It was just flat black plastic.

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by bond_007

The NGKs I got have the roundel logo embossed.

The others I tried, did not. It was just flat black plastic.

The coils (8) I purchased were completely smooth on the top. No logo present at all. I think like prior folks suggested the knock sensing isn't adequate. I was unable to detect any operational issues during my one and only test run. Car felt normal and did not exhibit any lag, bog, misfire or anything discernible to my butt. And to be clear the 8 errors per coil were not misfire errors but I cannot recall the exact verbiage. Something like "faulty coil/coil failure" I may have screenshot the errors. I'll check my laptop and post if I do have.

[Compman]

I just ordered 8 of these NGK ignition coils from NGK.com smh

I guess I shouldn't even install them and return them huh?

Ugh this is so frustrating. I don't want to buy OEM ignition coils at $220 a pop

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by Compman

I just ordered 8 of these NGK ignition coils from NGK.com smh

I guess I shouldn't even install them and return them huh?

Ugh this is so frustrating. I don't want to buy OEM ignition coils at $220 a pop

I returned the set I ordered from NGK.com. Tested one, didn't even open the others. Garbage

[bond_007]

Originally Posted by Compman

I just ordered 8 of these NGK ignition coils from NGK.com smh

I guess I shouldn't even install them and return them huh?

Ugh this is so frustrating. I don't want to buy OEM ignition coils at $220 a pop

What makes no sense is they are aware of the issue and it is still showing up as in stock and they are still shipping out orders that they are paying to ship out.

[Compman]

Originally Posted by bond_007

What makes no sense is they are aware of the issue and it is still showing up as in stock and they are still shipping out orders that they are paying to ship out.

Yeah that's insane to me.

[bond_007]

New OEM BMW coil seems to be working fine aside from the extra $140-190 missing from my wallet over the 3rd party versions. No fault codes and the tachometer spins to orange and red without a fault (secondhand OEM BMW didn't work at high RPM/load).

Hopefully it makes it all the way through the drive cycle (swapped it after driving earlier in the day and first cold start, so it can't pass all the tests until the next cold start).

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

[aus]

I bought 8 NKG coils from RockAuto months ago and finally got them in... FAIL.
Hope they'll at least give me credit.
.

[bond_007]

Originally Posted by aus

I bought 8 NKG coils from RockAuto months ago and finally got them in... FAIL.
Hope they'll at least give me credit.
.

They never seemed to have anything in stock when I was checking the last few weeks.

[Trinh_7]

Originally Posted by aus

I bought 8 NKG coils from RockAuto months ago and finally got them in... FAIL.
Hope they'll at least give me credit.
.

I kept requesting replacements from RA for my bad coils. They were eventually gave up and given back my full refund after 2nd try. You have 3 Years/36k Miles warranty for these coils. GL.

[Trinh_7]

Originally Posted by bond_007

They never seemed to have anything in stock when I was checking the last few weeks.

They're still selling them, just removed e9x m3 from the part applications.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/ng...tion+coil,7060

[bond_007]

Originally Posted by Trinh_7

They're still selling them, just removed e9x m3 from the part applications.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/ng...tion+coil,7060

…Or they started selling them again? I looked up the NGK part number many weeks ago to try to order them on Rock Auto and it was not coming up.

There is no other BMW application for this part aside from E9X M3 that I could find. I did not find information that any other non-BMW vehicle uses these coils, either.

[Compman]

Any luck with finding OEM cheaper?

I want to replace all mine but the price is just insane

[bond_007]

Originally Posted by Compman

Any luck with finding OEM cheaper?

I want to replace all mine but the price is just insane

$230 on Amazon, which is ECS Tuning. FCP Euro does offer lifetime guarantee for similar.

Until production is changed and existing garbage in warehouses are recalled (since they don't work) it appears we are stuck with OEM.

Replace one at a time when you accumulate misfire counts or get a malfunction indicator light.

[W12x]

Originally Posted by bond_007

$230 on Amazon, which is ECS Tuning. FCP Euro does offer lifetime guarantee for similar.

Until production is changed and existing garbage in warehouses are recalled (since they don't work) it appears we are stuck with OEM.

Replace one at a time when you accumulate misfire counts or get a malfunction indicator light.

I was shocked that OEM ones cost $230 each now....if it were $150 I probably won't even bother with non-OEM but $230 is steep. Hopefully NGK will fix their crap soon, regret not stocking up a set when NGK used to be good

[Bigjaybird]

I can get genuine, OEM BMW coil packs 1700.00 for eight shipping to your door with in 4 days… If anyone needs some…

[135ivert]

I was thinking . . .15 year old car, 99K miles, sure throw some new plugs & coils at it. Damn.

[Ervin87]

Originally Posted by 135ivert

I was thinking . . .15 year old car, 99K miles, sure throw some new plugs & coils at it. Damn.

Plugs are cheap and should be replaced every 30K miles. There is no reason to refresh coils. Replace the bad ones as needed.