Spark Plug Change

M3amigos · 03-29-2013, 04:14 PM

Just changed my plugs at 46k miles. They didn't look too bad, but the car definitely runs smoother now, and maybe slightly stronger. Definitely a nice compliment to my recently installed bpm stage 2 tune. I ordered my plugs from amazon for about $10 each with free shipping.

For anyone thats looking at doing this, its not too difficult if you have a variety of ratchet extensions and adapters. The front 6 are fairly easy, about 10 mins each, the rear two were a b*tch, took me about 45 mins each, so about 2 1/2 hours total. I basically just removed the two 10mm bolts that hold the coolant reservoir and moved it put of the way, then Popped off the black plastic cover over the valve cover. One at a time, I removed the coil harness, used a wire hanger to pull the coil off, then removed the plug with a 5/8 plug socket. If your socket doesn't have a rubber grommet to grab the plug, you will need a magnet to fish it out. I used a magnetic drill bit socket. For the rear two coils, it helps to use a long screwdriver to pry up the coil as well as the hanger since you can't pull on it straight up due to the firewall. For the driver side you just need to remove the airbox to gain access, two 10mm bolts and a 6mm screw on the air hose clamp.

Feel free to shoot me any questions...

BillK · 01-04-2015, 11:58 AM

Good to hear, thanks for the report

Amirsm3 · 01-04-2015, 12:25 PM

Were the plugs changed before?

Richbot · 01-04-2015, 02:23 PM

By the way, 4-packs of they correct NGk's are for sale on Amazon right now for $39 each and free shipping, cheapest price I've seen in a while, anything under $10 per plug is pretty good

Flying Ace · 01-09-2015, 04:46 PM

Debating whether I have patience to do it myself

W/// · 01-09-2015, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

Debating whether I have patience to do it myself

I think it comes down to whether that's your only car or not.

I've done the job and it's not THAT bad, but it took me a couple of days working 30 mins at a time. The first 6 I did in no time, but the last 2 in the back can be a pain to get to, especially if you don't know what combination of tools to use.

If I had to do it again, it would be so much quicker because I'd know exactly what to do. It's really not a bad job to be honest

MerchantSailor03 · 04-16-2015, 04:30 PM

What's the part number on the NGK Platinum plugs? on amazon I found 4363 and 6240, are they both good?

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3amigos

Just changed my plugs at 46k miles. They didn't look too bad, but the car definitely runs smoother now, and maybe slightly stronger. Definitely a nice compliment to my recently installed bpm stage 2 tune. I ordered my plugs from amazon for about $10 each with free shipping.

For anyone thats looking at doing this, its not too difficult if you have a variety of ratchet extensions and adapters. The front 6 are fairly easy, about 10 mins each, the rear two were a b*tch, took me about 45 mins each, so about 2 1/2 hours total. I basically just removed the two 10mm bolts that hold the coolant reservoir and moved it put of the way, then Popped off the black plastic cover over the valve cover. One at a time, I removed the coil harness, used a wire hanger to pull the coil off, then removed the plug with a 5/8 plug socket. If your socket doesn't have a rubber grommet to grab the plug, you will need a magnet to fish it out. I used a magnetic drill bit socket. For the rear two coils, it helps to use a long screwdriver to pry up the coil as well as the hanger since you can't pull on it straight up due to the firewall. For the driver side you just need to remove the airbox to gain access, two 10mm bolts and a 6mm screw on the air hose clamp.

Feel free to shoot me any questions...

dlaw · 04-21-2015, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MerchantSailor03

What's the part number on the NGK Platinum plugs? on amazon I found 4363 and 6240, are they both good?

They should be NGK Laser Platinum LKR8AP

BzsBimmer · 04-21-2015, 07:57 PM

Rockauto has them @ $71.36 for a set of 8 with the 5% discount code.
That's $8.92 a plug.

Cheapest I've seen so far, even lower than Amazon currently.
It was less than $6 to ship to my CA address via USPS.

Here's a discount code (enter it in the "how did you hear about us" field, then click the Checkout button)
2982769720767036

buddalun · 04-22-2015, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

Rockauto has them @ $71.36 for a set of 8 with the 5% discount code.
That's $8.92 a plug.

Cheapest I've seen so far, even lower than Amazon currently.
It was less than $6 to ship to my CA address via USPS.

Here's a discount code (enter it in the "how did you hear about us" field, then click the Checkout button)
2982769720767036

Thank you BzsBimmer, you're always on it.

gimmethemuumuu · 04-22-2015, 06:23 PM

Yes!! Rock Auto has been consistently lower than Amazon or any other vendor for the last couple of years at least

dlaw · 04-28-2015, 12:09 PM

Just wanted to put in my 2 cents. Did this over the weekend, and I had no issues removing the coil plugs with only a pry tool. I was careful in prying evenly as to not overstress and break the plastic tabs on the coil.

The hardest as you know was the rear passenger side, but only took about 5 minutes to remove the coil with a standard pry tool. This is for those who don't have the special coil removal tool that costs $30.

03-29-2013, 04:14 PM	#1
M3amigos HP addict 37 Rep 321 Posts Drives: 2008 Jerez Black E93 6MT Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0)	Spark Plug Change Just changed my plugs at 46k miles. They didn't look too bad, but the car definitely runs smoother now, and maybe slightly stronger. Definitely a nice compliment to my recently installed bpm stage 2 tune. I ordered my plugs from amazon for about $10 each with free shipping. For anyone thats looking at doing this, its not too difficult if you have a variety of ratchet extensions and adapters. The front 6 are fairly easy, about 10 mins each, the rear two were a btch, took me about 45 mins each, so about 2 1/2 hours total. I basically just removed the two 10mm bolts that hold the coolant reservoir and moved it put of the way, then Popped off the black plastic cover over the valve cover. One at a time, I removed the coil harness, used a wire hanger to pull the coil off, then removed the plug with a 5/8 plug socket. If your socket doesn't have a rubber grommet to grab the plug, you will need a magnet to fish it out. I used a magnetic drill bit socket. For the rear two coils, it helps to use a long screwdriver to pry up the coil as well as the hanger since you can't pull on it straight up due to the firewall. For the driver side you just need to remove the airbox to gain access, two 10mm bolts and a 6mm screw on the air hose clamp. Feel free to shoot me any questions... Attached Images Last edited by M3amigos; 03-29-2013 at 04:35 PM..*
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01-04-2015, 11:58 AM	#2
BillK Private First Class 46 Rep 182 Posts Drives: 95 M3, 11 M3, 15 X5d, 20 X2 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Good to hear, thanks for the report
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01-04-2015, 12:25 PM	#3
Amirsm3 Brigadier General 514 Rep 3,482 Posts Drives: 2011 Space Grey e90 M3 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Williams/Flagstaff, AZ iTrader: (3)	Were the plugs changed before? __________________ 2011 e90 M3 Space Grey DCT ZCP- eAs, BMW Performance, Agency Power, Macht Schnell, iND, Milltek, Volk, Challenge, Stoptech, Ohlins BMWCCA:518970
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01-04-2015, 02:23 PM	#4
Richbot Major General 2759 Rep 5,483 Posts Drives: Jerez Black E90 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: STL iTrader: (5)	By the way, 4-packs of they correct NGk's are for sale on Amazon right now for $39 each and free shipping, cheapest price I've seen in a while, anything under $10 per plug is pretty good __________________
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01-09-2015, 04:46 PM	#5
Flying Ace Lieutenant General 4985 Rep 11,891 Posts Drives: G05 45e, 997.1 & 991.1 GT3s Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (5)	Debating whether I have patience to do it myself __________________ 22 Phytonic/Coffee X5 45e (CoVID-free) 08 Speed Yellow 911 GT3 Sharkwerks 12 AW/Cinnamon X5d Sports Pkg (retired) 14 AW/Beige M6GC ZCP, MPE, V2 steering wheel, vorsteiner (retired) 08 SSII/Black E90 M3 (retired)
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04-21-2015, 07:57 PM	#9
BzsBimmer Major General 3270 Rep 6,723 Posts Drives: '23 G80 FO M3, M3 & MY Tezzy's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nor. Cal iTrader: (32)	Rockauto has them @ $71.36 for a set of 8 with the 5% discount code. That's $8.92 a plug. Cheapest I've seen so far, even lower than Amazon currently. It was less than $6 to ship to my CA address via USPS. Here's a discount code (enter it in the "how did you hear about us" field, then click the Checkout button) 2982769720767036
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04-22-2015, 06:23 PM	#11
gimmethemuumuu Captain 80 Rep 945 Posts Drives: '17 F80 M3, SO/Bk Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN iTrader: (15)	Yes!! Rock Auto has been consistently lower than Amazon or any other vendor for the last couple of years at least
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04-28-2015, 12:09 PM	#12
dlaw Private First Class 14 Rep 172 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	Just wanted to put in my 2 cents. Did this over the weekend, and I had no issues removing the coil plugs with only a pry tool. I was careful in prying evenly as to not overstress and break the plastic tabs on the coil. The hardest as you know was the rear passenger side, but only took about 5 minutes to remove the coil with a standard pry tool. This is for those who don't have the special coil removal tool that costs $30.
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