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      03-04-2024, 03:00 PM   #1
M5KEITH
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Spark plugs and Coil Replacement

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I just wanted to share for my 2018 regarding timing of spark plug and coil replacement I hit 40,000 mileages on factory set.

My X5 4.4 motor had them replaced at 37,000 miles.

In both cases car had drive train malfunction indicator.

So, you can do them at 30,000 or look to get another 10,000 miles. Obviously, driving habits and conditions will vary but wanted to share.

I also needed to replace coolant tank due to leak. Should get car back from Indy shop tomorrow.
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      03-04-2024, 07:12 PM   #2
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Which Kidney did they take?

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Prior. '94 325is, '97 M3 Lux, '16 M2
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      03-04-2024, 07:30 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M5KEITH View Post
I just wanted to share for my 2018 regarding timing of spark plug and coil replacement I hit 40,000 mileages on factory set.

My X5 4.4 motor had them replaced at 37,000 miles.

In both cases car had drive train malfunction indicator.

So, you can do them at 30,000 or look to get another 10,000 miles. Obviously, driving habits and conditions will vary but wanted to share.

I also needed to replace coolant tank due to leak. Should get car back from Indy shop tomorrow.
This is why you should drive your car more😂 you'd have gotten free spark plugs at 30k miles if you'd gotten to that milestone withint 3 years.
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      03-04-2024, 07:53 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by micvite View Post
This is why you should drive your car more😂 you'd have gotten free spark plugs at 30k miles if you'd gotten to that milestone withint 3 years.
M vehicles are supposed to get new spark plugs at the third year annual service or 30K miles. Vehicle doesn't need to hit 30K.
It's part of the 3 year included maintenance in the US.
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      03-04-2024, 07:56 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe View Post
M vehicles are supposed to get new spark plugs at the third year annual service or 30K miles. Vehicle doesn't need to hit 30K.
It's part of the 3 year included maintenance in the US.
Yeah I guess the wording is every 3rd oil change or 30k miles. And oil change is once a year or 10k miles but I guess if you go for your third oil change after the 3 year maintenance expires it'd be too late.
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      03-04-2024, 08:15 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aronis View Post
Which Kidney did they take?

Mike
Lol. The Indy shop was reasonable $1300 included parts and labor for spark plugs and coil install. The coolant tank was another $700 which was a cherry one top.
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      03-04-2024, 09:18 PM   #7
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$2000 for 5 hours of work installing maybe $1100 in parts at dealer list prices is probably normal. It would be expensive if the customer supplied the parts and probably still expensive if it was instead $500 in NGK plugs, Dinan coils and BMW tank. I try to DIY and spend the difference on mods — I don’t actually save anything….
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      03-05-2024, 06:44 AM   #8
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I am planning to do coils every other plug change. But based on my experience with the X5 I will have them on hand for all plug changes and injector changes, just in case. Either way my first plug change is free although I'm not thrilled about the dealer doing it. I plan to do my second plug change right before warranty ends in case I find they broke something when they did it. The math will almost work out anyway since I get about 8k per oil change.
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      03-05-2024, 08:36 AM   #9
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Are failed coils really a problem? Way back in the N54 days, they failed with high boost from a tune or piggyback but the newer coils are supposed to be better. I changed only because I bought Dinan coils that are supposedly 10% hotter and am tuned, not that I had any issues or had read of any except the odd case. 50k miles for coils seems way too soon for a stock car and maybe even modded ones.
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      03-05-2024, 08:55 AM   #10
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I think you are correct about the coils lasting. It was more about the huge pita removing the stuck rubber boots on the X5 that I would be worried about damaging them (which I did in that case). Now the X5 was at 55k and 4.5 years. Since the coils will be removed more often on the M5 hopefully they don't get stuck. Or maybe the higher heat kills the rubber boots. I'll find out in a few years.
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      03-05-2024, 09:29 AM   #11
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It is enough of a pain to change plugs that I would not want to have to go back in between plugs to do coils. If stuck boots that get damaged is an issue, it makes sense to have new coils available. I just don’t know the change interval that is reasonable versus wasteful. My car has 52k miles, but I have changed the plugs twice with the Dinan coils going in on the 2nd change. I think that was at 45k.

Could be heat that damaged the boots. These cars get pretty hot under the hood with the headers and turbos and cats in the V. Anything you can do to reduce heat is probably good.

I am about to do a bunch of work in the area — installing Supersprint turbo manifold, but think it is too early to change plugs again. I like preventative maintenance but will have to think about changing plugs with 7-8k on them.
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      03-05-2024, 09:32 AM   #12
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I’m not saying coils are failing however, but new coils is $150 bucks so its a no brainer for them to put them on bc they have to take off the old coils anyways.
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      03-05-2024, 09:49 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M5KEITH View Post
I’m not saying coils are failing however, but new coils is $150 bucks so its a no brainer for them to put them on bc they have to take off the old coils anyways.
Where are you getting them for $150? I have only seen them for
$40+ each depending on the brand.

Also what do our coils look like? Websites show the old style with the flip top. The download from ISTA shows the newer solid top with a torx screw to hold it down (like the B58 has).

Last edited by pmsteinm; 03-05-2024 at 10:16 AM..
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      03-05-2024, 10:08 AM   #14
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Dinan are about $30 but go on sale sometimes for maybe 10-20% less.
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      03-05-2024, 10:56 AM   #15
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Should I be doing my plugs sooner vs stock? Stage 2 tune with full bolt ons. Only 21k miles on the car. Will probably do the billet aluminum coolant reservoir tank at the same time since that needs to be out of the way to do the driver’s side.
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      03-05-2024, 03:03 PM   #16
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Sharing my DIY experience as an FYI: Did sparks and coil packs myself given mine is well out of warranty. Been doing this on all my bmw's for years. Turned out it was way more of a PITA on this car than I'd expected - tons of wire harnesses and other "stuff" to move out of the way + 2 sparks in the back near the firewall are incredibly hard to get out and needed work arounds to remove. But, total cost was just $450'ish. Burned 6 hours of my precious time, though! Considering outsourcing next time around. We'll see how motivated I'm feeling.
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      03-05-2024, 05:03 PM   #17
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You’ll be faster next time.
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      03-05-2024, 07:23 PM   #18
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It turns out I have cylinder 6 misfire not sure what the code is but this is this is with new spark plugs and coils.

What else has anyone else seen with their cars?

Bad injector or vacuum leak perhaps?

I am hoping I heard some good news tomorrow from the shop.
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      03-06-2024, 07:25 AM   #19
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If you don’t use a skinny socket, you may not have properly tightened the plugs. If you did not check the plug gap, it could be off. It is also possible you did not fully seat the coil. Whenever work is done and a new problem occurs after, I double check my work. A harness or connector could also have been disturbed, but it seems odd that would affect just #6.

If none of those, I would lean towards a coolant leak damage since 6 is on the tank side. The coils and plugs are new so I would lean towards the injector. You could certainly swap plug and coil from #6 to #5 first to see if the problem moves before focusing on the injector.
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      03-06-2024, 09:23 AM   #20
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ISTA also says in a couple places (including a large info box) to use a swivel connection while doing the plugs to avoid cracking them. I see why, when I did them on the B58 with a long extension it wouldn't take much lateral movement to stress them. I used the long thin-walled magnetic socket from FCP euro.
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      03-07-2024, 06:44 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M5KEITH View Post
It turns out I have cylinder 6 misfire not sure what the code is but this is this is with new spark plugs and coils.

What else has anyone else seen with their cars?

Bad injector or vacuum leak perhaps?

I am hoping I heard some good news tomorrow from the shop.
I would swap the coils as others have suggested. Going over what you said on your initial post, an expansion tank leak may have damaged your injector and is just coincidence that is showing up now. When my tank broke the leak wasn’t terrible but was enough to touch the injectors. Service tech recommended 1 replaced since BMW will replace if any coolant touches the injector. They ended up replacing all 4 on that side. I didn’t have any codes or rough idling before or after the tank leak.
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      03-07-2024, 08:38 PM   #22
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All is good they reset adaptation.

I can tell you car has much more power than before prior to drive train malfunction. I am surprised by the difference with new spark plugs and coils.

Car feels like it has 100 HP more
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