changing sparkplugs on the 6 cylinder N55 engine

turboawd · 03-25-2018, 01:37 AM

not too hard a job to change plugs on this motor. just takes a little time to remove all the plastic panels and cabin filter to get access to the rear plugs. from there its just a matter of unplugging each coil and pulling the coil out. remove old plug and install new.
plugs are bosch ZR5TPP33S
you'll also need a 12pt socket. autozone has a nice one. duralast 72-376

the biggest thing when taking things apart is to be extra careful with the crankcase vent tube. its connected to the intake pipe. its very brittle, and i broke mine. i siliconed it as a temp fix. new one cost me around $35 off ebay. neither end comes off easy. best bet is to remove the end from the intake pipe. may need a screwdriver for some leverage.

kry226 · 03-25-2018, 01:43 AM

Yup, I did this on my X1 N55 and it was much easier than I was expecting. Like you said the only slowdown was getting all the plastic off.

menelaos · 03-25-2018, 06:23 AM

What made you change them, felt something upon start, or you hit a mile threshold?

turboawd · 03-25-2018, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menelaos

What made you change them, felt something upon start, or you hit a mile threshold?

96k miles

possib1edoc · 03-25-2018, 11:44 AM

Just changed mine at 60k. Bought parts for $50 and paid BMW dealer $200 to change using my parts. Aren't there 6 spark plugs?

Kdawg1966 · 03-25-2018, 01:38 PM

Thanks for the post with pictures. Will reference it in the future.

CT335xi · 03-25-2018, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by possib1edoc

Just changed mine at 60k. Bought parts for $50 and paid BMW dealer $200 to change using my parts. Aren't there 6 spark plugs?

Yeah are you looking at his picture with two? He is just showing you a old one next to a new one.

Kzang · 03-25-2018, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboawd

Quote:

Originally Posted by menelaos

What made you change them, felt something upon start, or you hit a mile threshold?

96k miles

How has the X5 at 96k miles treated you so far?
Any major repairs yet besides normal maintenances?

possib1edoc · 03-25-2018, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT335xi

Yeah are you looking at his picture with two? He is just showing you a old one next to a new one.

Yep was going of his picture. There are 6 total (in case anyone else is wondering). I don't know much about cars so figured someone else would be thinking the same.

M302_imola · 06-08-2018, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by possib1edoc

Just changed mine at 60k. Bought parts for $50 and paid BMW dealer $200 to change using my parts. Aren't there 6 spark plugs?

Could you tell any difference in acceleration and such when replaced at
60K miles. Seems kinda early to replace at this mileage but I know it's recommended. Is it also recommended to replace the ignition coils?

switchman · 03-29-2019, 02:25 PM

turboawd,,,Can you tell me the p/n for that hose ? working on mine today and as careful as I can be, i broke that hose of crankcase vent.

Thanks in advance.

jg425 · 03-29-2019, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M302_imola

Quote:

Originally Posted by possib1edoc

Just changed mine at 60k. Bought parts for $50 and paid BMW dealer $200 to change using my parts. Aren't there 6 spark plugs?

Could you tell any difference in acceleration and such when replaced at
60K miles. Seems kinda early to replace at this mileage but I know it's recommended. Is it also recommended to replace the ignition coils?

I just replaced my spark plugs, there was a noticeable difference after I replace them. I am also running a racechip ultimate and the vehicle has a lot more pep to it. I didn't replace the coils because they looked fine.

turboawd · 03-29-2019, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchman

turboawd,,,Can you tell me the p/n for that hose ? working on mine today and as careful as I can be, i broke that hose of crankcase vent.

Thanks in advance.

I believe this is the one.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-bmw-parts/vent-hose/11127590163/

switchman · 03-29-2019, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboawd

I believe this is the one.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...e/11127590163/

Thank you so much !
Anyone doing tuneup should have this part ready, lol. There's no way in hell that its not going to break unless you have a really good trick removing plumbing.

I searched in realoem but couldn't find it.

KillFox91 · 03-30-2019, 01:41 AM

Did this project today. Was an absolute blast...

I broke my crank vent hose too; but went and got hose from auto zone to replace the brittle garbage and used the existing connection points ( will last 10x longer than the garbage bmw hose bmw used).

The hardest part was removing the wiring harness in the back of the engine behind the charge pipe so you could get at the last couple plugs... three little torx bolts that are hard as anything to get at...

Got it all buttoned up only to find out cool #2 was DOA; so I had to put an original back in for now while I warranty with FCP Euro.

I put //m plugs in anticipating my MPPK soon. Runs like a champ.

spacegray_f15 · 03-30-2019, 07:45 AM

What plugs did you guys use and what did you gap them at?

jg425 · 03-30-2019, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacegray_f15

What plugs did you guys use and what did you gap them at?

NGK SILZKBR8D8S (97506), gapped at .020. If you are tuned at stage 2 you should do .018. I am currently using Racechip ultimate at setting C

switchman · 03-30-2019, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchman

Thank you so much !
Anyone doing tuneup should have this part ready, lol. There's no way in hell that its not going to break unless you have a really good trick removing plumbing.

I searched in realoem but couldn't find it.

After decoding my vin, I found out s4ne is optioned on my x5; also found realoem listing p/n 11127584128 for vent hose for blow by heater equipped.

I don't know the difference with other vent hose p/n 11127590163.

turboawd · 03-30-2019, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchman

After decoding my vin, I found out s4ne is optioned on my x5; also found realoem listing p/n 11127584128 for vent hose for blow by heater equipped.

I don't know the difference with other vent hose p/n 11127590163.

Dang. You're right. I found my old order and it is part 11127584128.

switchman · 03-30-2019, 12:54 PM

So I went to see friends over at local spealership; confirmed p/n 11-12-7-584-128 for n55 motor (option S4NE blow by heater). ECS by far is cheapest around, dealer price is $61.

Your info led me to right place to look it up. Thanks again, turboawd.

code505 · 08-26-2019, 01:18 PM

I did the Job today, the most time consuming thing is to take out all of the covers,,

I was able to disconnect the crank case vent tube without breaking it by disconnecting the two screws at the bottom, take time to release but doable, but I found oil in the pcv tube is this normal??

turboawd · 08-26-2019, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by code505

I did the Job today, the most time consuming thing is to take out all of the covers,,

I was able to disconnect the crank case vent tube without breaking it by disconnecting the two screws at the bottom, take time to release but doable, but I found oil in the pcv tube is this normal??

Yeah. Especially on turbo engines.

03-25-2018, 01:37 AM	#1
turboawd Banned 1635 Rep 2,995 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 35i Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	changing sparkplugs on the 6 cylinder N55 engine not too hard a job to change plugs on this motor. just takes a little time to remove all the plastic panels and cabin filter to get access to the rear plugs. from there its just a matter of unplugging each coil and pulling the coil out. remove old plug and install new. plugs are bosch ZR5TPP33S you'll also need a 12pt socket. autozone has a nice one. duralast 72-376 the biggest thing when taking things apart is to be extra careful with the crankcase vent tube. its connected to the intake pipe. its very brittle, and i broke mine. i siliconed it as a temp fix. new one cost me around $35 off ebay. neither end comes off easy. best bet is to remove the end from the intake pipe. may need a screwdriver for some leverage. Attached Images
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03-25-2018, 01:43 AM	#2
kry226 Private 41 Rep 96 Posts Drives: 2018 X5 xDrive35i M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	Yup, I did this on my X1 N55 and it was much easier than I was expecting. Like you said the only slowdown was getting all the plastic off. __________________ 2018 X5 xDrive35i M-Sport - Traded 2013 X1 xDrive35i - Sold 1986 320i - Sold
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03-25-2018, 06:23 AM	#3
menelaos Lieutenant Colonel 1226 Rep 1,915 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW X5 F15 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Cheboygan, MI iTrader: (0)	What made you change them, felt something upon start, or you hit a mile threshold?
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03-25-2018, 11:44 AM	#5
possib1edoc Second Lieutenant 154 Rep 258 Posts Drives: BMW X7 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Just changed mine at 60k. Bought parts for $50 and paid BMW dealer $200 to change using my parts. Aren't there 6 spark plugs?
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03-25-2018, 01:38 PM	#6
Kdawg1966 Private 23 Rep 62 Posts Drives: '15 X5 Msport Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Minnesota iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the post with pictures. Will reference it in the future.
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		BMW X5 and X6 Forum (F15/F16) > BMW X5 (F15) and BMW X6 (F16) Forum > BMW X5 and X6 (F15/F16) Forum
changing sparkplugs on the 6 cylinder N55 engine

03-29-2019, 02:25 PM	#11
switchman Private First Class 44 Rep 167 Posts Drives: '18 540i '15 X5 '03 530i Join Date: May 2014 Location: Chesapeake VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW X5 35i [0.00] 2018 MW 540i [0.00]	turboawd,,,Can you tell me the p/n for that hose ? working on mine today and as careful as I can be, i broke that hose of crankcase vent. Thanks in advance.
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03-30-2019, 01:41 AM	#15
KillFox91 Second Lieutenant 83 Rep 207 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW X35i Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: East Wenatchee, WA iTrader: (1)	Did this project today. Was an absolute blast... I broke my crank vent hose too; but went and got hose from auto zone to replace the brittle garbage and used the existing connection points ( will last 10x longer than the garbage bmw hose bmw used). The hardest part was removing the wiring harness in the back of the engine behind the charge pipe so you could get at the last couple plugs... three little torx bolts that are hard as anything to get at... Got it all buttoned up only to find out cool #2 was DOA; so I had to put an original back in for now while I warranty with FCP Euro. I put //m plugs in anticipating my MPPK soon. Runs like a champ.
	Appreciate 1 Flee61561.50 Quote

03-30-2019, 07:45 AM	#16
spacegray_f15 Second Lieutenant 169 Rep 231 Posts Drives: 2014 N55 M sport Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Orlando Florida iTrader: (0)	What plugs did you guys use and what did you gap them at?
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03-30-2019, 12:54 PM	#20
switchman Private First Class 44 Rep 167 Posts Drives: '18 540i '15 X5 '03 530i Join Date: May 2014 Location: Chesapeake VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW X5 35i [0.00] 2018 MW 540i [0.00]	So I went to see friends over at local spealership; confirmed p/n 11-12-7-584-128 for n55 motor (option S4NE blow by heater). ECS by far is cheapest around, dealer price is $61. Your info led me to right place to look it up. Thanks again, turboawd.
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08-26-2019, 01:18 PM	#21
code505 Enlisted Member 2 Rep 34 Posts Drives: BMW F15 XF 2014 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: SA iTrader: (0)	I did the Job today, the most time consuming thing is to take out all of the covers,, I was able to disconnect the crank case vent tube without breaking it by disconnecting the two screws at the bottom, take time to release but doable, but I found oil in the pcv tube is this normal??
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