DIY - 50i Spark Plugs

[classic_erik]

Originally Posted by Rotzy

If it's running good, I would leave it alone. No need to mess with something that is working. I am still rocking the stock plugs on my '16 with over 20k miles and BM3 Stage 1 and it runs great.

When you finally decide to change the plugs (normal maintenance schedule or if a problem arises) that's when I'd move to a colder plug.

Ok very helpful. Thank you sir.

[Kessler35is]

I used this guide to plan out a spark plug change and it helped greatly.


I would like to say, I didn't need any universal joints. I did use a Spark Plug Socket that had a swivel head, I'm not sure if that is what let me do it without U-Joints, all I needed was two 6-inch and one 3-inch extension

I had misfires on 3 cylinders, 1 of those was really bad. I moved that coil to a new cylinder and the issue followed. I have ordered new coils and plan on changing all coils and tossing the 3 that reported misfires and keeping the 5 "good" ones as backup's since my X5 and Z4 both use the same coils.


This write up should be used as the gold standard on changing plugs and coils. I followed it and it took me 1 hour to change the plugs.

I will also stress the be sure you hand start the plugs to ensure you are threading the plug straight & blow out the spark plug holes before you pull the plug, I was surprised to see debris in some holes, nothing major, just a little bit of fine debris.

Great DIY post!!!

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Kessler35is

I used this guide to plan out a spark plug change and it helped greatly.


I would like to say, I didn't need any universal joints. I did use a Spark Plug Socket that had a swivel head, I'm not sure if that is what let me do it without U-Joints, all I needed was two 6-inch and one 3-inch extension

I had misfires on 3 cylinders, 1 of those was really bad. I moved that coil to a new cylinder and the issue followed. I have ordered new coils and plan on changing all coils and tossing the 3 that reported misfires and keeping the 5 "good" ones as backup's since my X5 and Z4 both use the same coils.


This write up should be used as the gold standard on changing plugs and coils. I followed it and it took me 1 hour to change the plugs.

I will also stress the be sure you hand start the plugs to ensure you are threading the plug straight & blow out the spark plug holes before you pull the plug, I was surprised to see debris in some holes, nothing major, just a little bit of fine debris.

Great DIY post!!!

Appreciate it man. Glad you found it helpful.

[campaign308]

38K on original plugs. Swapped with M plugs. Really easy to do plug swap. I’ve never worked on the the N63TU engine and took me roughly one hour from start to finish. Not flash tunes but run jb4 and would often automatically switch to safe mode due to misfire I’d assume.never got a code for it though but runs great now

[vastano]

Just for clarity...do you mean a 14mm 12-point socket? Not sure if there’s such a thing as 14 point.

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by vastano

Just for clarity...do you mean a 14mm 12-point socket? Not sure if there’s such a thing as 14 point.

Below is what you want, 14mm 12 point Thin-wall with built in magnetic pickup and universal joint. Makes spark plugs changes easy

https://www.amazon.com/ARES-11000-14.../dp/B07RR84RXB

[Silververtu]

Followed the instruction from OP and did the change today. It's not hard at all. Thanks for putting the instruction together!!!

[Silververtu]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Below is what you want, 14mm 12 point Thin-wall with built in magnetic pickup and universal joint. Makes spark plugs changes easy

https://www.amazon.com/ARES-11000-14.../dp/B07RR84RXB

This looks even better than what I used

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXJ3X7P...p_mob_ap_share

[classic_erik]

Are the ignition coils something that should be replaced at the same time as the spark plugs? I'm at 49k miles on original ignition setup.

[Gkacmaz]

Originally Posted by classic_erik

Are the ignition coils something that should be replaced at the same time as the spark plugs? I'm at 49k miles on original ignition setup.

I like to replace them at the same time. My car started having missfires and I bought the whole kit from FCP Euro. Some people like to use them a little bit longer but while you're doing you might as well change out everything

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by classic_erik

Are the ignition coils something that should be replaced at the same time as the spark plugs? I'm at 49k miles on original ignition setup.

I didn't change mine at my first plug change but I'm at 60k now so may change them all on the next one. Which I would have thought would have needed to happen sooner given my first issue arose at 25k miles and that was right after I chipped it. So I expect it to start giving issues soon again.

[classic_erik]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

I didn't change mine at my first plug change but I'm at 60k now so may change them all on the next one. Which I would have thought would have needed to happen sooner given my first issue arose at 25k miles and that was right after I chipped it. So I expect it to start giving issues soon again.

Thank you!

[Silververtu]

Originally Posted by classic_erik

Are the ignition coils something that should be replaced at the same time as the spark plugs? I'm at 49k miles on original ignition setup.

Is your car tuned? If so, may as well change them for peace of mind.

I change the coils for every other spark plug change. With stock tunes, coils should be able to last 100k miles. But with aftermarket tune, spark plugs are changed every 30k miles, so 60k miles for coils.

I got the coils and plugs from FCP Euro so lifetime warranty.

[classic_erik]

Originally Posted by Silververtu

Is your car tuned? If so, may as well change them for peace of mind.

I change the coils for every other spark plug change. With stock tunes, coils should be able to last 100k miles. But with aftermarket tune, spark plugs are changed every 30k miles, so 60k miles for coils.

I got the coils and plugs from FCP Euro so lifetime warranty.

Thanks, that is good advice. Yes, I have a Dinan tune, so thought I should change them now rather than wait for the recommended 60k interval. I'll also swap the coils.

Follow up question on the coils - Any experience with Bremi vs OEM?

[Silververtu]

Originally Posted by classic_erik

Thanks, that is good advice. Yes, I have a Dinan tune, so thought I should change them now rather than wait for the recommended 60k interval. I'll also swap the coils.

Follow up question on the coils - Any experience with Bremi vs OEM?

I use Eldor coils, suggested by many on BM3 and N63 Facebook page. It's BMW's newest OEM coil and some say it's being used in BMW's V12 engines to handle the higher output. Plugs I use NGK and gapped at 0.025.

[vastano]

so for a completely OEM car (aside from M filters) without a tune, what is the proper OEM gap?

[Silververtu]

Originally Posted by vastano

so for a completely OEM car (aside from M filters) without a tune, what is the proper OEM gap?

Based on my research, 0.030"

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by vastano

so for a completely OEM car (aside from M filters) without a tune, what is the proper OEM gap?

Shouldnt need to gap them if you buy oem.

[vastano]

Completed this yesterday and it was the culprit to my vibration/lurching while accelerating. Some of my coils were stubborn and I used these to help pull them out:

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-in-...ers-64087.html

[classic_erik]

I just had my spark plugs and coils done by the dealer. I have zero time these days to take on DIYs but wish I could have done this one.

Fun story. I used NGK 97506 plugs and asked the dealer to gap down to 0.60 mm since I didn't have a tool. They didn't want to do it so I had to speak with the service manager to convince them. He tried explaining that BMW doesn't recommend going below 0.70, even on their 760s and M8s. He was talking to me like I was an idiot. I told him to settle down and just gap them.

[S1nner]

Originally Posted by classic_erik

I just had my spark plugs and coils done by the dealer. I have zero time these days to take on DIYs but wish I could have done this one.

Fun story. I used NGK 97506 plugs and asked the dealer to gap down to 0.60 mm since I didn't have a tool. They didn't want to do it so I had to speak with the service manager to convince them. He tried explaining that BMW doesn't recommend going below 0.70, even on their 760s and M8s. He was talking to me like I was an idiot. I told him to settle down and just gap them.

Just out of curiosity, how much $ did they charge you?

[classic_erik]

Originally Posted by S1nner

Just out of curiosity, how much $ did they charge you?

$404 for the labor. He actually tried charging me extra to gap the plugs and I almost laughed in his face.

Another interesting part of this story is that the service manager said they always install out of the box and don't even check the gap. The fact that they don't even check them when there are so many factors that could shift the gap during packaging and transit is crazy to me.