[mblaucoupe135]

I've noticed my m240i xdrive stuttering periodically receently mainly when accelerating at lower rpms. It only happens sporadically right now and doesn't throw any warning lights, but it is very noticeable when it does happen. I do have the Dinanatonics x piggyback tune on the car and was thinking it might be related to that. So I called Dinan tech support and they recommend I replace the spark plugs as they said they usually need replaced between 20k to 30k miles. My car currently has about 21k miles on it. This seems really early to have to replace plugs but I realize with the tune on the car the past few years it may have worn them out faster. Has anyone else had to replace their plugs yet?

[Rdurty2]

B58 can easily go close to 40k for spark plugs, even with “real” tunes not piggybacks.

I would remove the piggyback and drive around stock for a few days to see if the issue goes away. What your describing seems to happen quite often with piggybacks.

Don’t start throwing parts at it until you remove some variables, that being the piggyback.

[mblaucoupe135]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

B58 can easily go close to 40k for spark plugs, even with “real” tunes not piggybacks.

I would remove the piggyback and drive around stock for a few days to see if the issue goes away. What your describing seems to happen quite often with piggybacks.

Don’t start throwing parts at it until you remove some variables, that being the piggyback.

That is a good suggestion. I did turn the tune down to 0 which bypasses it and puts it back to stock and haven't noticed any issues so far. I need to drive it some more though to give it a thorough test.

[Rdurty2]

I would suggest to fully remove it. I wouldn’t even trust the bypass mode when diagnosing something when chances are the dinan box is the problem. Granted dinan will never say that.

[mblaucoupe135]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

I would suggest to fully remove it. I wouldn’t even trust the bypass mode when diagnosing something when chances are the dinan box is the problem. Granted dinan will never say that.

Another good suggestion. I'm going to go remove it now!

[mblaucoupe135]

I went ahead and removed the piggyback and haven't noticed any issues (knock on wood) so that must have been the problem.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by mblaucoupe135

I went ahead and removed the piggyback and haven't noticed any issues (knock on wood) so that must have been the problem.

Doesn't necessarily mean what you were told by Dinan tech support was wrong.

What the piggyback device does may make more demands upon the plugs, may require plugs be in tip top condition.

So to keep the plugs in suitable condition more frequent plug changes may be required.

[mblaucoupe135]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

Doesn't necessarily mean what you were told by Dinan tech support was wrong.

What the piggyback device does may make more demands upon the plugs, may require plugs be in tip top condition.

So to keep the plugs in suitable condition more frequent plug changes may be required.

Excuse my ignorance, but short of removing the plugs, is there any other way to determine if they need replaced?

[Rdurty2]

Originally Posted by mblaucoupe135

Excuse my ignorance, but short of removing the plugs, is there any other way to determine if they need replaced?

No, you have to remove them and physically inspect.

[mblaucoupe135]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

No, you have to remove them and physically inspect.

I figured. Is it pretty obvious if they need to be replaced?

[mblaucoupe135]

Took the car into the dealership for routine oil change and told them about this issue too. They diagnosed it as a bad charge pressure sensor and replaced it. However I get the sense they were shooting in the dark a bit so who knows if it will take care of the issue.

[oldbmwtech]

Originally Posted by mblaucoupe135

Took the car into the dealership for routine oil change and told them about this issue too. They diagnosed it as a bad charge pressure sensor and replaced it. However I get the sense they were shooting in the dark a bit so who knows if it will take care of the issue.

I had the same issue but it only happen once on the track. Never through a CEL but my scantool picked it up. Also my AC quick working. The codes were 108B06 and 20A22E also P026E and P00DF which I believe are the same. After a cool down never happen again yet.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by mblaucoupe135

Excuse my ignorance, but short of removing the plugs, is there any other way to determine if they need replaced?

Well, misfires could be a sign the plugs need replacing.

But one wants to avoid running plugs to the point they result in misfires.

I'm not a fan of removing plugs to inspect them. If I suspect the plugs are due for replacement I just replace them.

Now once removed from the engine I will look at the old plugs to judge how each plug is performing. But so far -- thankfully -- I have not spotted an under performing plug.

Below is a pic of an old plug and new plug for my Boxster. Old plug had 60K miles, the miles at which Porsche called for the plugs to be replaced. Despite the old plug's condition -- and the other 5 looked the same -- the plugs were fine, that is with new plugs the engine did not react favorably (or unfavorably) to the new plugs.

You can see the center electrode has eroded. And the ground electrodes likewise have eroded. But new plugs did not make the engine run better, at least based on my seat dyno...

[mblaucoupe135]

Originally Posted by oldbmwtech

I had the same issue but it only happen once on the track. Never through a CEL but my scantool picked it up. Also my AC quick working. The codes were 108B06 and 20A22E also P026E and P00DF which I believe are the same. After a cool down never happen again yet.

Do you have a tune on your car?