Replacement Spark plug advise

[Stuart Sutton]

Hello Zedders

I think it's time I replaced the spark plugs on my 2002 2.2 sport, it's still running with the original plugs. It's not doing many miles in a year anymore . What plugs do people recommend? It seems there are many options from £4 per plug upto £18 per plug .
Many thanks Stuart

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Look in the Owners Handbook! It contains lots of useful information, and is available on line too.

 

[GazHyde]

For important items like that I tend to go with what BMW would supply. If you run through realoem.com with the last 7 digits of your VIN you’ll find the OEM part numbers you can then search part sites for.

 

[GazHyde]

Just ran the VIN on my old 2001 2.2i Sport

RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

BMW parts Z3 E36 Z3 2.2i Igtn. coil/sparkplug connector/sparkplug

www.realoem.com

Shows 12120037607 as the current BMW part number for the correct plug

However the BOSCH FGR7DQP and NGK BKR6EQUP plugs are still available on evilBay

 

[motco]

How many miles have the existing ones done Stuart? My 2.2i of similar age is also running on its original set of plugs (I assume) and they have done 50,000 miles. As it runs as well as it has ever run since I bought it twelve years ago at 30,000 miles. On the principle of 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' I have left well alone. Trying to extract six plugs from an aluminium cylinder head after twenty years is something not done unless absolutely necessary.

 

[mwpe]

I have replaced mine twice, once at about 60,000 miles and again at 120,000. Both times the old plugs still looked ok. I used the Bosch FGR7DQP.

 

[Stuart Sutton]

How many miles have the existing ones done Stuart? My 2.2i of similar age is also running on its original set of plugs (I assume) and they have done 50,000 miles. As it runs as well as it has ever run since I bought it twelve years ago at 30,000 miles. On the principle of 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' I have left well alone. Trying to extract six plugs from an aluminium cylinder head after twenty years is something not done unless absolutely necessary.

Mine has currently 90,000 miles on it. I've noticed a slight pinkimg noise which it has never done in the 22 years of ownership it has also developed this annoying habit of developing a misfire when left idling from a cold start.

 

[motco]

In cold weather, Stuart, my 2.2i will not tolerate being left to idle after a cold start. It starts misfiring and throws up the engine light. I haven't run a fault check because I always forget to when I get home. The misfire clears as soon as I drive off, and a quick switch off and restart clears the engine light. Until it really becomes a problem I shall avoid anything except a start, reverse out of the garage whilst the roller door closes, and drive off. Thus far that has been fault light free.

 

[Stuart Sutton]

In cold weather, Stuart, my 2.2i will not tolerate being left to idle after a cold start. It starts misfiring and throws up the engine light. I haven't run a fault check because I always forget to when I get home. The misfire clears as soon as I drive off, and a quick switch off and restart clears the engine light. Until it really becomes a problem I shall avoid anything except a start, reverse out of the garage whilst the roller door closes, and drive off. Thus far that has been fault light free.

That's exactly the same as mine , it never did it when new its developed over the last 10 years , fault code is misfire on number 6 cylinder, I've swapped cylinder 1 coil and plug with number 6 , but when it faults again it always shows Cylinder 6 misfire. Sometime I can turn the ignition off and on while misfiring and it will stop the misfire immediately. seems to be an ECU fault .

 

[Stevo7682]

Not sure if your plugs are standard or iridium on 2.2 as my zeds 4 posts ( my m44 uses standard but my m43 is iridium) if standard every 20k max ( better every 10k or so as plugs cheap) if iridium same as my m43 then it's every 60k ( plugs a lot dearer) .
I would say if due change then change them as on a few occasions over the years I have seen the damage than can be caused by plug tip disintegration due to excessive wear which can cause a fair bit of irreparable damage to bores ,piston rings etc.
Plus plugs have ' plug gap ' and as the tips wear this increases the gap leading to a weak spark and a loss of performance and misfiring especially when cold as the plug cannot correctly ignite the cold start richer mixture leading to unburnt fuel entering the cat which will shorten its life and also potential cylinder washout where the fuel washes past the piston rings leading to oil contamination and potential increased bore wear as the fuel will wash off the bore oil film that stops wear.

Stephen.

 

[Stuart Sutton]

In cold weather, Stuart, my 2.2i will not tolerate being left to idle after a cold start. It starts misfiring and throws up the engine light. I haven't run a fault check because I always forget to when I get home. The misfire clears as soon as I drive off, and a quick switch off and restart clears the engine light. Until it really becomes a problem I shall avoid anything except a start, reverse out of the garage whilst the roller door closes, and drive off. Thus far that has been fault light free.

Did you ever get to the cause of the lumpy idle from cold ?

 

[motco]

No, I'm afraid not. Other more pressing matters have crowded in. In fact I have hardly even driven the car for weeks.