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DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: 318lotis on November 27, 2009, 02:11:04 PM

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: 318lotis on November 27, 2009, 02:11:04 PM

hey gang, im planning on changing spark plugs for first time.  NGK or Bocsh?
"a guy told me from Pelican auto that bmw introduce a new ngk high performance plug"  anyway i cant decide ngk or boshc super.

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: bmwman91 on November 28, 2009, 11:58:17 AM

Whatever you do, stay away from the Bosch platinum's.  I just bought plugs from Pelican, and looking up the Bosch PN's thye look like they might be the platinum's.  Just stick with the stock NGK ones.  There's no real benefit to be had from "performance" plugs anyway.

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: Wizard on November 29, 2009, 09:05:52 AM

I run Denso Iridium IK20 in mine...Been running them for the last few years..Never a problem with them and they last a long time..

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: DesktopDave on November 29, 2009, 09:57:34 AM

+1 on the iridium.  I put those in my bike & they looked like new after a whole riding season.  I've always used the NGK's in my cars, but I'll likely be switching them to iridiums next year too.

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: Wizard on November 29, 2009, 12:43:07 PM

BTW....I think the cross reference # for the NGK Iridium is BKR6EIX
Although NGK doesn't have a listing for our engines, I cross referenced the IK20 with other vehicles and this is the # that always shows up for NGK...
NGK also makes the BKR6EIX-11.
The difference is the gap..  .032(BKR6EIX) versus .044(BKR6EIX-11)

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: robertm on December 10, 2009, 11:44:26 AM

Quote from: Wizard;82235

BTW....I think the cross reference # for the NGK Iridium is BKR6EIX
Although NGK doesn't have a listing for our engines, I cross referenced the IK20 with other vehicles and this is the # that always shows up for NGK...
NGK also makes the BKR6EIX-11.
The difference is the gap..  .032(BKR6EIX) versus .044(BKR6EIX-11)

So, the concensus is the BKR6EIX are the ones to get?  I need to order some plugs.  Thanks.

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: Jorgeconrico on December 10, 2009, 01:32:52 PM

NGK BKR6EK spark plugs all day. They are pre-gapped.

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: tjts1 on December 10, 2009, 02:10:18 PM

Ngk brk6ek

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: fiftytakedowns on December 10, 2009, 03:01:35 PM

What do you guys gap em to?
I forgot to gap mine before I installed them

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: Uglybob on December 10, 2009, 04:44:00 PM

If you got the NKG BRK6EK's, they are pre-gapped and ready to go from what I understand.

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: Wizard on December 10, 2009, 04:46:49 PM

Iridiums are also pre gapped...

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: Uglybob on December 10, 2009, 05:37:07 PM

Here's a question along the same lines... where or who do you guys go through to get your SP's? I've always gone through Schmucks, but then again, I've also been sans BMW for about a year and a half. Just jumped back into a '91 318iS DD. Going through the standard maintenance that the PO failed to do or was just totally clueless about. I imagine the plugs need to be changed out shortly here.

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: Choking Hazard on December 10, 2009, 07:38:49 PM

If you want delivery, Pelican Parts is great.  For OEM BMW hard parts, I usually use getbmwparts.com, a link to a real dealer that actually discounts.  For upgrades, there are a few...  Ireland Engineering, Elephant Motorsports, and Bavauto are some I have used without trauma.  Pelican Parts can get most OEM parts too, just get a part number from realoem.com.

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: autox320 on January 20, 2010, 03:01:43 AM

Biased as it sounds to some, theres two things I don't like to run in my cars based off experience. Platinum plugs, or multi-ground plugs. Call me old school, but the engine feels more alive and pulls harder when back to basics. I know I'm a new guy here at M42club, but heres my cents:)

M42 cars, I run standard copper core autolite (3923) single electrode plugs. Yes the cheapest plug usually available at any auto store for the M42. Gap ranges depending on summer or winter. Widest I set is .036" gap. I also like magnecor KV85 wire sets for this engine. M42 cars at the moment are stock. The 318is will eventually have mild cams and chip.

Autolite makes a racing series plug for this engine but the AR series is one heat range too cold, or 2 heat ranges too hot variants. Also there's non-resistor available but it's one heat range too cold. Might be hot ticket for boosted setups, but NA stock engine the car didn't like them so much even in summer heat.

S14, ngk copper core, single electrode non-resistor, .040" gap. Bosch red coil. magnecor KV85 wire sets for ease of availability. Internally this engine is stock.

M10, autolite copper core, single cut back electrode, non-resistor AR52 .050" gap, Bosch red coil, accel 8.8 stainless core custom made wire set. This engine isn't stock.

Title: plugs e30 m42 318is
Post by: 3bvert on January 20, 2010, 09:00:39 AM

I prefer ngk

but I always check my "pre-gap" plugs as I have had some in every brand that the gap has been wrong ( twisting wrenches since 60's)
what does it take, and extra 15 seconds per plug to check and adjust if needed

how long does it take to diagnose a problem with a gap too wide or too tight