SPARK PLUGS

[CharlieHustleX5]

Originally Posted by FSETH

OK...I just called NGK's technical support. The rep. basically told me that the OEM NGK plugs, which are more expensive, will typically last 80k-100k miles and are laser platunim with 4 nickel grounds. The cheaper NON-OEM iridium plugs typical life is 40k-50k miles and have 1 ground.

He said that the iridiums will actually give a very slight performance advantage, but at the expense of a much shorter life.

So c4racer, you can buy those plugs from Amazon and save money now, but you will have to replace them twice as often. If you don't change them yourself, I would bet the cost to have them replaced negates any initial savings.

Hope this helps.

Thats awesome information.

[JWalker]

Just replaced mine... Went with the NGK #BKR6EQUP, identical to what came with the car -- they had never been changed before. No difference in performance, I'm 99% certain that both the BMW branded one and NGK (same model#) one is the same exact spark plug. IIRC, I paid $6.99 each at Autozone.

[CharlieHustleX5]

Originally Posted by m5james

Off the shelf NGK's from an autoparts store or the stealership? People keep referring to you and your Bosch experience and are trying to relate it to the NGK's also.

NGKs from the auto parts store.

BKR6EQUP is the same plug at the parts store and the dealership. There is no difference in them like the Bosch counterparts. I'll try to find the visual comparison photo I have, but performance wise I believe they are exactly the same.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by FSETH

OK...I just called NGK's technical support. The rep. basically told me that the OEM NGK plugs, which are more expensive, will typically last 80k-100k miles and are laser platunim with 4 nickel grounds. The cheaper NON-OEM iridium plugs typical life is 40k-50k miles and have 1 ground.

He said that the iridiums will actually give a very slight performance advantage, but at the expense of a much shorter life.

So c4racer, you can buy those plugs from Amazon and save money now, but you will have to replace them twice as often. If you don't change them yourself, I would bet the cost to have them replaced negates any initial savings.

Hope this helps.

I realize the point your trying to make about the BMW ones vs Autozone off the shelf ones, but they're super easy to do as is, so you just put the nail in the coffin for me to keep going the route I've taken w/ my 7.

If I get more power and spend less money, then I'm in. For the price they're sold for at Autozone, I could do them 3x over before even touching the stock BMW price, and I doubt if I'll even have the X or 7 for another 150k anyways.

[c4racer]

Originally Posted by MESTRE

Hello everyone!!! I've been reading this thread and wondering if this could be my problem, if it is, then it is proof that you should really spend the extra money and get "oem bmw recommended", because I got my plugs replaced about 4k miles ago from the original plugs at 117k miles to the bosh platinum +4 plugs, at first it worked fine just like the oem, and I found it very hard to believe that the recommended plugs were any more special then the regular off the shelf bosh, now I'm stuck with a problem, my car does not want to start, it start having a hard starting in the morning, and now does not want to start at all, the fuel filter is brand new, replaced it with the plugs, fuel pump works, checked crank sensor, cam sensor, everything seems to work fine, but the darn car won't start, now I'm considering going to get NGK's recommended plugs and try. Did anyone ever have any similar issue or any ideas if I should look for anything else.


Thanks everyone,



2002 x5 4.4i

no-start is not typically related to spark plugs....

[MESTRE]

Hello again!!

First of all thanks for the reply c4racer!!!

I was also reluctant to believe that they were the cause of my not starting problem, but I checked crankshaft and camshaft sensors, all the relays, checked fuel pump, and fuel filter is new, so after reading these threads I thought about removing my plugs to check and guess what!?!?! Only two of my plugs still look good, and every other looked worse then the next, one of them was actually broken, (center electrode lose inside the threaded part), I can spin it around. Unfortunately I won't be able to get new ones until next week, but I'll follow BMW's recommendation this time and I'll let everyone know if it actually worked.

Thanks again everyone.

[JCL]

While it is certainly possible that several real Bosch plugs failed, I would wager that you unknowingly purchased counterfeit parts.

Counterfeit automotive maintenance items account for up to 10% of parts sold in the US in certain high-moving categories, according to some studies. Back in 2006 it was estimated to be a $3b industry in the US alone. Parts often fail within several hundred miles.

This is not a reason to beat on Bosch plugs (since NGK is targeted at least as often, as are AC, Motorcraft, and others), but it is a reason to purchase critical parts from the dealer. Sure, they are more expensive. You are likely to avoid this particular issue, however. Remember too that the retailers won't know where the parts came from, they will just know that they got a good price. The counterfeiting is at the manufacturing and distribution level, not at the retail level.

[MESTRE]

Thanks for the eye opening advice, will definitely pay attention to new parts bought, is there anyway to check on differences between counterfeit and actual real product???

Thanks again.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by c4racer

no-start is not typically related to spark plugs....

You've got a whole other issue brother. Mestre, get the NGK Plat's at your local Autozone or whatever and if the new plugs don't change anything, try unplugging the MAF and see if it fires up.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by JCL

While it is certainly possible that several real Bosch plugs failed, I would wager that you unknowingly purchased counterfeit parts.

Counterfeit automotive maintenance items account for up to 10% of parts sold in the US in certain high-moving categories, according to some studies. Back in 2006 it was estimated to be a $3b industry in the US alone. Parts often fail within several hundred miles.

This is not a reason to beat on Bosch plugs (since NGK is targeted at least as often, as are AC, Motorcraft, and others), but it is a reason to purchase critical parts from the dealer. Sure, they are more expensive. You are likely to avoid this particular issue, however. Remember too that the retailers won't know where the parts came from, they will just know that they got a good price. The counterfeiting is at the manufacturing and distribution level, not at the retail level.

I've bought crappy radiators (another cracked neck), waterpumps (counter guy insisted the plastic impellar is all they had) and a thermostat (3wk old replacement failed and seized shut 2hrs from my house) from the dealership before when I didn't have the time to wait for them in the mail when my 7 overheated on a jobsite. I find it hard to believe that BMW is buying them from anyone else but the same people. Distributors are everywhere, they goto the mom and pop shops along w/ the dealerships. Sometimes it just comes down to brand, not the retailer. BMW is trying to buy low and sell high, just like everyone else.

Originally Posted by MESTRE

Thanks for the eye opening advice, will definitely pay attention to new parts bought, is there anyway to check on differences between counterfeit and actual real product???

Thanks again.

In regards to JCL's reply, that is the question of the day!