Questions you thought were too dumb to ask E53 edition

[Sbjkmtce]

2003 3.0i, 74000km, drive less than 5000km per year, well looked after and maintained, runs smoothly.
Does it need new plugs?

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by Sbjkmtce

2003 3.0i, 74000km, drive less than 5000km per year, well looked after and maintained, runs smoothly.
Does it need new plugs?

with such a little mileage, i would worry about the carbon built up inside engine and would include an engine flush into the routine maintenance, which also should include spark plug change - not because it needs it but because "might as well do it" along with the rest of the maintenance...

[StephenVA]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

with such a little mileage, i would worry about the carbon built up inside engine and would include an engine flush into the routine maintenance, which also should include spark plug change - not because it needs it but because "might as well do it" along with the rest of the maintenance...

+1

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Sbjkmtce

2003 3.0i, 74000km, drive less than 5000km per year, well looked after and maintained, runs smoothly.
Does it need new plugs?

I don't think you need to replace the plugs as they don't have that many miles on them and you seem to have a smooth idle and normal acceleration.

Rather than an engine flush I would add an cleaning agent such as Texron to the next full tank.

[srmmmm]

I had 126,000 miles on my first set of plugs, and just replaced that set at 119,000 miles. Never noticed a change in startup, fuel mileage or idle smoothness. But seat of the pants feel seemed to indicate wide open throttle performance was better with the new plugs.

I'm drive 25,000 miles a year though, with very few short trips.

2002 X5 3.0 245,600 miles
2004 325i 109,000 miles