Do The Plugs Really Matter?

[bpowers]

Having a lot of difficulty with my 318ti, bought Peake Research Code Reader -- no help. Anyway, I got to thinking over the weekend (as I was changing the spark plugs on my motorcycle), that perhaps it's the plugs. The reason I overlooked the plugs (my car idles slightly erratically 5-10 minutes after start-up, and also does not run well -- seems as if it's not running on all 4 cylinders, sluggish, more substantial engine breaking when you let off the gas, etc.) was because I changed them last November and car ran fine; however, I used Champion SP's. I know I've read on here that people swear that you must use OEM plugs. Is that true/would it make sense to spend the $45 to get OEM plugs to see if this is the case? I'm having trouble swallowing that a new set of plugs would foul after only a couple months, but is that why there's a substantial proce difference?

Thanks for those of you who weigh in!

[thesoprano]

my mechanic swears up and down on the OE plugs - he won't put anything else in. If he finds those Bosch platinum things, he chucks them.

[97alpineM3]

E36s and BMWs in general are very picky about spark rate and temp. The distributorless ignition takes only a certain range of spark for lack of a better word... so OEM is the best bet... fix that problem and move on and see if it helps out a bit.

Good Luck,

Les

[Avlany]

I would say, try Bosh Platinum +2 (not +4).

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by Avlany@May 16 2005, 01:06 PM
I would say, try Bosh Platinum +2 (not +4).

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my +4's got fouled up after about 20k miles. so its possible to foul them up pretty quickly, although I have been messing around with spark/fuel management alot :P

at any rate, i just switched to oem copper ones and noticed no difference in idle/revvability compared to when i initially put in the +4 platinums.

autohausaz.com is a great place to get discount bmw stuff
they have EVERYTHING bavauto.com does but usually cheaper... and for people in arizona (like me) they're local!

oem coppers for my vehicle were like 1.50 / ea. through them (dealer wanted 5)

[bpowers]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll order some OEM's. In the mean time, I did out a new set of plugs in yesterday (non-OEM), but no help. When I took my old (<2,000 miles on them!) plugs, I noticed a lot of soot around the base on all 4 and a lot of build up, so something's not right.

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by bpowers@May 17 2005, 11:47 AM
Thanks everyone for the advice.* I'll order some OEM's.* In the mean time, I did out a new set of plugs in yesterday (non-OEM), but no help.* When I took my old* (<2,000 miles on them!) plugs, I noticed a lot of soot around the base on all 4 and a lot of build up, so something's not right.

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the idle problems mixed with extra soot on plugs your injectors are probably leaking.

[BImmerN2B]

What about Iridium plugs?

[Furious]

dont bother with iridium plugs, they burn too cold for BMW use, they are really only a good application for Forced induced applications.

honestlly plugs DO matter very much. and use OE plugs or a suitable replacement such as bosch +2 or beru etc

[bpowers]

Originally posted by nukeduster+May 17 2005, 04:16 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nukeduster @ May 17 2005, 04:16 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-bpowers@May 17 2005, 11:47 AM
Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll order some OEM's. In the mean time, I did out a new set of plugs in yesterday (non-OEM), but no help. When I took my old (<2,000 miles on them!) plugs, I noticed a lot of soot around the base on all 4 and a lot of build up, so something's not right.

[snapback]345289[/snapback]

the idle problems mixed with extra soot on plugs your injectors are probably leaking.

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[/b][/quote]

Do you mean that the injectors are leaking gas? Could this be from build up/clogged injectors?