DIY: How to replace the spark plugs on your V8
#13
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MPLS, USA
Posts: 5,765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 10 Honda Fit Sport, 10 Honda Pilot Touring
#14
Members
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 BMW 545I
M sport suspension
Active Steering
M sport interior
Navi
Low ride sports
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by DRANGED' post='990907' date='Aug 27 2009, 08:45 PM
+1 Thank you very much for the write up!! ![Thumbsup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/thumbsup.gif)
![Thumbsup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/thumbsup.gif)
#15
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Great DYI writeup, thank you. For others with older 545i's, mine is a 12/03, do not spend any time looking for the coil hold down clips, there are none. Just remove the connector and pull the coil tube out.
#16
Contributors
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Dubai- UAE
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: BMW 550i 2007 M-Kit installed- 367 BHP Sapphire black, comfort seats, comfort access, HUD, Professional Nav, Logic 7.
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by cokeefe' post='988022' date='Aug 25 2009, 07:03 PM
This is a medium-difficulty project, probably about a 3 on a scale of 10, where 1 is putting air in your tires and 10 is doing an engine rebuild using only a set of Harbor Freight adjustable wrenches and a box of toothpicks, with ?assistance? from my two year old son.
Continued next post
Continued next post
#17
Members
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 550i, Premium Package, Navigation, Comfort Access, L7 Sound
2004 FX35, Sports Package, Stillen CAI
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Excellent write-up man....I was just about to ask my mechanic to change mine out for me, but decided to search the forum....good stuff
![Smile](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/smile.gif)
#18
Senior Members
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 BMW 550i
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
first off, a correction.....you need a 3/16 12 pt socket to remove the hold-downs.
i found it hard to pull the coils off, but i used a screwdriver as leverage, combined with pulling on them, and it made the coils come off a lot easier.
![DIY: How to replace the spark plugs on your V8-spark.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/diy-do-yourself-14/90979d1482365721t-diy-how-replace-spark-plugs-your-v8-spark.jpg)
my plugs had 77k miles on them, and probably could have gone for a lot longer. the old plug tips were worn down slightly.
the original plugs were bosch, and i replaced them with the ngk 4294. they look similar.
![DIY: How to replace the spark plugs on your V8-spark2.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/diy-do-yourself-14/90980d1482365721t-diy-how-replace-spark-plugs-your-v8-spark2.jpg)
i found it hard to pull the coils off, but i used a screwdriver as leverage, combined with pulling on them, and it made the coils come off a lot easier.
![DIY: How to replace the spark plugs on your V8-spark.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/diy-do-yourself-14/90979d1482365721t-diy-how-replace-spark-plugs-your-v8-spark.jpg)
my plugs had 77k miles on them, and probably could have gone for a lot longer. the old plug tips were worn down slightly.
the original plugs were bosch, and i replaced them with the ngk 4294. they look similar.
![DIY: How to replace the spark plugs on your V8-spark2.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/diy-do-yourself-14/90980d1482365721t-diy-how-replace-spark-plugs-your-v8-spark2.jpg)
![DIY: How to replace the spark plugs on your V8-spark3.jpg](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/diy-do-yourself-14/90981d1482365721t-diy-how-replace-spark-plugs-your-v8-spark3.jpg)
#19
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Norcal
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by turboawd' post='1017334' date='Sep 25 2009, 08:03 PM
first off, a correction.....you need a 3/16 12 pt socket to remove the hold-downs.
i found it hard to pull the coils off, but i used a screwdriver as leverage, combined with pulling on them, and it made the coils come off a lot easier.
Once I twisted the coils in place a little, I didn't need leverage, but my car has 30K fewer miles...it makes sense that the coils will need more persuasion the longer they've sat in there. And...nice granite workbench.
![Smile](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/smile.gif)
Thanks for sharing... Did you notice a significant change in performance afterwards?