DIY: Do It Yourself Share all your DIY experiences here. Ask how-to questions also!

DIY: How to replace the spark plugs on your V8

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-26-2009, 07:11 PM
  #11  
Members
 
Curmudgeon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: The Great PNW
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i, Silber-grau/grau. Vanilla flavored except for cold WX pkg.
Default

Great DIY! That's a keeper for when I need to do it.
Old 08-27-2009, 05:36 PM
  #12  
Senior Members
 
suthurnbimmur's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 BMW 545i
Default

EXCELLENT write up, next thing to do on my car...................thanks.
Old 08-27-2009, 05:45 PM
  #13  
Contributors
 
DRANGED's Avatar
 
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
Default

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon' post='989890
EXCELLENT write up, next thing to do on my car...................thanks.
+1 Thank you very much for the write up!!
Old 09-08-2009, 05:27 PM
  #14  
Members
 
bmwroger1's Avatar
 
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

Originally Posted by DRANGED' post='990907' date='Aug 27 2009, 08:45 PM
+1 Thank you very much for the write up!!
i have a 2004 545I and i tried to remove that plug closest to the firewall on the drivers side.....even when removing the bracket for the power wire....i still could not remove that coil... are you sure that is all you have to move out of the way? i got very frusterated and decided to leave that one in....but i have to change it...but i will try to remove it again...since that it the only solution..
Old 09-10-2009, 05:18 PM
  #15  
Members
 
billeul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

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.
Old 09-10-2009, 09:55 PM
  #16  
Contributors
 
wees75's Avatar
 
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

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
Thanks for sharing... Did you notice a significant change in performance afterwards?
Old 09-11-2009, 08:57 AM
  #17  
Members
 
chosenone357's Avatar
 
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

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
Old 09-25-2009, 07:03 PM
  #18  
Senior Members
 
turboawd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 BMW 550i
Default

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


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

DIY: How to replace the spark plugs on your V8-spark3.jpg
Old 09-25-2009, 08:01 PM
  #19  
Members
Thread Starter
 
cokeefe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Norcal
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

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.
Good catch. I mistyped the size on my notes and then repeated it here. Dunno why, but I can't edit the original post now....

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.

Thanks for sharing... Did you notice a significant change in performance afterwards?
Not really. It "seemed" to make drive-off from stop signs and lights a little easier (I have a 6-speed manual) but that may or may not be psychological. Mileage stayed the same.
Old 09-26-2009, 10:26 PM
  #20  
Members
 
SIC FKR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bay Area Ca.
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: Stock for now
Default

Thanks for all the pics and tips. I plan to install my this winter.


Quick Reply: DIY: How to replace the spark plugs on your V8



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:47 AM.