HIGHLY RECCOMMEND New Spark Plugs at 70K
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So I've posted about my relative lack of faith in the iDrive Service menu before. Most of us who want to keep our prized E60s over the 100K mile mark do change our oil more frequently, for example, than iDrive would reccommend.
My 545i started to have a lot of shrugs/rough starts over the past six months in perfectly normal weather. I also noted that the pickup was decreasing despite resetting the tranny. I read somewhere in this forum that changing out the plugs may help.
Went to my stealers and had them do this at my cost, even though they didn't reccommend it. I kept the original NGK plugs and they looked HORRIBLE! They were corroded, blackened and charred at their contacts like you would not believe.
I opted to replace with OEM NGKs. I do not reccommend you try doing this yourself - its virtually impossible to get at the last two plugs in the V8 engine.
The proof is in the pudding because she now revs, starts and pulls like the first day I got her. The difference is not only obvious but very pronounced. The wife who drove the car the other day asked if I had "changed the engine!" LOL!!!
Thought I would share with everyone...I think if you are interested in preserving performance of your vehicle, this is an easy fix!!
Here are some pix of the old NGK plugs taken from my phone to illustrate what I mean...
S
So I've posted about my relative lack of faith in the iDrive Service menu before. Most of us who want to keep our prized E60s over the 100K mile mark do change our oil more frequently, for example, than iDrive would reccommend.
My 545i started to have a lot of shrugs/rough starts over the past six months in perfectly normal weather. I also noted that the pickup was decreasing despite resetting the tranny. I read somewhere in this forum that changing out the plugs may help.
Went to my stealers and had them do this at my cost, even though they didn't reccommend it. I kept the original NGK plugs and they looked HORRIBLE! They were corroded, blackened and charred at their contacts like you would not believe.
I opted to replace with OEM NGKs. I do not reccommend you try doing this yourself - its virtually impossible to get at the last two plugs in the V8 engine.The proof is in the pudding because she now revs, starts and pulls like the first day I got her. The difference is not only obvious but very pronounced. The wife who drove the car the other day asked if I had "changed the engine!" LOL!!!
Thought I would share with everyone...I think if you are interested in preserving performance of your vehicle, this is an easy fix!!
Here are some pix of the old NGK plugs taken from my phone to illustrate what I mean...
S
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My Ride: 2005 545i E60 Orient Blau Metallic
Premium, NAV, Winter Package, Heads Up Display, Logic 7 Audio, AngeliBright Upgrade [White], M5 Body Kit, M Embroidered Seats
Originally Posted by theXman' post='672248' date='Sep 18 2008, 09:43 AM
+1
The stealer was good to me in that this was my first visit to them -
Parts $156.80
Labor $330.00
The end result, IMHO, is WELL worth it....
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Thats good to know. second recommendation that i've read here already about changing the spark plugs early...
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Originally Posted by southgate' post='672284' date='Sep 18 2008, 11:39 AM
im thinking of doing a DIY for this although i dont know how to reset the idrive
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Originally Posted by subarashi' post='672261' date='Sep 18 2008, 10:00 AM
The stealer was good to me in that this was my first visit to them -
Parts $156.80
Labor $330.00
The end result, IMHO, is WELL worth it....
Parts $156.80
Labor $330.00
The end result, IMHO, is WELL worth it....
Almost $20 a plug. Must be gold in them.
Labor $330??? I don't know how a trained tech can not replace those plugs in one hour. If it takes him longer then he should be fired. Sounds like you paid for an hour and half lunch break considering one hour of labor I'm guessing is around $100 to $125.
Glad if fixed your problem. I plan on doing mine at about 60K. I've always thought 100K on plugs was really pushing it.
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From: Fort Worth, TX
Originally Posted by subarashi' post='672287' date='Sep 18 2008, 10:40 AM
Search the forums - but let me warn you that its very difficult. You will spend a lot of time and its not worth it in my opinion.. The dealer is reasonable in this regard...
I'm not paying almost $500 to a dealer to do that.