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      11-12-2012, 03:43 AM   #1
santov
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Go change your spark plugs! Right now!

Okay, not right now, but soon-

When I got my Z4 used as a lease return a couple years ago the first thing I did was change all the consumables. A little to learn the car, but also see what the fluids, etc looked like.

I changed the plugs with OEM Bosch plugs. 2 years and 28k miles later the idle when cold was a little erratic. Common when it was cold, but I was noticing that even when hot the idle was rough. Not necessarily a constant variation in RPM, but a vibration throughout the car. Like "boomy" reverbs through the cabin and I noticed ripples in my water bottle.

Since I was due for an Inspection 1 (DIY), I ordered up some plugs at the same time. This time I opted for NGKs.

Oh my gawd what a difference. Aside from looking at the tach you couldn't tell the engine was on. WOT accelerations weren't any faster, but they were so much smoother. Like the engine was pure electric.

I can't say the Bosch plugs were faulty, I did examine each one and no dark deposits or malformed contacts. Coil packs looked fine with soft rubber and good contacts at the wiring plug.

Same thing happened in my 2007 Honda Civic. The plugs were supposedly lifetime plugs good for 100k miles. At about 55k the idle got so annoying I took it to the dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong. The idle had become so rough my water bottle would rattle inside the cupholder, at a stop light! At the Honda parts dept they wanted $40 a plug since the were "special". I looked up the part number and bought replacement NGK irridiums for $8 at AutoZone. Huge difference after. Idle was incredibly quiet and accelerations were amazing smooth.

Hopefully somebody will read this and realize how easy it is to replace plugs. Your Z4 will appreciate it!
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      11-14-2012, 06:39 PM   #2
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NGKs rock!
best plugs ever, going way back to my modded DSM and Hondas...
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      11-17-2012, 12:53 AM   #3
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thanks for the tip, every once in a while i notice the erratic idle immediately after start up. I had no idea that a different set of plugs could get rid of that.
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      11-17-2012, 01:02 AM   #4
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Should I change mine? My friend alway tell me there is too much vibration on my car while idling, compare to his 335. I can rarely feel vibration while idling. Also my z4 rpm will drop to 500 when idling with crazy vibration sometime. Other than that everything seems no problem. It just got 50 k km
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      11-19-2012, 09:53 AM   #5
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Which NGKs did you guys go with?

I need to do this ASAP. I have 36k miles and my idle is getting a little rough.
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      11-19-2012, 11:30 AM   #6
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Funny. Lifetime. Only an idiot would leave plugs in a head for 100k miles. smh Good job on changing them. I'm not familiar with the EOM plugs, but I suspect they are not gappable (word?).
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      11-19-2012, 01:23 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jony722si View Post
Should I change mine? My friend alway tell me there is too much vibration on my car while idling, compare to his 335. I can rarely feel vibration while idling. Also my z4 rpm will drop to 500 when idling with crazy vibration sometime. Other than that everything seems no problem. It just got 50 k km
Had this happen to me several times, last time check engine soon light came on, gone 12 hours latter. Took to dealer with no check engine light. Replace Vano relays. Zeon replaced ( not part of issue) $50 with cpo.
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      11-19-2012, 10:36 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tommiegun57 View Post
Had this happen to me several times, last time check engine soon light came on, gone 12 hours latter. Took to dealer with no check engine light. Replace Vano relays. Zeon replaced ( not part of issue) $50 with cpo.
my cpo just ran out...did inspection I at dealership right before cpo due with "NO PROBLEM" my engine light came on about 3 months ago and had it check, it was vano something. but light gone again. what parts did they change for you?
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      11-20-2012, 04:54 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jony722si View Post
my cpo just ran out...did inspection I at dealership right before cpo due with "NO PROBLEM" my engine light came on about 3 months ago and had it check, it was vano something. but light gone again. what parts did they change for you?
Pretty sure it was called a Vano Relay . Two of them. I will check the paper work when I get home . No prices on invoice because of CPO
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      11-20-2012, 11:07 PM   #10
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hope it was just error that my car throw the error code about vanos. been the bimmer specialist shop and they told me not to worry if the light is not on again. ARHHHHH!
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      11-21-2012, 08:07 AM   #11
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hope it was just error that my car throw the error code about vanos. been the bimmer specialist shop and they told me not to worry if the light is not on again. ARHHHHH!
"replace both Vanos Solenoids" Results show Faulty intake vano solenoids
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      11-22-2012, 12:35 AM   #12
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I was thinking I should clarify what I was feeling.

At start up when cold I got an erratic idle. It would vary between 500-750RPM. Once warm the idle would be steady in speed, but rough in texture (booming vibration, water in water bottle made lots of ripples).

After replacing the spark plugs still get a little idle variance at start-up, but the engine ran so much quieter. WOT accelerations were the same speed but felt about 60% smoother. When idling warm the engine was insanely quiet.

Error codes obv points to VANOS or coil pack problems. BMW's coil packs kinda suck, but I wouldn't replace them as a maintenance item, only if/when they go bad.
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