Changed the Spark Plugs on My BMW E92 M3 - Never Again

"Danny Korecki" (dannykorecki)
02/29/2020 at 00:05 • Filed to: m3, bmw m3, e92 m3, e92

Let me start by saying I came from a Gen 5 Camaro SS . I am pretty sure my 6'6 frame can fit on either side of that V8.

Changing the spark plugs on my E92 M3 was the biggest PITA. By the end, I couldn’t feel my finger tips from trying to pull the coil packs out even after doing the coat hanger method.

To do a spark plug change on a BMW E92 M 3 you have to basically disassemble most of the engine bay. The driver side airbox has to be completely disassembled and most of the top area near the windshield. Some people even take the engine plenum apart, but it is not needed.

Eventually I finished the job, but the worst part is due to all the stuff you disassemble, if you have a mi sfire or throw a code you have to re- disassemble so much I imagine a hole would be put through a wall if it happened. Luckily for me, I threw no codes and no misfires.

It was a bonding experience with my car, but next time, a BMW tech is doing it.

Here are some shots from my spark plug change.

While I was performing the spark plug change, I also replaced some of the engine bay hardware with Titanium hardware.

Then finished with an oil change.

To check out a bunch more content about my M3, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

DISCUSSION (40)

facw > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 00:12

Are those even precious metal plugs? I’d think if I were designing an engine where they were hard to reach, I’d want to go for a long change interval...

Danny Korecki > facw
02/29/2020 at 00:14

When you say precious metal, platinum ?

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

facw > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 00:20

Yep or iridium. I’m used to seeing them with smaller electrodes, but looks like the dual spark type typically have the bigger ones.

Danny Korecki > facw
02/29/2020 at 00:27

So the NGK ones are exactly the same as the OEM ones. I believe BMW pays NGK to just brand them BMW and charge people like 2x the price.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 00:45

Sigh. Yeah. It’s almost like they give zero thought to “service access”...

Danny Korecki > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
02/29/2020 at 01:01

My father in law is a career mechanic. He taught me service is always an afterthought .

Even official techs have to deal with that the artists made.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 01:05

I think that’s true of all the German makes.

OTOH, I can completely tear down an LS motor with like 3 wrenches. My Silverado headlight bulbs can be swapped in 60 seconds each... and the LS/LQ “two bolts to change a starter” is brilliant. I think GM does a good job... but compared to my AUDIs and BMWs? Day und Nacht.

Danny Korecki > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
02/29/2020 at 01:17

I agree.

Take the Audi. Need to change a belt? Pretend you are a Ferrari and drop the engine.

SmugAardvark > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 02:25

Yeah, after having to disconnect the MAF sensor and remove the entire airbox just to change a headlight on my girl’s 128i, I decided to just take it to our mechanic when the #4 ignition coil ate it a few weeks later.

Cé hé sin > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 05:43

Top tip: buy a diesel BMW next time ..

pip bip - choose Corrour > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 07:05

more quality German “engineering”

dumpsterfire! > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 07:14

when i was doing some service on my E90 n54 motor a while back, i figured it was likely time for new plugs so in they went. got it all back together and started with ugly noise and misfire #5! silly me figured that the gap from the factory was set properly and measuring gap before installation was something only the old timers did. wrong. thankfully the straight 6 is a little bit more accessible for plug access.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
02/29/2020 at 08:37

In my experience Hyundai also does a pretty good job of planning/designing for service.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 08:40

The process to “change the transmission fluid” on a D2 is a study in VAG sadism.

1997 M3 > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 08:54

How about it?! The engines are put together for the ease and convenience of the assembly line, not for the servicer.

You can frequently spend so much time in the engine bay doing stuff it’s like they say, You don’t own a BMW, you have a RELATIONSHIP with a BMW. You might say that’s funny, but there are plenty of times it’s a hard-realized truth. Those who know, do know... ; )

Discerning > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
02/29/2020 at 09:01

I think a lot of that has to do with commercial applications demanding serviceability.

Make something that’s expensive or difficult to service, and the municipality will remember that when it comes time to update their fleet.

Th at said, they still buy Ford diesels after the power stroke debacle that basically meant some shops had to keep a stock of replacement engines. But I think Ford reimbursed the bigger fleets for issues like that one.

Danny Korecki > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
02/29/2020 at 10:39

I believe it.

Danny Korecki > SmugAardvark
02/29/2020 at 10:40

Now I do not blame you.

DipodomysDeserti > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 10:40

Removing all the plastic crap on BMWs is a pain, especially when it starts to get brittle. Worse plug change I’ve ever done was on my old WRX.

Danny Korecki > dumpsterfire!
02/29/2020 at 10:40

thanks for sharing, yeah you dont have that V to lose fingertip feeling around

Danny Korecki > pip bip - choose Corrour
02/29/2020 at 10:41

engineered good enough, maintenance ability is the horrible part.

Danny Korecki > Cé hé sin
02/29/2020 at 10:41

when they start having diesel M cars deal.

Danny Korecki > DipodomysDeserti
02/29/2020 at 10:41

What is bad about a WRX plug change?

Danny Korecki > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
02/29/2020 at 10:42

Their engines are very small right? Idk if it was planning or more they don’t use the engine bay fully.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 10:49

If you’ve ever tried to work on other small-transverse- engined cars you’d know that is IS possible to make servicing a small 4cyl nearly impossible. I’m looking directly at Ford and Mini right now, while giving Toyota significant side-eye.

DipodomysDeserti > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 10:52

On the EJ255 the plugs are directly on the side of the engine, and you only have a few inches of clearance between the block and the engine bay. There’s barely enough room to slide the coil packs off.

Danny Korecki > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
02/29/2020 at 10:53

Yeah back in the day I had my eye on those like 2007 Chevy Impala SS’s. Idk how you do work on them

pizzaman09 > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 10:56

Wown this is so much more painful than the BMWs I've done spark plug changes on. E38 740iL, e39 M5, e36 M3. They were all very easy except for the drivers side back plug in the M5 had some heater core hoses in the way.

Danny Korecki > DipodomysDeserti
02/29/2020 at 10:57

Inches? I would have prayed for inches. I think the back two plugs on the M3 has the thic kness of my finger between the plug top and the strut tower. It was nutty man.

Danny Korecki > pizzaman09
02/29/2020 at 10:58

I think the E39 M5 might be most comparable due to the size of the V8. What was that like?

DipodomysDeserti > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 13:49

How’d you get the plugs out? How’s you fit a socket into a space that’s half and inch wide?

AspiringAutoEngineer > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 14:03

Actual good engineering takes maintenence into consideration

Danny Korecki > DipodomysDeserti
02/29/2020 at 14:29

A bunch of elbows. I say one finger , but it was like 2 inches.

Danny Korecki > AspiringAutoEngineer
02/29/2020 at 14:30

So nothing other than some American stuff and trucks lol

Cé hé sin > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 15:07

No M3D but there’s an M340D.. .but maybe not for you!

Danny Korecki > Cé hé sin
02/29/2020 at 15:13

If they put a M badge on it, its fine.

BobotheMonkey > Danny Korecki
02/29/2020 at 17:46

You have to get a swivel spark plug socket, you cannot use a plug socket and swivel. It won't fit. Then you need a 6 inch locking extension, so you can disconnect the socket to get it out. Need to remove battery, intake, washer tank. First time is a 4 hour ordeal. Second time takes about an hour and a half. ;)

Danny Korecki > BobotheMonkey
02/29/2020 at 20:27

Agreed. I got a Gearwrench one.

Legacy554 > Danny Korecki
03/01/2020 at 09:58

I did this job on my E60 M5 and its the same way. I almost certainly hope I never had to do it again. My most recent BMW adventure was changing the O2 sensors. That requires full plastic shield removal underneath the car, wheels off and fender liner removal...

Danny Korecki > Legacy554
03/01/2020 at 12:23

Yep going to be a hard pass from me next time