- engine stalls
- erratic idle
- power outage
- lower fuel efficiency
- In rare instances stalling
- check-engine indicator
- Vehicle won’t start
Usually, ignoring these symptoms only makes things more annoying. Whether that just entails consuming more petrol than normal or getting parked in a parking lot because your car won’t start.
BMW ignition coils have a maximum service life of 140 000 miles. They are often only replaced when there are warning indicators of failure and not as routine maintenance.
In This Article...
Why do ignition coils malfunction?
Your BMW’s ignition coils’ openings are so near to the engine that with time, heat and vibration might harm the coil housing. The typical lifespan of a BMW ignition coil is around 140,000 kilometers. The lifespan of your coils may drastically reduce if you frequently strain your car’s performance. You should prepare to replace your coils every 20,000–25,000 miles if you’re one of the enthusiasts with modified BMWs who enjoys pushing the limits of your vehicle.
Other factors that contribute to ignition coil failure include faulty spark plugs, oil leaks, and engine water corrosion. It’s possible that a damaged spark plug won’t conduct electricity effectively. Due to the excessive heat produced on the insulator side, this can eventually cause the coil housing to melt. Oil leaks will corrode the spark plug and coil connection, decreasing conductivity and ultimately blocking a spark. Finally, water damage will undoubtedly short the circuit formed by the connection between the ignition coil and the spark plug.
How Frequently Should BMW Plugs and Coils Be Replaced?
It is challenging to estimate the lifespan of the spark plugs and ignition coils because, obviously, not all BMW engines are created equal. The lifespan of the components in your BMW ignition system may be impacted by modifications, driving behavior, and product brand. Spark plugs typically wear out in substantially tuned engines that are used on tracks or pushed to their absolute limits on public highways. On the other hand, the spark plugs in grandma’s factory BMW may be preserved and allowed to travel farther than the mileage at which they should be changed without experiencing problems. The approximate life expectancy of certain BMW components is as follows:
- Mileage for spark plugs: 40,000–50,000
- 50,000–65,000 miles on ignition coils
- 15,000 miles on the spark plugs
- 20,000–25,000 miles on ignition coils
These are the general mileages that people who fall into the first two groups can anticipate from their spark plugs and ignition coils. Others may find that the lifespan of their BMW ignition parts is more evenly distributed, leaning either way depending on their customizations and driving habits. For instance, because I drive aggressively and my 2007 BMW 335i N54 engine is modified, my spark plugs normally last approximately 22,000 miles whereas the ignition coils last slightly over 30,000 miles (I do not track the car).
How many ignition coils is required for a BMW 328i?
One ignition coil is used for each cylinder in the majority of BMWs you’ll find on the road today, including the BMW 328i. This configuration is known as a coil-on-plug (COP). Therefore, 328i vehicles from the E46 and E90 generations will use six ignition coils, whilst the more recent F30 328i uses just four coils due to its inline-four engine.
However, because the technology is comparable, the process to modify them is practically the same.
How do BMW coils work?
In our performance/tuning guides, we frequently discuss spark plugs and ignition coils, but why are these components so crucial? Starting with the fundamentals, combustion engines operate by combining fuel and air in the cylinders and lighting that mixture. The air/fuel mixture in the cylinder is ignited by the spark plugs and ignition coils. The low voltage battery in your BMW is transformed into the thousands of volts needed to ignite an electric spark through the spark plug by the ignition coils, which are induction coils. The combustion of the air and fuel mixture caused by the spark pushes the piston of the engine, producing power.
How much do BMW coil replacements cost?
Best in Automotive Repair An ignition coil replacement for a BMW 328i typically costs between $128 and $195. Between $57 and $72 is the expected cost of labor, and between $70 and $123 is the projected cost of parts. Taxes and levies are not included in this range, nor are your particular model year or special location taken into account.
Should I swap out my BMW’s ignition coils all at once?
Coil packs are dependable and should endure for the entire life of the car. There is no need to replace everyone if one of them behaves badly. However, you should replace them all if one pack begins to malfunction after the odometer has traveled about 75,000 miles.
How frequently should coil packs be changed? They don’t need to be changed until symptoms start to appear. Most of the time, they don’t need servicing until they’ve traveled 120,000 to 150,000 miles.
How many coils are there in a car?
The engine’s ignition system depends heavily on ignition coils. Spark plugs can ignite the air+fuel mixture in each individual cylinder thanks to these coils. A automobile has how many ignition coils?
The quick response is that, depending on how many cylinders an engine has, different ignition coils are included with cars. The majority of the time, the number of ignition coils is inversely correlated with the number of cylinders, with one coil for each cylinder.
But that isn’t always the case, as some vehicles use one ignition coil per pair of cylinders, either with or without a distributor (most current vehicles don’t require a distributor).
According to the number of cylinders in your engine and whether it employs one ignition coil per cylinder or one ignition coil per pair of cylinders, your car will typically have 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 ignition coils.
How can I tell if the coil pack in my BMW is damaged?
The main sign that there is a problem is when the ignition coil starts to show symptoms of failure. You can more precisely focus your suspicions if you are aware of the symptoms linked to ignition coil issues.
Inefficient fuel use and poor gas mileage
Your ignition coil is one of several potential causes for why your BMW may not be getting as many miles per gallon as it formerly did. This is a result of your engine’s systems attempting to make up for the broken component.
Misfires in the ignition and stalling
As we’ve learnt, your ignition coil plays a key role in ensuring that the spark plugs can ignite the engine’s fuel. As a result, if the coil has acquired flaws, ignition may be difficult to achieve or may not occur at all, increasing the possibility of misfires or stalling.
A Fight to Start
Similar to the previous point, you might have noticed that your BMW takes a few tries to start the engine and doesn’t start the first time. To avoid the coils unexpectedly falling completely and leaving you stuck, this should be taken seriously and resolved right away.
Heating-Up Engine
Overheating is one of the main reasons why engines fail too soon. Therefore, you may need to check your coil for damage if you’ve experienced recent overheating issues or noticed temperature spikes inside your engine.
Engine tremors
A loud, juddering engine is an obvious indication that there is a problem with the engine system. The ignition coils may have further problems as a result of vibrations harming their fragile internal components.
Spiking Plugs
Because they are directly connected to the ignition coil, if the spark plugs malfunction, your ignition coil may also malfunction as a result.
How much does a BMW spark plug change cost?
Best in Automotive Repair Spark plug repair for a BMW 328i typically costs between $219 and $347. The cost of labor is expected to be between $150 and $189, while the cost of parts is between $69 and $158.
How frequently should a BMW update its spark plugs?
Spark plugs must be replaced every 60,000 miles in the majority of contemporary BMWs built after 2010 with the N20 or N55 engines. For BMWs with V8, V10, N54, or N63 engines, 37000 miles is the minimum distance before replacement spark plugs are required.
Why is my BMW making a noise?
Faulty wiring is one potential factor in BMW engines misfiring. All of your car’s components eventually wear out and require replacement or repair, and the spark plug wiring is no exception. To effectively ignite the engine of your car, fuel and air are combined. The car is unable to adequately combine the fuel and air, which leads to the engine misfiring, when spark plug wiring is not functioning properly, which is frequently the case. You should get your car regularly inspected by a reputable auto repair in order to preserve the lifespan of your spark plugs and the related wiring.
What is the cost of replacing engine coils?
Ignition coils are priced between $168 and $218. Additionally, labor costs are predicted to range from $51 to $64. Taxes and fees are not included in this pricing; they may also vary based on the car’s make and model or its particular location. There might be a need for more repairs; be prepared to pay more.
Do all the ignition coils need to be replaced at once?
It is not possible to fix a damaged ignition coil; a replacement is required. It’s a quick and inexpensive procedure to replace an ignition coil ($180-$380 for one coil) in the majority of cars with a 4-cylinder or inline-6 engine.
Some V6 engines require the removal of an intake manifold in order to access the rear ignition coils (e.g., Ford Edge, Ford Escape V6, Nissan Murano, Toyota Camry V6). This takes more work and is more expensive ($280 to $500 for one rear coil). In situations like this, your mechanic might advise changing all three of the rear ignition coils as a precaution.
If the spark plugs haven’t been changed in a while, it’s also advised to replace them altogether whenever one of the ignition coils dies. Ignition coils will last longer with new spark plugs.
Can I simply swap out the ignition coil?
I just changed one coil, but I’m not sure if I’m about to experience a serious failure. What should five coils plus labor on my Santa Fe cost, in your opinion? Will the performance or gas mileage be affected until then? I drive in the mountains in below-freezing temperatures, and I’ve recently seen a drop in gas mileage and performance up hills, which is why I’m asking. Trying to determine the need and budget. Thank you so much for your advice.
The cost will be close to what it would be if you multiply the amount you paid for the single coil by five. Going up hills always uses more petrol and reduces mpg. Coils can be changed one at a time or all at once. To avoid having to remove coils again, I would advise having all spark plugs replaced along with the coils.
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