When removing an ignition coil, unclip the wiring from the coil, grasp the coil firmly, and pull it out of the socket. In some circumstances, you might need to slightly twist them to get them out.
Once you’ve identified the defective coil, you can swap it out for a new one (or, if necessary, all the coils). Given that many BMW 328i vehicles come with Bosch ignition coils as standard equipment, they are among the most common replacement options. Bosch’s 0221504800 coil is a fantastic OEM choice.
In This Article...
How To Check For Ignition Coils In A BMW And Replace Them
In the ignition system of a car, direct ignition coils frequently fail. How can you be sure that the ignition coils are to blame for your car’s misfire? There are numerous causes of engine misfires. Electrical, mechanical, and ignition are only a few examples. Our BMW CatalogManager, Gareth Foley, demonstrates how to quickly identify an ignition coil-related engine misfire in a BMW.
Replacing ignition coils on I6 6 cylinder BMWs (3 series, 5 series, X3, X5, M3, Z3 ) (3 series, 5 series, X3, X5, M3, Z3 )
The following BMW vehicles use a similar process (there may be very minor differences between them). For some BMWs, you might have to take off the wiretray or plastic cover that holds the cabin filter. That is also very simple to get rid of. We’ll talk about it below. The models from the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 model years are all covered in this article. Check out our other BMW DIY for the 2002 and newer BMWs or for models that are missing. The ignition coils of the most recent BMWs are “Push in” style and aren’t fastened with fasteners.
- 99 – 2000 BMW 323i
- 01 – 2002 BMW 325CI
- 01 – 2002 BMW 325I
- 01 – 2002 BMW 325XI
- 00 BMW 328CI
- 99 – 2000 BMW 328I
- 01 – 2002 BMW 330CI
- 01 – 2002 BMW 330I
- 01 – 2002 BMW 330XI
- 01 – 2002 BMW 525I
- 97 – 2000 BMW 528I
- 01 – 2002 BMW 530I
- 96 – 1999 BMW M3
- 00 – 2002 BMW X5
- 97 – 2002 BMW Z3
Anyone with even a little mechanical skill may do the fairly simple technique to change the ignition coils in these models of BMWs.
For BMWs with the cabin filter covering the back spark plugs, proceed to Step 1:
- It has three twist clips. Unlock them by turning them, then take off the cabin filter cover. Take the cabin filter out.
- There are 4 torx screws visible once the filter has been removed. Remove the tray by removing the four torx screws using the T30 torx bit.
1: Take off the “BMW”-branded plastic trim panel on the valve cover. There are two plastic trim panel decorative bolt covers on the plastic panel. Remove those with the flat-head screwdriver to reveal the 10mm bolts. Take out the two 10mm bolts.
To remove the plastic cover, step 2 is to unscrew and remove the oil fill cap.
3. Take off the plastic covering. To keep dirt and debris from entering the engine, we advise temporarily reinstalling the oil cap.
4: All 6 ignition coils are visible from this position. Remove the wiring harness connector by carefully prying the harness clip up with a tiny screwdriver.
5: Simply remove the two 10mm bolts holding the ignition coils in place, then replace the old coil with the new one.
If you see oil on the coils and in the spark plug holes, the valve cover gasket that covers the spark plug hole is leaking oil. To prevent oil from dripping onto the brand-new coils and spark plugs, it is advised to replace all of the valve cover gaskets as soon as possible (if the spark plugs were replaced).
For each of the six ignition coils, repeat the operation. The opposite of removing something is just putting it back together. Make certain to reconnect any removed ground wires in particular. The same 10mm bolts that hold the coils down are also used to secure them.
How much does a BMW ignition coil replacement cost?
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.
Which ignition coil manufacturer does BMW use?
I understand that the replacement ignition coils for my 2010 BMW 325i have the part number BMW 12138616153. Delphi is the default brand that BMW supplies.
Would you purchase a Delphi or even a Bosch if you needed to replace all six?
Is there a different, more effective brand that is suggested for Australia?
I think the ones in my car (I believe they are Delphi) need to be replaced and I’m happy to replace them myself because it seems like a very straightforward task.
I recently acquired a Brimmerlife wiring harness from Vader Solutions in the United States, and I’ll be using red top hat coils from an Audi R8. Much better choice.
For my 325i, I literally just got some Delphi Coils from FCP Euro—they were the most affordable I could find. BMW rebrands them and charges twice as much for them.
Here is a post by DR-JEKL that discusses the various coil kinds in great detail:
Quote:
Most automobile coils and plugs have a lifespan of 100–200 thousand kilometers! The N54 is a high-performance engine, and adding a tune puts a lot more demand on the ignition system (and fueling system as well) to supply the gasoline and ignition to produce that extra power. If there is a weak link, the car will immediately enter limp mode (feels like you hit a brick wall – and you get the CEL check engine light)
These cars have terrible coil setups, and it’s not unusual for folks to get misfires even with coils that have been in use for 20–30k kays. Unfortunately, all you can do is trash them. The design of the coils, which sit in the engine recess and are subject to thermal radiation from the motor when the N54/N55 runs hot, is mostly to blame for this.
To try and prevent the coil from deterioration, BMW switched some engines from Bosch coils to Delphi, which has a metal sleeve as an insulator:
$270, freight included. Due to cylinder 6’s misfiring, I’m replacing it and haven’t driven for almost a week. Bosch coils are now fitted in the car; maybe, the Delphi version will have a little bit more life. In my perspective, there shouldn’t be a need to replace if the car is operating normally. 92,000 kilometers have been put on my automobile.
Can I change the ignition coil on my own?
There may be one coil for each spark plug or one coil for two spark plugs, but an ignition coil (also known as a spark coil) is a crucial part of your car that carries power from the battery to the spark plugs. The engine only runs on a few cylinders and loses power if some of the coils are bad. The car could stall out or refuse to start altogether, and you might notice the “Service Engine” light turn on. A failed ignition coil can be simply replaced at home, but you must first disconnect your battery because you’ll be working with high voltages.
Ignition coil replacement: Is it challenging?
In some engines, replacing the ignition coil might be difficult. Accessibility issues and components that stay, such as ignition coil insulator boots that pull apart when you remove them, will be your biggest challenges.
How frequently should a BMW ignition coil be replaced?
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 much time is required to replace an ignition coil?
After the belly pan has been removed, less than an hour. Plug appeared to be fine; unattended. Car has almost 100K miles on it. The car will run extremely unevenly, as if someone had put water in your gas, and you will initially receive a check engine light and code.
Do I have to change each ignition coil individually?
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 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 long does it take to change a spark plug and an ignition coil?
Introduction. For a four-cylinder engine, changing spark plugs takes approximately an hour, and you can do it yourself and save at least $100 in labor costs. Most of the time, it’s a straightforward task that will help to maintain optimum performance and the best gas mileage.
Do I have to unplug the battery to replace the ignition coil?
The ignition system in your automobile is probably not something you give much thought to, if you’re like most people. But if your ignition coil isn’t working properly, you might be wondering if you need to unplug the batteries first.
The battery must be disconnected before replacing the ignition coil, so the answer is yes. Otherwise, you risk damaging the coil or the electrical system of the vehicle.
Why you should disconnect the battery, how to do so safely, and what to do if you accidently damage the coil are all covered in this article.
No, you can replace the ignition coil without first disconnecting the battery. You can change the ignition coil yourself, but because you’ll be working with high voltages, remember to disconnect the battery first.