Look at the coil’s tip where it connects to the spark plug. Three interactions are planned. The two on the outer serve as the main connections. Check the contacts using an electric ohmmeter. To determine how many ohms the coils are producing on the readout, place the ends of the ohmmeter testing wires on the contacts. The allowable range, according to BMW, is between 0.4 and 0.8 ohms.
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Step 3: Unplug each coil individually
Disconnect the wiring from the ignition coil for cylinder number one while the car is still moving, and then pay attention to the idle sound for any changes. You can tell that cylinder number one was the issue if there isn’t an audible difference in the sound. You can tell it was a cylinder other than number one if there was a discernible change in the sound or how the engine ran. If so, proceed further up the line until you locate the problematic cylinder.
SERPRESULT
Even on current automobiles, there are instances where a coil might break between numerous other components of the ignition system, therefore this is frequently not the cause.
av98
There are three connectors from the u-shaped ignition coil harness in the manual: 1, 4a, and 15. According to the statement, 15 is positive (+) and will be tested against the ground. Spark plug connector: Bosch: 1k ohm +/- 20%; Beru: 1k ohm +/- 20%; Coil primary: 1(-) and 15 (+) resistance: about 0.8 ohms; Coil secondary: N.A. Based on M52TU+ engines, this.
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The vast majority of automobile coils may be tested using this method. Check the resistance between the coil’s side terminals with an ohmmeter. Disconnect all of the coil’s wires before performing this. Resistance should range from 0.75 to 0.81 ohm. Then measure the resistance between the central high tension terminal and either side terminal. It should read between 10,000 and 11,000 ohms. Any considerable departure from these values would suggest a problem with the coil.
How can I tell if the coil pack in my BMW is damaged?
You may have come to this page to learn more about these symptoms because you have already observed one or more of them. Regardless matter whether you have yet to suffer ignition coil failure, you should always be aware of the signs. The following are warning indications of a failed ignition coil:
- Misfire in a cylinder. The spark that passes through your spark plugs is generated by the ignition coil. Depending on how badly the coil is damaged, there may be no spark at all or untimed sparks.
- Power Deficit Your engine’s rhythm is thrown off if one or more cylinders fire at the wrong time or not at all. When the coil is defective, your BMW experiences performance problems as a result. Every cylinder is timed to fire once each rotation at a specific moment. Your engine’s efficiency is significantly impacted by one cylinder firing out of phase.
- Rushed Idling Your engine will tremor wildly when idling for the same reason that power is lost. This occurs because the cylinders that are working compensate for the failure of one or more cylinders to drive the spinning of your crankshaft.
- lower fuel efficiency Are you making more frequent trips to the gas station? Most likely the problem is with your ignition coil. The combustion reaction in one of your cylinders is not adequately sparked by a malfunctioning ignition coil. The cylinders that are still working compensate for the malfunctioning cylinder or cylinders by burning a lot more gas than your car should.
- The engine stalls. Your automobile will stall down unexpectedly as a result of misfires and power loss, and the engine may even completely shut off. Your engine will lose the momentum that propels it with just one poor rotation. Your engine won’t start, so you’ll need to start it again or risk getting stuck somewhere.
- Starting Issues A spark is required to ignite the cylinders and start the engine of your car. No spark results in no combustion in the cylinder and a non-starting engine.
- Check Engine indicator. A malfunctioning ignition coil that results in a misfire will undoubtedly alert your BMW’s computer to an issue with the engine. A code reader will identify the precise cylinder that needs repair.
How can I verify the integrity of my coil packs?
- a sloppy idling.
- an engine that was unusually loud.
- a significant absence of power
- a sudden and considerable drop in RPMs when accelerating.
- a check engine light that is blinking or that occasionally activates.
- a gas caution light that is on while there is plenty of fuel in the car
What damages the coils in a BMW?
The heat and vibration from your engine can eventually lead to an ignition coil failure. Although insulated, persistent vibration and heat will eventually harm any electronic component. The telltale indicators of malfunctioning ignition coils can be identified by a qualified BMW mechanic.
Overvoltage from a defective spark plug or plug wire reaching the coil is the most frequent cause of ignition coil failure. Either will severely shorten the ignition coil’s lifespan. Bad spark plugs and wires can be avoided because your BMW’s instructions call for precise intervals between changes. Later costs will increase if plugs and cables are not replaced on a regular basis.
Ignition coil testing equipment is available?
You can also unplug the coil, plug it back in, and use an ignition spark tester like OEM 25069 to check if the coil is firing if you think it could be dead. A multimeter can also be used to measure resistance.
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.
If you where going to replace all six would you buy the Delphi or possibly Bosch instead?
Is there another recommended brand available in Australia that would do a better job?
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. Way better option.
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.
How durable are BMW coil packs?
- 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.
How do you identify a weak coil?
Not only is it embarrassing, but black smoke and the smell of gasoline coming from your exhaust could be an early sign of an ignition coil failure. Unused fuel that escapes through the exhaust system causes backfiring. If neglected, your exhaust system, including the catalytic converter, might suffer catastrophic damage.
What could cause coil packs to malfunction?
In a perfect world, replacing the ignition coil would always fix a misfire that was causing the check engine light to flash. There would never be any part returns if this were the case. The truth is that a misfire might involve more than just a lack of an ignition coil spark.
Ignition coils have three basic components, however their size and shape might vary widely. The primary windings, secondary windings, and the material separating the two windings, which is non-conductive or dielectric, are all listed. Typically, a dielectric resin is used as the insulating material, which is applied in a vacuum to prevent the formation of air bubbles. In a coil, air bubbles can make a conduit for electricity to travel and cause an early failure.
Coils can break down due to a number of factors, such as heat, vibration, or problems with the secondary side of the ignition system. Usually, coils are bolted to the cylinder head, either on top of or inside of a well designed specifically for that cylinder. The insulating material may disintegrate and lead to internal coil failure as a result of excessive heat and vibration. Spark plugs or wires that are worn out can make a coil work harder, need more voltage, and thus dramatically shorten the coil’s operating life.
When a coil malfunctions, it’s possible that the generated electricity cannot go to the spark plug where it is intended to go. When this occurs, the electricity generated inside the secondary windings seeks the route to ground that presents the least amount of resistance. This route frequently passes through the coil’s boot or body. Carbon tracking occurs when moisture, grease, or dirt forms an electrical channel to ground after being electrostatically attracted to the boot or insulator. The coil and accompanying plug should be changed if carbon tracking is discovered. It’s also conceivable that an ignition coil failure could harm the ignition control module or engine computer.
In order to avoid common pattern failures observed with the original ignition coils, aftermarket replacement coils are frequently manufactured. Improved dielectric materials that better insulate the secondary and primary coils can be one of these advances. Additionally, the ignition control module’s architecture can be improved to increase the unit’s resistance to heat and vibration.
The counter employee must inquire about the cause for the return of the coil from the customer. Because the coils are verified before the item is packed in the box, some manufacturers have exceptionally low to nil manufacturing problems for coils.
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.