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      12-15-2018, 06:06 AM   #1
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How often to change spark plugs?

My 320i GT is now 5 years old with just over 50,000 mls. It had the service plan which has now expired.

How often should one change the spark plugs? When I sense rough engine sounds? Routinely every x years or x miles?

Something else is odd. For the last 8 months or so, the counter for how many miles are left until a service is required has stood still on the very same figure (3200 mls). I've clearly done more than that in that time (I drive some 10k mls/year)

Any advice appreciated.
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      12-15-2018, 07:22 AM   #2
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I think the general consensus is to change plugs every 50k.

I think you are about due. Simple DIY that you should not pay anyone else to do.
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      12-15-2018, 09:10 AM   #3
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A spark plug change will be in the service schedule and should be done as per that schedule, the car via CBS will tell the dealer what needs to be done.
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      12-15-2018, 10:39 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wills2 View Post
A spark plug change will be in the service schedule and should be done as per that schedule, the car via CBS will tell the dealer what needs to be done.
How do you find out when this are due though. The idrive only tells you when oil, brake fluid, and brake pads are due. There must be some sort of service schedule, but nothing in the handbook or online that I can find. How does anyone get to know what is needed for say a 4 year or 5 year service. (just had my 3 year brake fluid change). At BMW prices it would be good to know what to expect at each year service point.
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      12-15-2018, 11:48 AM   #5
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Is the next service for brakes by any chance? If so then getting stuck at 3200 or so is normal.
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      12-15-2018, 12:11 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sensible View Post
How do you find out when this are due though. The idrive only tells you when oil, brake fluid, and brake pads are due. There must be some sort of service schedule, but nothing in the handbook or online that I can find. How does anyone get to know what is needed for say a 4 year or 5 year service. (just had my 3 year brake fluid change). At BMW prices it would be good to know what to expect at each year service point.
Well it worked like this for me, (I had my spark plugs changed twice in the last 3 years) Car tells me I'm due a service it also tells the dealer, they know what the service is and what needs to be changed so when I called up to make the appointment they already know and tell me what the service items are and the overall cost.

If your car isn't asking for them it won't need them, unless of course it's a failure related issue rather than a service one.
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      12-15-2018, 03:04 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wills2 View Post
Well it worked like this for me, (I had my spark plugs changed twice in the last 3 years) Car tells me I'm due a service it also tells the dealer, they know what the service is and what needs to be changed so when I called up to make the appointment they already know and tell me what the service items are and the overall cost.

If your car isn't asking for them it won't need them, unless of course it's a failure related issue rather than a service one.
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      12-15-2018, 06:06 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by GEP77 View Post
Is the next service for brakes by any chance? If so then getting stuck at 3200 or so is normal.
Hmm, how would I know?
Car doesn't say anything (yet), but if it believes to have to do another 3200 mls to go, how would that ever change?

I just took advice of a independent mechanic I trust. My MOT is due in 2 weeks. To avoid an MOT advisory or not passing MOT I just had front discs and front & rear pads replaced.

Main stealer had told me this exactly one year ago: "Brakes are due, maybe another 1000 mls, but then they really need to be done.". Well, I got about a full year and 11,000 mls without the car telling me anything about the brakes. Had them done now, though.
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      12-15-2018, 06:16 PM   #9
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Your brake pads have wear sensors.
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      12-15-2018, 06:25 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeMinh View Post
My 320i GT is now 5 years old with just over 50,000 mls. It had the service plan which has now expired.

How often should one change the spark plugs? When I sense rough engine sounds? Routinely every x years or x miles?

Something else is odd. For the last 8 months or so, the counter for how many miles are left until a service is required has stood still on the very same figure (3200 mls). I've clearly done more than that in that time (I drive some 10k mls/year)

Any advice appreciated.
Every spark plug interval I've come across for the F3X has said 4yrs/60K(miles). Sounds like you're ready.
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      12-15-2018, 06:28 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JAJJ8485 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeMinh View Post
My 320i GT is now 5 years old with just over 50,000 mls. It had the service plan which has now expired.

How often should one change the spark plugs? When I sense rough engine sounds? Routinely every x years or x miles?

Something else is odd. For the last 8 months or so, the counter for how many miles are left until a service is required has stood still on the very same figure (3200 mls). I've clearly done more than that in that time (I drive some 10k mls/year)

Any advice appreciated.
Every spark plug interval I've come across for the F3X has said 4yrs/60K(miles). Sounds like you're ready.
Finally. Another person who has a bit of sense....

Relying on the CBS system is not the smartest plan for certain items.
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      12-16-2018, 04:51 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sspade View Post
Finally. Another person who has a bit of sense....

Relying on the CBS system is not the smartest plan for certain items.
It's absolutely fine and recommended by the people that engineered the car, the guys with the PHDs and untold engineering experience in charge of multi billion £ automotive development projects, or do we go with some bloke off the internet?

I've done over 500,000 miles across 10 BMWs, the last one did 90,000 miles in 3 years and I've had one on the drive for 12 years and I always follow the CBS schedule and have never had an issue...something tells me they know what they are doing.
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      12-16-2018, 05:33 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GEP77 View Post
Is the next service for brakes by any chance? If so then getting stuck at 3200 or so is normal.
Same here - it was counting down just nicely, but then it's been stuck at 3200 miles for a while now. When I changed to winter wheels a week ago, I got a printout of the service requirements - spark plugs, filter and oil change in just under 6000 miles' time, but brake pads in 3200 miles.
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      12-16-2018, 09:00 AM   #14
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Tempted to follow mainly the CBS system in the car, this is what it's made for.
I found in the owner's handbook: Replace spark plugs with every second oil change.
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      12-16-2018, 01:14 PM   #15
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Also found out now: Car says in its service history that spark plugs were done at 37,000 mls in Oct 2017. This was within the service plan at the time, nothing to pay.

This means they are clearly not due now. I should have checked this obvious display in the beginning. By the time they are due next time, 75-80,000 mls, age 7-8 years I will probably have replaced this car.
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      12-16-2018, 01:26 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeMinh View Post
Also found out now: Car says in its service history that spark plugs were done at 37,000 mls in Oct 2017. This was within the service plan at the time, nothing to pay.

This means they are clearly not due now. I should have checked this obvious display in the beginning. By the time they are due next time, 75-80,000 mls, age 7-8 years I will probably have replaced this car.
My spark plugs were also done at that mileage and then again at around 74k, the great thing about the CBS system is the key tells the dealer what needs doing so they don't cock it up either.

Glad you have some peace of mind around it now.
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      12-16-2018, 08:08 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wills2 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by sspade View Post
Finally. Another person who has a bit of sense....

Relying on the CBS system is not the smartest plan for certain items.
It's absolutely fine and recommended by the people that engineered the car, the guys with the PHDs and untold engineering experience in charge of multi billion £ automotive development projects, or do we go with some bloke off the internet?

I've done over 500,000 miles across 10 BMWs, the last one did 90,000 miles in 3 years and I've had one on the drive for 12 years and I always follow the CBS schedule and have never had an issue...something tells me they know what they are doing.
The same geniuses who recommended 15k OCI which is widely agreed upon as a major contributing factor to premature timing chain failure?

You dont say....
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      12-16-2018, 08:10 PM   #18
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If one thinks CBS is one hundred percent, bullet proof perfect on recommendations to keep a vehicle in tip top condition for a long service life...

Yer nutz!
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      12-16-2018, 08:33 PM   #19
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I am interested in when these get done. I have 35,000 miles on mine and the dealer just told me I needed sparkplugs on the 328i. They said it was due. I asked what the service interval was for that, and he said every third oil change. I've got 3500 miles to the next change, so I skipped it for now, but I am interested in how you know when it's needed.
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      05-28-2019, 09:07 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmyfloyd View Post
I am interested in when these get done. I have 35,000 miles on mine and the dealer just told me I needed spark plugs on the 328i. They said it was due. I asked what the service interval was for that, and he said every third oil change. I've got 3500 miles to the next change, so I skipped it for now, but I am interested in how you know when it's needed.
I've just found this:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...nance/GIhHxmX4

Look down toward the bottom for the F30 328i. This states that for N20 engines before March 2012, the first spark plug change should be at 18,400 miles (30K kilometers), and the second at about 38,000 miles (60K km). After 3/2012, it says, the interval is 60K km -- so every 38,000:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...nance/IwggoETi

So I suppose I should be prepared for my 2015 to start demanding new plugs when I get to about 36-37K miles? That's going to be around next March for me, so no rush.
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      05-28-2019, 12:48 PM   #21
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wow my 2014 Hyundai accent that I bought brand new has over 190000km on it and th e original plugs, I have pulled them out and inspected them, checked the gap and they are in perfect condition, back in they go.... Bmw cost me exactly 4x as much and needs plugs every 60000km, come on!!! I know they are completely different cars, but the engines due exactly the same things.. why the ridiculous time interval on plugs???
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      05-28-2019, 03:26 PM   #22
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B58 spark plug interval is every second service, so 4 years if you follow CBS.

(At least this is the first interval)

I always ask for a print out of the key data when it's at the dealers as it shows extra detail not shown on idrive like when spark plugs, air / fuel filter are due etc, both time and mileage remaining.
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