[kern417]

I made a video to answer most if not all of your spark plug questions. TL;DR at the beginning for cliff notes, or enjoy listening to me ramble for 15 minutes 🤘🏾 hope this helps.

[OzBMR]

Great visual comparison of the various plugs people talk about using.

I don't think the Champion plug is colder than the NGK plug. Both companies have their own heat range classifications and the comparison chart is a rule of thumb guide and I think it's a bit off in this case.

The NGK plug has a shorter, thicker insulator nose which should dissipate heat more easily and the tip itself is better insulated.



NGK 94201 on the left, stock Champion on the right

[IMS-340C]

Great video and info Kern as usual.

My car has the Champion Spark Plug and from the video you mentioned that we can't go a step colder with the exact same thread length inside the cylinder and also the contact point with the Coils ?

If there's a 1 step colder than the OEM Champion plugs with the exact dimensions (thread length/Coil contact area) I appreciate if you could list the brand and part number.

Thanks mate.

Originally Posted by kern417

I made a video to answer most if not all of your spark plug questions. TL;DR at the beginning for cliff notes, or enjoy listening to me ramble for 15 minutes ���� hope this helps.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by IMS-340MP

Great video and info Kern as usual.

My car has the Champion Spark Plug and from the video you mentioned that we can't go a step colder with the exact same thread length inside the cylinder and also the contact point with the Coils ?

If there's a 1 step colder than the OEM Champion plugs with the exact dimensions (thread length/Coil contact area) I appreciate if you could list the brand and part number.

Thanks mate.

To clarify, I believe what you're referring to is when I was saying that the TU plugs are longer but they are not a step colder.

Also, there are currently no plugs available that have the same geometry and are a step colder than the factory plugs.

[OzBMR]

I did some measurements on the NGK 94201 vs stock Champion.

Insulator thickness at the end of the threaded section
NGK 4.77mm
Champion 4.33 mm

Depth of insulator nose (from electrode strap measuring to inside of the threaded section)
NGK has 2mm less depth compared to the Champion plug

NGK has a shorter, thicker insulator nose and should be colder than the Champion.

[IMS-340C]

No your video is great and very clear for everybody to understand many thanks.

Only point at that needed to be more clear at 11:20 into the video you said Gen1 and Gen2 has different pistons/compression ratios, you forgot to mention that not all Gen2 has lower compression the early production Supra with the Gen2 engine had the same compression ratio of 11:1 like Gen1 while the M340i which had a different compression ratio of 10.2:1 and for MY 2020 the Supra also shifted to 10.2:1 compression ratio.

My question was: There is no way to find a spark plug on the market which are colder and have the exact same thread depth and coil contact area shape like the ones we have in our OEM Gen1 engines ?

EDIT: So basically we can't put a colder spark plug in our Gen1 engines than the Champion spark plug ?

Originally Posted by kern417

To clarify, I believe what you're referring to is when I was saying that the TU plugs are longer but they are not a step colder.

Also, there are currently no plugs available that have the same geometry and are a step colder than the factory plugs.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by IMS-340MP

No your video is great and very clear for everybody to understand many thanks.

Only point at that needed to be more clear at 11:20 into the video you said Gen1 and Gen2 has different pistons/compression ratios, you forgot to mention that not all Gen2 has lower compression the early production Supra with the Gen2 engine had the same compression ratio of 11:1 like Gen1 while the M340i which had a different compression ratio of 10.2:1 and for MY 2020 the Supra also shifted to 10.2:1 compression ratio.

My question was: There is no way to find a spark plug on the market which are colder and have the exact same thread depth and coil contact area shape like the ones we have in our OEM Gen1 engines ?

EDIT: So basically we can't put a colder spark plug in our Gen1 engines than the Champion spark plug ?

Right, basically I should have said a combination of those things. Even the injectors spray pattern and pressure play a role in how the ignition happens. So a lot of variables between the 3 engines.

And no, at this point no colder plugs are available. That might change in the future, but people are running 700+hp on the stock plugs without issues. I don't think they're really needed.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by OzBMR

I did some measurements on the NGK 94201 vs stock Champion.

Insulator thickness at the end of the threaded section
NGK 4.77mm
Champion 4.33 mm

Depth of insulator nose (from electrode strap measuring to inside of the threaded section)
NGK has 2mm less depth compared to the Champion plug

NGK has a shorter, thicker insulator nose and should be colder than the Champion.

This is what everyone was saying in the other thread, so there much be some other characteristic of the plug that has an effect. Perhaps the materials used affect the heat range to make it lower. But we can't find any mjore details on the heat ranges themselves other than that chart, and I'm inclined to trust it until i see more specs. But it just goes to show that the NGK will work just as well.

[InstigatorX]

Suggestions on reputable sources for the Champion plug for Gen1? I remember reading about counterfeit plugs somewhere.

[Glemm1970]

I used NGK 97506 on the B58, they often give misfires, a clearance of 0.5mm. Now I put 94201. The clearance is 0.5mm. I’ll go and write how they behave.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by InstigatorX

Suggestions on reputable sources for the Champion plug for Gen1? I remember reading about counterfeit plugs somewhere.

FCP Euro. Future replacements will be free.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...on-12120040551

They also normally sell NGKs, but they're on backorder.

[Devil doc]

Originally Posted by Glemm1970

I used NGK 97506 on the B58, they often give misfires, a clearance of 0.5mm. Now I put 94201. The clearance is 0.5mm. I’ll go and write how they behave.

Bringing back this Old thread

Quick question, how did the the 97506s compared to the 94201s with the misfires? Thanks

[G.Newt]

Originally Posted by Devil doc

Bringing back this Old thread

Quick question, how did the the 97506s compared to the 94201s with the misfires? Thanks

94201 is specifically made for gen-1 B58 motors. Would go with those or OEM, not 97506, although they can work.

[GA/\/\/\/\A_CT]

Great video Kern!!! What a great service to BMW enthusiasts.
Thank you!!!

Just one question about gapping.

If my old plugs look burnt or wet, as you say is bad, how do I know whether I should try a narrower or wider gap? Is there a rule
of thumb or parameters on how narrow/wide to go for my 2016 340xi with BM3 stage 1?

Thanks!

[blacksapphire440i]

What do you mean by future replacements? I bought NGK plugs from FCPEuro w/ an oil filter + 5w-30 special tec b oil. Would I send the old parts to them and they would give me a replacement?

[G.Newt]

Originally Posted by blacksapphire440i

What do you mean by future replacements? I bought NGK plugs from FCPEuro w/ an oil filter + 5w-30 special tec b oil. Would I send the old parts to them and they would give me a replacement?

https://www.fcpeuro.com/page/lifetime-guarantee

[kern417]

Originally Posted by GA/\/\/\/\A_CT

Great video Kern!!! What a great service to BMW enthusiasts.
Thank you!!!

Just one question about gapping.

If my old plugs look burnt or wet, as you say is bad, how do I know whether I should try a narrower or wider gap? Is there a rule
of thumb or parameters on how narrow/wide to go for my 2016 340xi with BM3 stage 1?

Thanks!

typically that is a tune or hardware issue. gapping plugs is to prevent misfires/blowout due to increased cylinder pressures, temperatures, etc that comes with increased hp. however our stock plugs handle more power very well without gapping.

Originally Posted by blacksapphire440i

What do you mean by future replacements? I bought NGK plugs from FCPEuro w/ an oil filter + 5w-30 special tec b oil. Would I send the old parts to them and they would give me a replacement?

buy new ones (same as wha tyou bought originally)
submit a warranty claim
ship back the old ones when they are removed
profit

[Devil doc]

From my experience I got a fair amount of timing corrections on the stock plug with stock gap, then I tried S55 plugs at 0.22 and it helped the connections at the stage 2 level, but I still had corrections; however, the corrections got really heavy at the stage 2+ Level.

Finally went back to the stock 94201s with a 0.22 gap this time, and it made a huge difference. I only saw one single small correction now.

[kriszty]

Originally Posted by Devil doc

From my experience I got a fair amount of timing corrections on the stock plug with stock gap, then I tried S55 plugs at 0.22 and it helped the connections at the stage 2 level, but I still had corrections; however, the corrections got really heavy at the stage 2+ Level.

Finally went back to the stock 94201s with a 0.22 gap this time, and it made a huge difference. I only saw one single small correction now.

i told you

[Juice247]

I replaced my stock original plugs with 23k miles on them with new NGK 94201s. Gen 1 B58. Gap at .022. BM3 stage 2+, DP, HPFP and the engine is WAAAAAAAAAAAY smoother.

[Devil doc]

Originally Posted by kriszty

i told you

Yup! The difference is night and day

[blacksapphire440i]

Originally Posted by kern417

typically that is a tune or hardware issue. gapping plugs is to prevent misfires/blowout due to increased cylinder pressures, temperatures, etc that comes with increased hp. however our stock plugs handle more power very well without gapping.




buy new ones (same as wha tyou bought originally)
submit a warranty claim
ship back the old ones when they are removed
profit

If I wanted to do this with oil, would I just fill the old bottle with the old oil and ship it back to FCPEuro?