Slight miss when accelerating

[lainmike0710]

It appears my 128 is slightly missing when accelerating mostly up hills. Trying to determine if I should replace plugs and wires or just plugs....usually both go hand in hand correct??

[Southjersey128]

Plugs and Coils

[Xyloft]

the 128 is a bit different than any car i've worked on. there really isn't a "wire" like on most other cars. the coil is individual (we have 6 separate coils, instead of a coil pack with wires coming out of them).

if it were me, i'd just swap the plugs first.

is it throwing a code at all or are you just noticing a hesitation.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by Xyloft

the 128 is a bit different than any car i've worked on. there really isn't a "wire" like on most other cars. the coil is individual (we have 6 separate coils, instead of a coil pack with wires coming out of them).

if it were me, i'd just swap the plugs first.

is it throwing a code at all or are you just noticing a hesitation.

No codes are throwing just seems like if I were at really low rpm's in a certain gear then it seems to jerk almost a hesitation definitely a miss...what I mean by the low rpms is say going up a hill maybe in too high a gear and accelerating definitely ends up missing.

[631twentyeighteye]

almost certainly plugs or coil pack. Try and get it to throw a code by forcing it to happen a lot. Won't damage anything and will help you figure out which cylinder it is.

Though you could just replace all 6 plugs, and see if it persists. Depending on mileage thats probably you're best bet. If it persists its coil packs.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

almost certainly plugs or coil pack. Try and get it to throw a code by forcing it to happen a lot. Won't damage anything and will help you figure out which cylinder it is.

Though you could just replace all 6 plugs, and see if it persists. Depending on mileage thats probably you're best bet. If it persists its coil packs.

The plugs were coming up on a must anyway and I had been planning on them but 6 damn coil packs is no joke when it comes to price so throwing a code is exactly what I want to happen so I can replace the problem one...at least for now plus all 6 plugs.

[631twentyeighteye]

It's unlikely that it's all 6 coil packs, but no way to know without a code. It's probably one or two cylinders and coil packs have vastly different lifetimes. Some can die out after 10k, others will last 150k.

If you get a code thrown, IE misfire cylinder 1, swap the coil pack 1 with coil pack 2 and see if the misfire follows the swap. If so, you know the coil pack is the culprit.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

It's unlikely that it's all 6 coil packs, but no way to know without a code. It's probably one or two cylinders and coil packs have vastly different lifetimes. Some can die out after 10k, others will last 150k.

If you get a code thrown, IE misfire cylinder 1, swap the coil pack 1 with coil pack 2 and see if the misfire follows the swap. If so, you know the coil pack is the culprit.

Sounds good! Know of any good DIYs for n52 replacement of plugs and/or coil packs?

[631twentyeighteye]

This is on e90, but almost identical for our use.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174217

[lainmike0710]

One last question and I'll leave you be...bavauto has genuine BMW I believe ngks and then I'm pretty sure the exact same plugs that don't say bmw but just ngk or Bosch...I've read so much stuff over the years about the genuine ones being the only ones that are efficient for use but I have my doubts...what do you think?

[Xyloft]

The bmw ones are expensive. I just did this today though and decided to go with bmw branded ones. The ones I pulled out were Bosch, the ones I bought today were NGK.

The DIY from this forum for the 135 is almost identical to what we have to do.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by Xyloft

The bmw ones are expensive. I just did this today though and decided to go with bmw branded ones. The ones I pulled out were Bosch, the ones I bought today were NGK.

The DIY from this forum for the 135 is almost identical to what we have do.

The bmw ones are at least twice as expensive and from what I've researched are the same....how could they not be as we know BMW uses ngk and Bosch plugs....I still haven't decided which ones I'll go with, I try to stay oem/genuine but if I have to buy coils then some less expensive plugs might not be terrible if they are the same plugs of course.

[tuphdc]

I had the same issue - a slight miss under load. I did just coils first, but there was still a slight miss somewhere. I did plugs next and the issue was solved - original plugs had 64k on them.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by tuphdc

I had the same issue - a slight miss under load. I did just coils first, but there was still a slight miss somewhere. I did plugs next and the issue was solved - original plugs had 64k on them.

In my case I will do plugs first to see where we're at...did you buy "genuine" ngk or just the correct ngk without bmw written on them?

[tuphdc]

Originally Posted by lainmike0710

In my case I will do plugs first to see where we're at...did you buy "genuine" ngk or just the correct ngk without bmw written on them?

I have Bosch replacement plugs without the bmw stamp....found them on ebay.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by tuphdc

I have bosh replacement plugs without the bmw stamp....found them on ebay.

Ya Amazon has full Bosch and NGK sets without the stamp but correct part numbers which even BAVAUTO sells for BMWs so it really can't be an issue and others that think it is make it up in their heads. I think it's strange that Tischer (getbmwparts.com) does not sell plugs for n52!?

[631twentyeighteye]

I went with Bosch plugs off of ESCtuning.com

I don't think they had the stamp, but not sure to be honest. They work fine regardless.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

I went with Bosch plugs off of ESCtuning.com

I don't think they had the stamp, but not sure to be honest. They work fine regardless.

Exactly....I've read posts with people complaining that they felt issues with the unstamped ones so went back and bought the stamped ones and it was so much better and I truly believe it's in their heads.

[lainmike0710]

Not to change the subject or topic of this thread but while I have some experienced people here, do you guys know anything at all about changing out the cornering bulbs?? There is a little access panel piece on top of the headlight assembly but there is another piece of plastic right above them that doesnt allow it to be removed...know any tricks?

[631twentyeighteye]

corner bulbs can be accessed through the wheel well. Turn the wheel all the way in on the side you're working on and remove the small plastic panel. That will give you direct access to the corner bulbs.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

corner bulbs can be accessed through the wheel well. Turn the wheel all the way in on the side you're working on and remove the small plastic panel. That will give you direct access to the corner bulbs.

Same way turn signal bulbs are changed out?? Just did that so that should not be an issue....unless you thought I meant the "corner" bulbs. These are the h3 cornering bulbs on xenon headlights...the ones closest to the grille.

[631twentyeighteye]

Oh, i thought you meant the turn signals, my apologies.

I don't have factory xenon headlights.. not exactly sure how that process goes. I think you have to remove the cap off of the back of the headlight to access those. Sorry i don't know more about that!