[michaelalex17]

I don’t understand why this deserved a post. The amount of time it took to write all of this and wonder how FCP would react you could have just reached out to FCP lol

[GnomeChild]

It was after FCP service hours and I was eager to share my woes

If it was midday when the discovery was made I would have just called FCP then and there and no one would have been none the wiser. Although I probably would not have found out that BMW is stuffing Champion plugs into BMW boxes at a $10 upcharge

My call to FCP would have gone a lot different had people not chimed in beforehand

[mainbearing]

BMW did a shitty job here imo. At least the plugs should have "BMW" printed on there instead of generic "Champion" ones. Why Champion anyway? Did NGK cost too much?

$10 just for a box Champion printed really is too much.

Originally Posted by GnomeChild

Although I probably would not have found out that BMW is stuffing Champion plugs into BMW boxes at a $10 upcharge

[GnomeChild]

Idk but as stated earlier I ended up buying a set of NGKs. They looked the closest to what BMW used to sell as their "Genuine" plug and I'm really wondering (especially since FCP Euro reports "Genuine" plugs as Japan origins) if the "Genuine" plugs were NGK all along (with a BMW logo)

Either way I'll be covered if anything goes south for new plugs using FCPs warranty, so no worries here

[mainbearing]

I think BMW might have gone cheap going from NGK to Champion tho. Champion plugs were never the brand I wanted to touch.

[GnomeChild]

I have not really heard of Champion personally. Didn't know they were a spark plug manufacturer until my "surprise" really. I've heard of Bosch, NGK, etc; they might be a big manufacturer but that's fine I still haven't heard of them.

IIRC Bosch were the "Genuine" manufacturer for N54 plugs and I know the NGK 1SC/2SC are popular upgrades for them but I always liked how much longevity the actual "Genuine" ones had. My engines 95k on the clock, I don't think the plugs have ever been changed. Upgraded iridium NGKs look like they die at about 15-20k, you may be able to squeeze 30k out of them if you're lucky.

I'm sure the NGK B58 plugs will hold up fine though, especially if they really are (were) the "Genuine" plugs. Don't think B58 stock plugs are iridium although I do believe NGK makes an iridium 1SC plug for B58s which would essentially be a 2SC plug over stock N54 plugs

[Sgop335]

Many champion plugs are made in France. Cant be that cheap
In fact the suggested alternate to the bosch n54 plug is a champion plug forget the model. It is not tri ground like stock but a standard adjustable plug.
Personally prefer ngk, presently running rutheniums

[mainbearing]

One more data point. This owner was sent 3 Champions and 3 NGKs from a vendor. Returned the Champions and got 3 more NGKs:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1949019

Another's opinion, just LOL:

[GnomeChild]

Posting a quick update like people care

Ended up getting my NGKs in the mail today. I was actually surprised how quickly they arrived from FCP considering their shipping takes quite a bit; I ordered these on Wednesday and they got to me Saturday morning. Maybe they saw this thread and upgraded me to express?







I was a little surprised when I opened the FCP box and the first thing I saw was "Iridium". I was about to create a thread called "FCP sent me the wrong parts" but after confirming the part numbers, these are indeed the correct parts I ordered. Good thing I stopped myself, what a load of melodrama that would have been



I really should read the fine print sometimes...

I guess stock B58 plugs are Iridium from the factory? I know the N54 NGK Iridium plugs do not hold up as long as Bosch "Genuine" ones. I am on the fence with these but as you can tell from the F30post link above, the NGK B58 plugs look to have a much better finish than the Champion ones, so that is a win in my book. I didn't opt to take better pictures since the above post has more detailed pictures than I could probably manage.

If these die out on me, I did order from FCP, so I may opt to switch to Bosch on the exchange and see how they run. Overall though, I am okay with how this was all resolved. I am just waiting on my return to arrive to FCP and get processed but it doesn't seem like I will have any issues there

[mainbearing]

Thanks for the update! Nice NGK plugs.

I guess with FCP's credit program you can switch between NGK and Bosch if needed, just to try them out. Or even the Champions too just for fun.

The "Laser Iridium" means there is a platinum ground pad, therefore you are good there.

The way the Champion plug's ground electrode protruded further, why did they even bother with the tapered cut? Yeah stay away from Champions and just experiment with NGK or Bosch on the FCP credit program.

[The Nightman]

https://www.ngk.com/ngk-94201-silzkg...ium-spark-plug

Spark plug life is mostly based on the tip and ground electrode materials. Iridium tip + platinum ground = 100k mi life according to NGK.

Weirdly enough, the N52 came with double platinum spark plugs but those have been succeeded by platinum tip and nickel ground plugs with a shorter life. I think it may be cost reduction or parts consolidation?

[GnomeChild]

Probably not the first time BMW "dumbed" down their components to cost cut

I've recently dived straight into the Index 1 Injector rabbithole (conspiracy)

[whyzee125]

FCP has always been good to me. Glad it turned out to be a relatively positive experience.

I've seen some complaints but they've always been great. Friendly, helpful, fast shipping, no issues at all.

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Worse, they are just frickin spark plugs. They spark. They are made to the P/N specs and they... spark.

Good Lord 2 pages.

Ah yes, the all parts are the same, "don't worry" guy. Try this logic with coils.

Give him a break. The dude wanted the original BMW branded plugs, maybe for good reason, maybe not. What he got was a surprise and he took us for the ride. Not interested? Don't read it.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

Ah yes, the all parts are the same, "don't worry" guy. Try this logic with coils.

Give him a break. The dude wanted the original BMW branded plugs, maybe for good reason, maybe not. What he got was a surprise and he took us for the ride. Not interested? Don't read it.

I mean to be fair I've ran the stock plugs and coils zero issues with the typical MHD Stage2+ power levels. Tried both Bosch coils and Delphi coils.

But I agree it's not a fully useless thread either. Discussion is always great that's the point of a forum after all. I learned BMW can't be assed to brand their plugs lol.

[GnomeChild]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

If the Dude wanted genuine BMW parts he should have brought them from GetBMWparts.com. Probably cheaper than FCP Euro. Saved all the drama. Champion has been making spark plugs since spark plugs 100+ years. It's not like they suck.

but... the warranty dude

THE WARRANTY

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

If the Dude wanted genuine BMW parts he should have bought them from GetBMWparts.com. Probably cheaper than FCP Euro. Saved all the drama. Champion has been making spark plugs for 100+ years. It's not like they suck.

Wdym? Whether he buys the from FCP or GetBMWparts.com they are going to be the same thing and the same thread would've came up about not being BMW branded. FCP don't sell scam genuine parts?

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Guy Fieri

https://www.ngk.com/ngk-94201-silzkg...ium-spark-plug

Spark plug life is mostly based on the tip and ground electrode materials. Iridium tip + platinum ground = 100k mi life according to NGK.

Weirdly enough, the N52 came with double platinum spark plugs but those have been succeeded by platinum tip and nickel ground plugs with a shorter life. I think it may be cost reduction or parts consolidation?

What's the latest recommendation from BMW? Last I read they switched from iridium to platinum and changed the service/replacement interval from 100K to 60k. Is there any benefit from using platinum over the iridium plugs?

[mainbearing]

BMW must be bleeding profit to go cheap like that.

$3 difference per plug Ir vs Pt, and that is $18 per car. For me, NGK Laser Iridium FTW!

IMO BMW is cutting costs at all the wrong places. Use clamps on the coolant hoses first instead of those stupid connectors.

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

What's the latest recommendation from BMW? Last I read they switched from iridium to platinum and changed the service/replacement interval from 100K to 60k. Is there any benefit from using platinum over the iridium plugs?

The new 60k mile interval would match the service life of the platinum/nickel spark plugs which I believe are now specified for all N52s. I'm not sure if there are any benefits to what is seemingly an inferior spark plug?

To add to the confusion, there's a BMW SIB with a spark plug application chart from Dec 2010 that specifies the platinum/platinum plug for N51 and N52, and the platinum/nickel plug for the "N52T" on the F10 and F25. The N52T is the N52B30T1, and Turner says: "top-output N52KP; highest torque of the N52 family; also known internally as N52T"

So why the platinum/nickel plug on the highest output N52? Who knows.

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by mainbearing

IMO BMW is cutting costs at all the wrong places. Use clamps on the coolant hoses first instead of those stupid connectors.

Those stupid connectors probably cost more but allow for faster and easier assembly. Good for manufacturers, bad for everyone else

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

I mean to be fair I've ran the stock plugs and coils zero issues with the typical MHD Stage2+ power levels. Tried both Bosch coils and Delphi coils.

But I agree it's not a fully useless thread either. Discussion is always great that's the point of a forum after all. I learned BMW can't be assed to brand their plugs lol.

My Bosch coils from FCP all misfired out the box with MHD tune. Maybe they were fake Bosch coils, but came directly from FCP. Swapped them for Eldor and no issues since.