BMW V8 N62 Spark Plug Change Interval

[bimjim]

Does anyone know what the interval is for a spark plug change on the N62 V8s?

There's nothing in the service book and no indication on iDrive either.

Thanks.

[E65Ross]

bimjim said:

Does anyone know what the interval is for a spark plug change on the N62 V8s?

There's nothing in the service book and no indication on iDrive either.

Thanks.

Idrive should indicate it. If (and it's a big if) the correct plugs are used, it's approx once per 70k miles, give or take.

[bimjim]

Hmm, couldn't see anything on iDrive but it's possible I missed it. I'll have another look.

Cheers.

[E65Ross]

bimjim said:

Hmm, couldn't see anything on iDrive but it's possible I missed it. I'll have another look.

Cheers.

I'd be surprised if it's not there. Was on my E65 745i which had the n62 engine.

[eliot]

yeh my 750 showed the plug duration on the i drive, just scroll down the list. It's about 60k miles i think.
I got the correct bosch ones of ebay.

They seems to have very fine threads on them, so go easy when taking them out. I cracked them loose and unscrewed them a turn or so, then turned them back in again - this releases the carbon from the very end of the threads. I put a drop of copperslip on the new ones to prevent the threads corroding/seizing

[bimjim]

Thanks all.

I've checked again this morning, and there's definitely nothing showing on the iDrive. I guess different models show different info.

[bmwmike]

I wouldn't put copper slip on them unless specifically stated by plug manufacturer or BMW... it affects the torque setting.

For example n53 should not have copper slip and neither did my m54 engine previously.

[eliot]

bmwmike said:

I wouldn't put copper slip on them unless specifically stated by plug manufacturer or BMW... it affects the torque setting.

For example n53 should not have copper slip and neither did my m54 engine previously.

I know - but I've done it with every single engine I've ever owned. And FWIW I've never used a torque wrench on a spark plug either - I nip them up snugly by feel.

[Elliot2000]

Early cars with I drive listed it on the service screen, later cars it was just carried out on every third oil service

[eliot]

Elliot2000 said:

Early cars with I drive listed it on the service screen, later cars it was just carried out on every third oil service

Mines a 2005 facelift and does have it. o/p's idrive screen looks different (newer) than mine

[f1nn]

CCC Based systems show it, later CIC supystems don't.

[gf15]

my 2005 650 has it on the screen and they get done every 60k miles. They did look like they needed changing when I did them last.

[eliot]

Mine were 120k which i did at the same time ad the valve stem seals and they looked ready for a change.

[bimjim]

Further research confirms they should be changed with every third oil service (as stated above), meaning they are due next time around.

Thanks all.

[greghm]

Newbie's question: how much does it cost to change (the plugs and the man-hours) ? Could be more on a 6 series as the engine is less easy to access

[E65Ross]

greghm said:

Newbie's question: how much does it cost to change (the plugs and the man-hours) ? Could be more on a 6 series as the engine is less easy to access

I got my plugs from Opie Oils so have a look on there for prices, I think I paid a little over £100 for the 8...but they were the best ones available at the time (that was a discounted price, too!).

Can't recall hours of labour to change, but mine was on a 7 series, not a 6er. Probably no more than an hour, certainly not 2 I wouldn't have thought.

[eliot]

I paid around £50 for the correct bosch ones of ebay - not even the cheapest, i think they were from eurocarparts - i avoided the cheaper ones as they might be fake.