E93 spark plug change

Changed my spark plugs today! The posts here are super helpful. Quick tips:

- You don’t need a puller for the ignition coils. A dull screw driver on the opposite side of the electrical plug will work fine. Pull up with your fingers gasping the ignition coil plug location and lever your screwdriver on the other side so the coil more or less is getting pulled straight out.

- You do need elbows and a flexible spark plug socket. I preferred magnetic to my grippy spark plug 5/8” one.

- Compressed air would be helpful. I don’t have it and wish I did. I used a shop vac, rags, bicycle pump to clear crud out of the tube. There wasn’t much but nonetheless, might as well try to clean it all up! Blow out the tubes before taking the old spark plugs out so crud doesn’t fall in the engine!

- ISTA says 23 Nm for torque if the threads are M12. Mine are, I measured. (30Nm is for M14 threads) Tolerance for either is +/- 3Nm.

You’ll need to take off the air box and loosen the coolant expansion tank. Otherwise you can reach everything with a little creativity. This also gave me a chance to see my engine mounts are shot. Woohoo…

I hope the pictures of my elbows and measurement help!

This is super helpful, thanks! I'm a stickler for torque specs so good note on that as well.

Planning on tackling valve covers along with plugs this weekend, so hopefully all goes well. Good to know the coils aren't that bad, that part has me a little worried.

Good luck! The back ones needed a few more 3” extensions and elbows and the coils seemed like a brain teaser puzzle but they’re removable with patience! On the passenger rear most coil, I pulled it between the coolant hose and the car frame.

Also be super careful with the expansion tank. I ended up breaking one of those plastic vent hose but I’m telling myself I really saved myself from disaster on the road 😅

I need to do my valve covers one day, but still working up my DIY courage. Let me know how it goes!