Spark plug replacement/ storage question

C

cjmadura

Member
My 2016 35i went in for it's yearly oil change (~4000 miles) today. It only has 25,000 miles from new.

The Service Advisor recommended replacing the spark plugs for $417. As the car runs like new I declined. The dealership made a note on the receipt that plugs should be changed at every oil change (!). That's a new one.

I read up on the N54 engine and found plug replacement is recommended every 45,000 miles on a stock motor, which sounds good to me. Easy to swap them as well with simple tools.

I found a set of 6 new OEM Bosch plugs for $52 (discounted from $139) from a reputable source. Is there any issue with buying these plugs now, storing them in a Ziploc plastic bag to keep them dry and dust free for install at 45,000 miles? They might be stored for another 4 years at the rate I add mileage to this car.

Any issues storing the plugs? I can't think of any......

Cheers, James.
 
Why not just change them now, if they're so cheap? Very easy DIY.

Think they'll last for a very long time in storage if you keep them dry etc though.

Might be more difficult to remove the current plugs if you leave them in the car for many years.
 
I was told BMW insist on spark plugs being changed at every other service regardless of mileage.
I had a stand up argument a few years ago (I seem to have these more and more lately) when my i-drive-based service car was in for a service. They insisted it needed plugs. I had an invoice for new plugs just 4k miles before. They said they 'couldn't' update the service in the i-drive without changing the plugs. I said they 'could', just 'wouldn't'. There is a difference!
So I ended up paying them lots of money including their 100% mark up on the plugs, to change them just so I had a software update to the service history. Absolute scam.
One major reason why I will never buy an i-drive service based BMW ever again. Luckily E89s don't have it.

Plugs will keep forever if kept away from moisture BTW. They are sold in little cardboard boxes with no other packing. I am sure suppliers keep them until sold.
 
tiglon said:
Why not just change them now, if they're so cheap? Very easy DIY.

Think they'll last for a very long time in storage if you keep them dry etc though.

Might be more difficult to remove the current plugs if you leave them in the car for many years.
Click to expand...

I considered this, but since the car runs perfectly and the engine looks as-new I'm not worried about corrosion or anything else making the plugs hard to remove. I don't care for extra work, and I'm in the process of both retiring and relocating from the West coast to the East coast so there's a lot going on.

Of course if I want to tinker I could buy TWO sets, installing one now and keeping the spare set for "down the road".
Thank you.
 
Two sets of OEM Bosch plugs ordered, one to be installed upon delivery and one to be installed 45,000 miles hence.

Thank you all.
 
cjmadura said:
Two sets of OEM Bosch plugs ordered, one to be installed upon delivery and one to be installed 45,000 miles hence.

Thank you all.
Click to expand...
Better save up for a set of coils for the next plug change ..
 
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