Price to change spark plugs 35i?

[Z4_35i]

Hi,

Out of interest, for those of you who've had the plugs changed on a 35i, how much were you charged for parts and labor if it was broken down on the invoice?

Using the BMW car service site, it gives a cost of £389, but that is for a full service with : oil, air filter, micro filter and plugs.

https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/

This website also lists the cost for just an oil and microfilter service at £190, so that would mean £199 for the air filter and spark plugs.

Using Ream OEM -
Spark plugs are BOSCH ZGR6STE2 (BMW PN 12120037244)
Air filter (BMW PN 13717556961)

Retails seems to be around £10 per plug for the Bosch plugs and £25 for a genuine BMW air filter.

I will get the plugs changed by my trusted independent, but just interested to hear what people have been charged?

 

[Angie4m]

I highly doubt anyone has just had the plugs changed at BMW and it will be part of the bigger service cost.

To be honest it's not a difficult job to do and can be done with a few tools, although you will need to torque the plugs correctly when refitting. And the air filter, again not a taxing task.

 

[R.E92]

Plugs are £15 each from the dealer. Don't know how much labour for a change since I've always had them done as part of a larger service.

It's a really easy DIY. I change my own plugs between BMW service intervals and it takes about 15min to change the lot. The Z4 engine bay has lots of room although cyl 6 can be tight.

You just need a socket set, spark plug removal tool (£5~) and a torque wrench that'll do 23nm. An independent will charge an hour labour and probably not bother correctly torquing the plugs.

 

[flybobbie]

You can get plugs for £8 (BMW branded) and a filter £8 Comline. Oil filter £5, oil £50 (Mobil1), pollen carbon filter £15. (Still smells though).
Then of course you have to factor in, can you spare the time, have the tools, a means to lift the car and some dirty clothes to work in.

 

[Z4_35i]

An independent will charge an hour labour and probably not bother correctly torquing the plugs.

The indie I use is fastidious, ex F1 mechanic

 

[New2Zed]

An independent will charge an hour labour and probably not bother correctly torquing the plugs.

The indie I use is fastidious, ex F1 mechanic

Don't suppose he's anywhere near Derbyshire?

I'll soon be needing a decent indie.

Been looking for one for my Alfa for nearly ten years now. Beginning to think I'm either just too fussy or really good ones are very few and far between, that seems to be the case with Alfas anyway.

 

[35i-Nut]

The spark plug change on the 35i is a complete doddle , full set for £48 which are non bmw branded but exactly the same plug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi310-Fz6DU

 

[Z4_35i]

The spark plug change on the 35i is a complete doddle , full set for £48 which are non bmw branded but exactly the same plug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi310-Fz6DU

Thanks for the link. I've done quite a bit of car maintenance in the past, engine swaps etc. on older cars. I've ordered the genuine BMW plugs, as there were a few reports on other N54 related forums that some people had issues with the non branded Bosch ones, they weren't that much more expensive once I'd negotiated a discount with the air filter and micro filter. I have plenty of tools, incl. the correct torque wrenches, but I ordered a slim walled socket for the plugs as advised. I steered clear of the cheap ones on ebay / Amazon, as there were a couple of Amazon reports of the plug retaining clips breaking and falling into the plug recess in the head. Definitely don't want random bits of metal falling into the engine.

 

[john-e89]

An independent will charge an hour labour and probably not bother correctly torquing the plugs.

The indie I use is fastidious, ex F1 mechanic

Don't suppose he's anywhere near Derbyshire?

I'll soon be needing a decent indie.

Been looking for one for my Alfa for nearly ten years now. Beginning to think I'm either just too fussy or really good ones are very few and far between, that seems to be the case with Alfas anyway.

There's a guy near Derby who is supposed to be excellent, a couple of people on here have mentioned him and a guy I nearly bought an E89 off a couple of years ago raved about him, I 'think' he's called the BMWMAN, google him and have a read, an ex-RAF guy. You could also put a post up on the forum asking if this guy is good and if it is him I'm sure someone will reply. I'm pretty sure this is him. I'm in the Peak District and will use this chap if there's anything I can't do myself. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[New2Zed]

Thanks John-E89, had looked at his website just the other day and after your recommendation will probably give him a go for the next service, only fifteen miles away.

Don't suppose you know of a good Alfa Indie as well?

 

[35i-Nut]

The spark plug change on the 35i is a complete doddle , full set for £48 which are non bmw branded but exactly the same plug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi310-Fz6DU

Thanks for the link. I've done quite a bit of car maintenance in the past, engine swaps etc. on older cars. I've ordered the genuine BMW plugs, as there were a few reports on other N54 related forums that some people had issues with the non branded Bosch ones, they weren't that much more expensive once I'd negotiated a discount with the air filter and micro filter. I have plenty of tools, incl. the correct torque wrenches, but I ordered a slim walled socket for the plugs as advised. I steered clear of the cheap ones on ebay / Amazon, as there were a couple of Amazon reports of the plug retaining clips breaking and falling into the plug recess in the head. Definitely don't want random bits of metal falling into the engine.

You have to torque them up to 23nm which is pretty low to be honest for some torque wrenches , hope your spark plug socket you have ordered is the magnet ring type