Spark Plug Change

[OBwan]

2011 3.0 Z4

Going to do a spark plug change. Car has 70k on it with original plugs. What socket do I need? I have standard spark plug sockets but what I'm reading leads me to believe I need a thin wall socket. I have a thin wall for an 87 M6 I made and a Schwaben 14 mm thin wall but my replacement plugs are 16 mm at the hex. I can make a thin walled 16 mm without much trouble but I need the socket thickness to grind one down. Thanks

 

[Cees Klumper]

Not sure where you are located, I got a thin wall socket from FCP Euro they sell specifically for these engines here in the US for something like $6. Worked fine. Not sure how thin the wall is exactly, but it looks to be no more than 2.5 mm at the thickest points.

 

[q-man]

Changed plugs today to my 30i. It was 67tkm, so it is maybe 50k miles?. Before idle was quite rough at cold and slight smell of gasoline. It was quite big difference with new plugs. Idle is smooth and it is generally running smoother. About half hour job, so definitely worth.

Cant figure out why bmw says so long change interval. I bet plugs will last 100k miles, but they cant be very good then. Off course my car is 10years old and maybe it has seen as much revs as 100k miles driven 530i, but still.

 

[Nictrix]

I didnt change the plugs myself and cant remember the plug type but I dont think a normal spark plug socket will fit as the plugs do not have a hex shape they are a star shape with multiple point and a special socket is needed to remove them.
They definately needed this socket to remove them from our mini.
Like this

 

[OBwan]

Much ado about nothing. A standard deep well 16mm worked fine. Just used my magnet to pull the old plugs out. Easy job, 30 minutes on the outside. If you pay the dealer or a shop a hundred bucks for that...well I won't use names but you get the idea.