BMW E90 spark plug replacement.

[rQuestionEngineering]

BMW design is a joke. See the amount of work to replace spark plugs.
Why is it not design straight through holes for tool access and removal ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqmLMumnF88

 

[3DDave]

Less effort than the rear bank on a Rav4 V-6, which requires removal of the intake manifold.

You won't get holes large enough to fit the coils out to get to the plugs.

 

[GregLocock]

California spec cars have sparkplugs that last 100000 km, don't they? 4 year old BMW is unlikely to be owned by its buyer so there is no pressure on BMW to make it easy.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[TugboatEng]

Moulded gaskets and angled drilling have made intake manifold removal a breeze on most engines. It's less than 10 minutes on Lexus as all bolts are vertical and on top. The moulded gaskets are reusable and require no cleanup.

 

[SWComposites]

Autos are designed to minimize assembly costs. Not repair costs. If you don’t like BMW designs, then don’t buy one.

 

[TugboatEng]

Minimizing assembly costs often minimizes repair costs. The key to repairing modern engines/vehicles is recognizing assemblies that can be removed to minimize the amount of disassembly required.

On the other hand, BMW engines do suffer from poor engineering. They require repairs nobody else does because they simply won't learn how to specify long life seal materials.

 

[3DDave]

OP - buy a Lexus.

 

[SwinnyGG]

OP - buy a Lexus.

And then enjoy changing the plugs on that too, because the process is exactly the same for pretty much any modern engine with a coil-on-plug system.

 

[TugboatEng]

Not fully true. As I stated earlier, BMW doesn't specify seal materials with long life. You'll be purchasing seals to pull the manifold while most other auto manufacturers don't have this issue.

 

[CWB1]

The answer to "why not improve serviceability" is generally "cost and DFMA." Aside from the aforementioned 75-100k mile plug intervals, there are also very few DIY owners maintaining vehicles themselves. Serviceability checks assume that professional technicians with large toolboxes and special tools are doing the work, and they dont need the easiest possible access for owners with few tools. Also bear in mind that service interval impacts the manufacturer's business case, the time needed to complete service only impacts the dealer/repair shops.

 

[SwinnyGG]

You'll be purchasing seals to pull the manifold while most other auto manufacturers don't have this issue.

You don't have to pull the manifold to replace the spark plugs on any BMW.

 

[cibachrome]

With pictures of process and tools needed.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174217

 

[3DDave]

"Serviceability checks assume that professional technicians with large toolboxes and special tools are doing the work, and they dont need the easiest possible access for owners with few tools."

By forcing the serviceability lower they force people to expensive service providers who can recommend far more expensive service who can suggest that buying a new vehicle is a better choice; also to useless items like nitrogen tire fills and blinker fluid scams. Not that BMW drivers would know about "blinker," but "While it's in the shop ..."

 

[IRstuff]

It was also pretty common in the old days for cars to require custom tools for repairing certain items that could only be purchased from the manufacturer.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

 

[cibachrome]

I doubt most BMW owners would know a spark plug from an O2 sensor. It is also pretty clear around here that they can't read, because the fuel door says 'Premium Only' yet they select the cheap stuff instead.

 

[TugboatEng]

Kent-Moore is the company that specializes in making specialized tools. Was

 

[dgallup]

BMW design is a joke. See the amount of work to replace spark plugs.
Why is it not design straight through holes for tool access and removal ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqmLMumnF88

If you watch that video at 2X playback speed it only takes 10 minutes LOL

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