aurelius
09-20-2011, 01:04 PM
August (2011) issue of Roundel has an interesting Q&A letter re spark plugs in the M54 motor.
Of note is that the E46 Bentley manual says to torque plugs to 25 Nm but that is apparently incorrect. Correct spec, using anti-seize or not, is 30 Nm (22ft-lb). Updated spec is due to plugs backing out at the lower torque spec.
Also says definitely use copper-based, high-temp, anti-seize product on the plug threads. Light coat.
FWIW, the columnist (Mike Miller) is also a proponent of Genuine BMW/Bosch plugs, which are apparently different than the Bosch-branded plugs. He doesn't mention the NGK plugs.
* Tech Talk, p.119, Aug '11 Roundel.
NOTE: BMWCCA members can log in and read past issues of Roundel in their entirety. But there is no way to hyperlink to Roundel articles. See bmwcca.org
Of note is that the E46 Bentley manual says to torque plugs to 25 Nm but that is apparently incorrect. Correct spec, using anti-seize or not, is 30 Nm (22ft-lb). Updated spec is due to plugs backing out at the lower torque spec.
Also says definitely use copper-based, high-temp, anti-seize product on the plug threads. Light coat.
FWIW, the columnist (Mike Miller) is also a proponent of Genuine BMW/Bosch plugs, which are apparently different than the Bosch-branded plugs. He doesn't mention the NGK plugs.
* Tech Talk, p.119, Aug '11 Roundel.
NOTE: BMWCCA members can log in and read past issues of Roundel in their entirety. But there is no way to hyperlink to Roundel articles. See bmwcca.org