Re: Bosch Plugs.. Why Not Platinum??

["Ron Buchalski" <rbuchals@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alex, I don't believe that the Bosch and NGK plugs for the M50/S50 ('95 M3) 
engine have platinum electrodes.  I just replaced the plugs in my E34 525iT 
(last weekend), and the electrodes don't look anything like what I've seen 
on platinum plugs.

Here's a spark plug chart for BMWs:

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/sparkplugchart.jpg

And here's the secret decoder ring for Bosch part numbers:

http://aa.bosch.de/advastaboschaa/Webroot/static/en/produkte/zuendkerzen/zuendkerzenkunde/typen_gross.htm

It's in German, so I'm not sure what every field means, but the 'C' toward 
the end of the BMW plug part numbers seems to mean Copper (Kupfer).  Older 
BMWs (M10, perhaps M20) used silver-tipped plugs (my old E30 318i used 
WR9DS, and according to the secret decoder ring, the 'S' means Silver 
(Silber).

I also don't know why platinum plugs don't work well in BMWs.  But since BMW 
doesn't recommend them, it's a safe bet to stay away from them.


- -rb

>
>Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2002 14:04:55 -0500
>From: alex.fadeev@domain.elided
>Subject: Re: Bosch Plugs.. Why Not Platinum??
>
>"Ron J" <ron@domain.elided> wrote:
> > Hello Alex,
> >
> > I noticed in one of your posts on Digest.net, that one shouldnt use
> > bosch platinum plugs when tuning up the car.
> >
> > Is there a reason to stay away from the platinums??
>
>Ron,
>In my admittedly limited experience, platinum plugs do not work well in M20
>engines.
>I don't know exactly why. Just an observation from owning the car and
>reading the digests over the last six? years.
>
>I would not extend that comment to include all platinum plugs for all BMW
>engines. In fact, I think the BMW recommended Bosch/NGK plugs for M50/52
>engines are available with only platinum tips.
>
>alex f


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