Z4 Coil Pack - How much?

[RonCT]

Hi Guys,

So my 3.0 2004 Z4 got a misfire this morning and the check engine light came on.

I suspect I need to replace one of the coil packs. Does anyone know the rough amount I can expect to part with (for part and labour).

Also is it worth going to BMW or is it a simple enough fix for an indy to do?

I am based in CT, would be grateful for any suggestions

Thanks

 

[Blue Shirt]

If you can get someone to diagnose the car, look for the fault codes, it will tell you which cylinder is misfiring. Move the coilpack to another cylinder and see if the misfire follows the coilpack or not. If it stays with the same cylinder, the spark plug is faulty. If the misfire moves with the coilpack, the coilpack is faulty.

How old are the spark plugs? Normally, spark plugs are changed every 100000km. If they are close to that mileage, I would first replace all spark plugs if you do not have access to diagnostics.

---

BTW, to replace a coilpack takes a few minutes and you don't need special tools. You do have to be sure though that the coilpack is faulty and not the spark plug.

 

[RonCT]

Thanks Blue Shirt. The car has 60 000 on the clock, so I doubt it is the plugs. I remember a few years ago, the very next day after I bought the car, I got the same misfire. When I took it back to the dealership, they said they replaced 1 of the coil placks.

So I called a 2 different BMW branches. The cost of 1 coil pack is R 876 at both, the labour to fit is R 530 at one (Auto Atlantic) and R 712 at Auric.

I also took the oppotunity to query on the cost of inspection 1 and 2 services: both branches quoted my roughly similar prices Atlantic said between R 1500 and R 3500. Auric said approx R 2500 for insp 1 and approx R3500 for inspec 2. If these are indeed indicative prices, I must say I am very impressed - as this is way less money than I paid previously on my Mercedes Benz.

Another quote from Zeemax, a reputable independent BMW specialist - R1400 part and labour

 

[Blue Shirt]

So I called a 2 different BMW branches. The cost of 1 coil pack is R 876 at both, the labour to fit is R 530 at one (Auto Atlantic) and R 712 at Auric.

The labour cost quotes to replace the coil pack are outrageous! If you can undo two 10mm bolts and unplug an electrical connector, you can replace it yourself in 5 minutes.

The challenge for you is to find out if it really is a coil pack or a dud spark plug, and which one. You need the car diagnosed for that.

 

[Philip Foglar]

What was said above! :thumbs:

Also check here. I had to replace all six of these coils on my Wife's car (same coil packs that your Z4 with the M54B30 has), and replaced the plugs at the same time.

If you have someone that can run diagnostics for you to see which cylinder is misfiring then it's simply a case of taking the coil out from the misfiring cylinder and swapping it around with one of the other good coil packs. If the misfire follows that suspect coil pack then you know it is the cause of the misfire.

These coil packs (especially the older Bosch coils) were known to fail and there were batches known to fail prematurely. The newer Bosch coil packs that G-Drive has are the newer and better construction.

And yes, it is really easy to DIY this, especially on the Z4 with the very accessible engine! Just a 10mm socket to remove 4 nuts and bolts is all you need! The rest is simply a case of unplugging and pulling the coils out. Can literally change out all six coil packs in less than 5 minutes!

 

[RonCT]

Thanks guys, my friend has a diagnostic kit - I'm going to see if it can identify the offending cyclinder. Then I will watch some You tube videos on the procedure, and see if I can do it myself. Will take some pics and post on here

Philip Foglar... does the cover come off easily? and once the cover is off, is it a matter of just unscrewing the coil pack? Is it really that easy? I've always been weary of DIY tasks the first time, without having seen the job been done before.

Do I need to disconnect the battery before I do the change? Will changing cause any more fault codes to appear?

 

[Blue Shirt]

Here is a DIY guide on coil pack replacement.

It is really easy, you undo 2x 10mm nuts to take off the plastic cover on top of the engine (just take off the cover on the left), unclip the electrical connector to the coil pack, twist & pull out, put the new one, clip the electrical connector back in and re-install the engine cover.

EDIT: The DYI guide posted above shows the old-style coil pack which is mounted by uses two bolts. The newer style which your Z4 most likely has, uses a very simple pull-up type connector clip with no bolts. Once the electrical connector is out, you just twsit and pull out the coil pack.

 

[RonCT]

Awesome, thank you Blue Shirt - you made my day - I'm going to investigate and definitely do this - will keep you guys posted :thumbs:

 

[Blue Shirt]

Here is a better DIY guide, showing the newer-style coil packs. In the case of your Z4, you don't have to worry about the airbox cover etc, the engine is very exposed and you just need to take off the left engine cover.

 

[RonCT]

Thank you so much Blue Shirt.

Yes the 2nd pull out type coil pack looks simpler. I really hope I can identify the faulty coil this evening. *fingers crossed*

 

[Philip Foglar]

Yep, the engine covers come off easily and when you get to the coil packs, it's just a case of lifting the tabs to release the plug connectors, then gently twisting and pulling the coils out. Some people use a screw driver through the hole in the tab to lift the coil out, but I find the it is easier to just use your finger to grip through the hole and lift them out. You do have to lift with a fair amount of force to break the seal and unclip from the spark plug end.

Hope you find the culprit and come right with this. :thumbs:

BTW, where abouts in Cape Town are you?

 

[RonCT]

Hi Guys,

Some feedback.... I had a really busy weekend, so I did not have time to diagnose the offending coil, buy the coil and try the fix myself.

Doing it in the week is difficult for me since I am chained to my desk during work hours and it gets dark so early in Cape Town.

My car was due for oil service in 5000km, so I figured what the heck and took it into BMW and they did a oil service and included changing the coil at the same time.

The coil was R 767.07 and the labour to replace it was only R 54.17 (compared to the R 530 and R 712 labour I was quoted last week just to fit the coil), and another benefit... my service manual has another dealer stamp and FSH

Overall, I cannot complain too much.... although I was surprised when I saw they used Engen Xtreme SYN 5W-40. I would have been happier if they used CASTROL EDGE or MAGNATEC.... I know this is a totally different can of worms and for a different thread... but what are your thoughts?

Philip Foglar, I am from Rondebosch, you?

 

[Philip Foglar]

Glad you got this sorted out! I am in Durbanville.

Which dealer did you go to? I know that some of the dealers use Engen Syntium oil instead of Castrol Magnatec Professional, but surprised that they are using 5W-40 instead of 5W-30 which is the normal OEM spec, although there is nothing wrong and often preferred to use 5W-40.

Yep, I still prefer maintaining my FSH stamp... :thumbs:

 

[RonCT]

Went to Auric Auto Claremont as is the closest to my home.

I work in Parc Du Cap Office Block (Durban Rd). I assume you use Forsdicks? What's your experience of their service?

 

[Philip Foglar]

Went to Auric Auto Claremont as is the closest to my home.

I work in Parc Du Cap Office Block (Durban Rd). I assume you use Forsdicks? What's your experience of their service?

Yep, use Forsdick for their parts department - but won't take my lawnmower to them. Granted, I may have just been unlucky with them, but I have heard so many people complain and some horror stories, so instead I take my cars to SMG in Canalwalk - have had mostly good service from them!

 

[DieselFan]

Went to Auric Auto Claremont as is the closest to my home.

I work in Parc Du Cap Office Block (Durban Rd). I assume you use Forsdicks? What's your experience of their service?

If your car is off plan take it to Brilliant mechanical workshop. Next to kenilworth centre. They can do it for you. And I've only had great service from them.