[asus389]

I have a 2011 328i with the N51. I took it in for an oil change today and the dealer says that the car needs spark plugs? My previous e90 (a 2006) went 100k on the spark plugs. Did they change something with the recommended interval for some reason? Is there something different with the N51? A "recommended" (but not totally necessary) service?

[AM330i]

I think it's around 60k. I have about 56k on my '11 328xi n51 and I have already had to regap all the plugs because they are worn and causing missfires, just wanted to get some more life out of them because plugs for the n51 are a bit more expensive.

[asus389]

Interesting. The CBS didn't indicate it, but the SA said the computer indicated it when I put my key in? I thought that was only on the 335, but maybe its different now with the N51 vs the earlier N52.

[the dope steez]

Service interval is 100,000 miles.
I replaced mine at 100k (N52 engine mind you), and the car was running fine but the plugs looked a little fouled. Replaced with OEM NGKs and definitely noticed a difference at idle and on acceleration.
I would not think the N51 would be any different.

[kkasson]

I'm not exactly sure but I think they did revise the suggested interval at some point without changing the CBS. That said, nothing changed with the engine so you'll be fine to go 100k with them. I changed mine at like 75k and they were still fine.

[asus389]

My car has 36k lol.

[Wilt]

Much HALF TRUTHS about spark plug intervals in the 328i simply because BMW CHANGED IT FOR MY2011 !!!

• MY2010 Service and Warranty book says to change sparks at 100K (and 335i is at 60K)
• MY2011 Service and Warranty book says to change sparks at 60K (and 335i is at 45K)

Sometimes even dealers get it wrong and refuse to do it at 60K for 2011 328i owners. A PDF of the 2011 Service and Warranty book which is delivered with every new 2011 car...


...I tell 2011 owners to bring in a copy of the 2011 3 Series Service and Warranty book, which they can get in PDF form from the BMW website, to straighten out mistakenly refusing Service Advisors and Service Managers about the official replacement interval per BMW NA.

Originally Posted by kkasson

nothing changed with the engine so you'll be fine to go 100k with them

For owners with CPO warranty to 100K miles, I wonder what would happen to a 2011 328i that comes in at 80K with a claim against CPO warranty for some condition, yet the sparks have NOT been changed at 60K per the 2011 Service and Warranty book?!

Spark plugs are NOT flagged for change by the CBS! It clearly states that fact on Page 13 of the
2011 3 Series Service and Maintenance book, "Spark plugs (not shown in CBS)*" So it is interesting to hear about someone's key telling the SA that spark plug replacement was due.

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by asus389

My car has 36k lol.

Oh lol that's a bit early then, I changed mine at 80k and they still were pretty good. New ones barely made any difference.

[The Nightman]

I replaced the factory Bosch Double Platinum plugs at 60k mi. They looked decent but I noticed a difference with the new NGK Laser Platinums - smoother and more responsive. I think it's worth changing before 100k mi since they're cheap and easy to replace yourself.

[roccy_miyagi]

I took my car in for a vcg leak & they tried to sale me this service at about 40k miles, along with the cabin filter. I did it myself since it was such a simple job but sucks to know I could have held out on the plugs.

[trjn]

N51 you say. Aren't spark plugs under warranty for SULEVs? I always thought ignition and emissions had longer warranty on SULEVs.
I have a SULEV too but I am not in SULEV enforces state. So, probably will change the plugs at around 75k miles. Currently my car has 63k miles.

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by trjn

N51 you say. Aren't spark plugs under warranty for SULEVs? I always thought ignition and emissions had longer warranty on SULEVs.
I have a SULEV too but I am not in SULEV enforces state. So, probably will change the plugs at around 75k miles. Currently my car has 63k miles.

Spark plugs are 'maintenance' items and therefore in the general exclusion. Furthermore, the SULEV warranty has a list of EXPLICITLY COVERED parts, and no spark plugs are included in that list.

[trjn]

Originally Posted by Wilt

Spark plugs are 'maintenance' items and therefore in the general exclusion. Furthermore, the SULEV warranty has a list of EXPLICITLY COVERED parts, and no spark plugs are included in that list.

Makes sense spark plugs being treated as a wear item. OP, if you are in doubt, say car seems sluggish, idles funny. Just change them yourself.

I am still confused on if anything on SULEV vehicles are covered in non SULEV required states. I'm in Colorado and the car was originally from New Jersey. The dealership near to me is not so helpful. May have to check with BMW USA and hope for an answer.

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by trjn

I am still confused on if anything on SULEV vehicles are covered in non SULEV required states. I'm in Colorado and the car was originally from New Jersey. The dealership near to me is not so helpful. May have to check with BMW USA and hope for an answer.

Other owners with SULEV had a covered part fail and it was replaced under the SULEV warranty even though they resided in a non-SULEV state and the car was registered there. The official SULEV warranty says 'for cars registered in' SULEV states. Per other forum comments, they have been able to get BMW NA to cover the items mentioned under SULEV warranty, given that the owners manual mentions no restrictions to the SULEV warranty. The warranty reads:

"In accordance with the defect warranty provisions of section 207(b) of the Clean Air Act, BMW NA warrants to the first retail purchaser, and each subsequent purchaser...."

The warranty is not geographically restricted, despite what some dealers claim in other states.

[trjn]

Originally Posted by Wilt

Other owners with SULEV had a covered part fail and it was replaced under the SULEV warranty even though they resided in a non-SULEV state and the car was registered there. The official SULEV warranty says 'for cars registered in' SULEV states. Per other forum comments, they have been able to get BMW NA to cover the items mentioned under SULEV warranty, given that the owners manual mentions no restrictions to the SULEV warranty. The warranty reads:

"In accordance with the defect warranty provisions of section 207(b) of the Clean Air Act, BMW NA warrants to the first retail purchaser, and each subsequent purchaser...."

The warranty is not geographically restricted, despite what some dealers claim in other states.

I appreciate it. Hopefully, I dont have to use the SULEV warranty but it clears it a little bit more.