BMW engines are sophisticated, high-revving machines with precise engineering tolerances. The right spark plug matters significantly for maintaining their performance and reliability.
N20 and N26 (2.0L TwinPower Turbo)
The 4-cylinder turbocharged engines in the 3-Series, 4-Series, and 5-Series use NGK ILZKBR8H8S iridium plugs as OEM spec. These are high-performance plugs for a high-performance engine. Pre-gapped at 0.028" for the boosted application.
N55 and S55 (6-cylinder TwinPower)
The 3.0L inline-6 in the M3/M4 and standard 3/5-Series turbocharged applications uses NGK Laser Iridium plugs. Genuine OEM spec plugs are important on these engines — running out-of-spec plugs in a precision German engine can cause drivability issues.
Service Interval
BMW recommends 60,000-mile plug changes on most models. Don't stretch it further — modern BMW engines with direct injection are sensitive to plug condition and the consequences of neglect (misfires, coil damage) are costly on these vehicles.
DIY on BMW?
BMW spark plug changes are generally accessible on most models with basic tools. Just use a rubber-tipped socket to avoid cracking the ceramic insulators on these fine-tipped iridium plugs.
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