DIY BL Coil Fix

doublespaces

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Thanks to @SlowE93 for pointing this out to me in the plugs coils thread: https://bmw.spoolstreet.com/threads...ctors-and-coils-thread.1094/page-5#post-39630

For anyone who has the BimmerLife coils, you may want to take a peak at this. There is a metal shield that needs cut off the bottom so the coil will seat properly. There is also a bit of plastic and rubber on the side of the coil that needs cut off as well.

Here is the difference.

Before:
upload_2018-4-20_23-13-23.png


After, notice how much further down the coil sits in the plug well:
upload_2018-4-20_23-14-3.png


This piece on the side needs trimmed off with a box cutter:
upload_2018-4-20_23-18-1.png


You can either pull the shield all the way off or trim it. To give you an idea of how much material is trimmed off, use a dremel with a grinding/cutting wheel:
upload_2018-4-20_23-14-54.png


When its cut all the way it will look like this:
upload_2018-4-20_23-15-35.png


In this photo, I did all of the coils except #2, its very easy to see it sticks up higher:
upload_2018-4-20_23-16-16.png


Some of the coils will need turned in order to fit all the way down. Because of this, coil 5/6 can give you a bit of problems trying to get the connector on, so put the connector on the coil before pushing it down:
upload_2018-4-20_23-17-3.png


In this photo, you can see that most of the top of the coil is below the valve cover:
upload_2018-4-20_23-19-9.png



TLDR: Just pull the rubber boot and metal sleeve off your coils and trim off the plastic tabs.
 

135Pats

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Had never heard of this, thanks for noting it.

Just curious, how did you realize this was an issue? A visual check? Better performance once properly seated?
 

fmorelli

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First of all, thanks to @SlowE93 for posting originally on this issue, and for following up with me in PM. Tyler (@doublespaces), thank you for posting clear photos that further this along.

I certainly don't expect product perfection, but I think @Alex@BimmerLifeTuning should be weighing in at this point. We have connectors that are disintegrating in our hands, and now people are claiming we need to hack the coils up to make them work.

I'm going to take a different view - I'm going to assume that @Alex@BimmerLifeTuning intends his product to work as sold, and I'm going to look for him to clarify if there is a fitment issue or not. Like I said, I don't expect perfection, but having to hack up all the product makes no sense - this was not a J.C. Whitney universal $5 product.

My car has the coils installed, and will be out of the shop next week, so hopefully we get some clarification shortly.

Thanks again, guys ... I look forward to @Alex@BimmerLifeTuning 's guidance.

Filippo
 

ShocknAwe

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Not the first I've heard of BL coils not seating correctly or breaking connectors and cheap harnesses. A $500 product should be completely finished and fit properly like the OE/bosch N54 coils.

Do the PR coils have a similar issue with seating or losing contact with the plug?
 

SlowE93

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Not the first I've heard of BL coils not seating. A $500 product should be completely finished and fit properly like the OE/bosch N54 coils.

Also, reading the response from BL directly above seem pretty par for the course in the 3rd party parts world on this platform.

See, this is what has me pissed. 500.00, 5 week wait time (website said 2), advertised as complete plug n play, yet connectors dont fit, redid MOST of my harness, coil packs all needed to be modified. Now I feel better about the whole install and such. But as I said before in the other thread, I feel a partial refund is in order. My time, labor, troubleshooting the problem, coming up with a solution, and willing to share the fix with others is surely worth something. To me anyways.
 
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ShocknAwe

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See, this is what has me pissed. 500.00, 5 week wait time (website said 2), advertised as complete plug n play, yet connectors dont fit, redid MOST of my harness, coil packs all needed to be modified. Now I feel better about the whole install and such. But as I said before in the other thread, I feel a partial refund is in order. My time, labor, troubleshooting the problem, coming up with a solution, and willing to share the fix with others is surely worth something. To me anyways.
well, here's the thing. The supposed advantage of the BL kit is cheap easy to install coils. If you have to extensively modify each one before installing... I don't get the value.
 

fmorelli

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As a data point, in our crew there is a BMW 1M running BL - it's been to the track 4 times with the BL's and no misfire issues.

I just spoke with Barry and we will take some digital calipers and some measurements so we can actually understand how they fit. Alex responded to my message (and here as well) which I appreciate. He said the coils supplied in the complete kit work as intended; that aftermarket ones may have an issue. ... I'm amazed there is an aftermarket coil for R8/Lambo/BMWMotorsport ... the market is that big?!

Filippo
 

SlowE93

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I have whatever was supplied in the kit. Eldor coils. Wait till you take measurements. I did as well. Mainly depth. You will see when you measure the distance the coil pack goes in at its furthest point, vs the depth to reach the plug, is where you will truly see the issue. I was willing to give the vendor the benefit of the doubt, now it seems like everyone else with excuses. Everything used for initial install was supplied by bimmer life. No aftermarket parts purchased. Modified ALMOST everything that came in the so called plug n play kit. For reference, order # 1161. Alex asked me to send him pics of how I installed them and offered to help. As if they were installed incorrectly since out of 400 sets there have been no problems according to him. Pointless to continue in circles when I had ALREADY found and fixed the problem and was just making him aware of the issue. I can screenshot ALL my emails if need be. Instead of even considering that I was right (now confirmed by multiple members via text and posts here ), I get emailed that Im the only one out of 400 sets and offered assistance if I provide pics to see what im doing wrong. I did NOTHING wrong. I CORRECTED a wrong and decided to share my fix with a few others via text.
 

Cheezy

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Ok but does this have any effect on performance of the coils? Because ive been running mine since September without looking at them a second time after installing. If it makes the engine cover fit better i might try it tho
 

The Convert

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I have an incredibly difficult time believing that even an aftermarket coil that is sold to replace the Audi/Lambo motor coils is not going to have the same fitment as the OE Audi/Lambo coils. They have to fit the same plugs in the same holes after all. So, it sounds to me like an excuse to pass off the blame for Alex to say that.
 

SlowE93

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Coils sit much lower. I have my engine cover on with all 4 screws as intended. I misfired and caught the issue. Agreed that an afyermarket part would be built or shaped any different. None would sell at the stores if that were the case. @doublespaces has pics of my engine with covers on and a video I sent of how my coils now "pop" off when pulled. He may post them if he wishes.
 

fmorelli

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Just to be clear, @SlowE93 , I'm in no way suggesting your setup doesn't have issues. In fact your original post and @doublespaces are very helpful. I can only add data - I asked Alex and he provided me concise feedback. We have a 1M with 4 track events on BL coils with no modifications to the coils and no misfires, and given your and Tyler's posts, we intend to take measurements to understand what's going on with our setups (the 1M and Z4). We'll report back on what we find.

Thanks everyone,

Filippo
 
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SlowE93

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Listen, if they ever make (or already do now) a custom oil filter cap, if it doesnt completely seat, it still wont leak due to the position of the ORING. This does not mean I would like to drive my car knowing its loose. Regardless if there are no issues present. Next time you go to a tire shop and get rims mounted. Have 3 lugs tightened and 2 loose. Wheel doesnt fall off. Would you continue to drive like that ?? Or make it right ? Get a fender replaced and they use only 3 bolts. Everything lines up and feels secure. Then you realize there are 3 more bolts missing. You complain and get it fixed or just leave it because there are no issues ???? They are YOUR cars. Do as you wish and believe what you want. The kit is NOT plug and play to MY standards. Period.
 

SlowE93

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As a data point, in our crew there is a BMW 1M running BL - it's been to the track 4 times with the BL's and no misfire issues.

I just spoke with Barry and we will take some digital calipers and some measurements so we can actually understand how they fit. Alex responded to my message (and here as well) which I appreciate. He said the coils supplied in the complete kit work as intended; that aftermarket ones may have an issue. ... I'm amazed there is an aftermarket coil for R8/Lambo/BMWMotorsport ... the market is that big?!

Filippo
There is a reason we cant change spark plugs with your average 3/8 drive socket. We need a special thin wall socket to get to the plug. Measure the thin wall vs regular socket. Then measure the diameter of an O.G. N54 BOSCH coil. Last, measure the diameter of an ELDOR R8 coil. See what the numbers tell you.
 
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fmorelli

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Listen [... snip ... ] You complain and get it fixed or just leave it because there are no issues ???? They are YOUR cars. Do as you wish and believe what you want. The kit is NOT plug and play to MY standards. Period.
lol ... well thanks for the lecture. 40 years of motorsports endurance racing experience between us, I'm sure we'll probably fuck up the measurements.

Filippo