08 BMW 328 6 cylinder coil pack tips pull off when removed

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Putting new coil packs in an 08 328i and three of six old coil pack tips stuck onto the plugs when removing.

Anything special I can do aside from use a little dielectric grease so this does not happen to the next guy.

Changing plugs as well per a post in a recent thread.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Were they really old? I've never had a problem removing those. Maybe had to give them a little wiggle or twist first. Grease is about the only thing I can think of...a tiny bit if silicone grease on the ceramic part of the plug does wonders for non-stiction purposes.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Just re-read your OP...I guess if you were replacing them, they must have been old.

fastfredracing · 12-15-2020, 05:25 PM

You know the old saying: Fk the next guy. Actually , I always assume that I will be the next guy . A little bit of dielectric grease on the very bottom of the boot should do the trick and can sometimes, help protect from missfires from spark leak

pmax · pmax's Garage

2008 BMW .... hmm ... isn't that one of those with the plastic water pump ?

fastfredracing · 12-15-2020, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmax

2008 BMW .... hmm ... isn't that one of those with the plastic water pump ?

Not only plastic, but variable speed electric, hewn from a single piece of broken

Nostril Cheese · 12-16-2020, 01:36 AM

A thin layer of dielectric grease on the ceramic part of the plug is fine. Check for cracks in the connectors. Replace if needed.

OldSpool87 · 12-16-2020, 07:31 AM

Bob- I have a 2009 535xi wagon. It’s a twin turbo so lots of heat and lots of plastic in the engine compartment including the valve cover (face palm). I’ve replaced coil packs a few times and always use a little dielectric grease on plug ceramics making removal a breeze the next go.

Zeke · 12-16-2020, 08:15 AM

Well since the majority of posters are dwelling on the cure and not the fix, I'll just ask (suggest) if driving the Bimmer until hot might help. Assuming of course that you can put things back so that it will run.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 12-16-2020, 08:51 AM

Bob, which brand did you get? After doing a lot of research and talking with FCP, I went with Delphi 2 years ago for my 2007. Only one was bad but I replaced all 6 and glad I did because there 3 or 4 IIRC brands in there when I tore it apart. FCP gave me a little packet of dielectric grease BTW.

These are fantastic cars, I love mine with 242K miles on it now. Want to put a heated steering wheel into it soon.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Bob, which brand did you get? After doing a lot of research and talking with FCP, I went with Delphi 2 years ago for my 2007. Only one was bad but I replaced all 6 and glad I did because there 3 or 4 IIRC brands in there when I tore it apart. FCP gave me a little packet of dielectric grease BTW.

I won't use anything but Delphi anymore based on some cheaper brands dying a couple days out.

On this car, one died last fall. Another this summer. Told owner next coil fail, plugs get replaced as a recent post (re BMW) said changing the plugs every 50k miles takes a load off the coil packs.

I don't think this car is at the plug change interval yet but I'm changing them. Just a thin layer of dielectric grease.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

...........I'll just ask (suggest) if driving the Bimmer until hot might help. Assuming of course that you can put things back so that it will run.

Crossed my mind last night. You could pull all of the plastic then just let it idle for a while then pull the coils.

I wonder how "stiff" dielectric grease gets over time? Maybe heat would soften it if it had been previously applied?

Silicone grease would work too but then there is no dielectric barrier.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

Were they really old?

No. Several years only and they were Delphi's. But as noted, two dropped out in the last year and a third misfire episode occurred last week but then ceased.

KNS · 12-16-2020, 03:04 PM

My '04 BMW gets the plugs changed every 50-60,000 miles.

I'm at 240,000 miles and still on the original coils.

Eric Coffey · 05:26 PM

^^^ Yep, OEM quality parts make a difference. I went well past 100K on my original E46 coil packs, and none of them came apart on removal.
Lots of CHICOM garbage "OE" parts out there (including straight-up counterfeits). It's a mine field.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNS

My '04 BMW gets the plugs changed every 50-60,000 miles.

I'm at 240,000 miles and still on the original coils.

This sounds like the ticket to long coil life.

dpeddle · 12-17-2020, 03:26 AM

I replaced the spark plugs and valve cover gasket in my '08 335i last year at roughly 90k miles. Five of the coils had mildly stuck to the plugs. One had bonded itself so well that 1/4" of the rubber isolator tore off and stayed on the plug after at least an hour of pulling and cursing. New plugs all had dielectric grease applied.