Beru Ignition Wires it is...

[Carl83911]

Finally purchased my Beru wires.

It took me awhile to decide between the Magnacores and the Beru. I've read the pros and cons on both sides and my final decision rests on the Berus.

For the price of $185 it seemed very reasonable. It would've cost me as much if I ordered the Mags plus shipping. for some reason they didn't qualify for free shipping.

Anyway, prices being equal, I'll opt for the stock option.

A comment that was posted that really helped with my choice was:

"All claims of increased horsepower from the aftermarket products have been proven false. No amount of upgrading of the ignition system will increase the horses. One may get better mpg and smoother idle in the process."

Besides, I don't consider the Mags an upgrade.

[Tippy]

I have the Clewitt Engineering (well, I did before) and the quality if pretty good.

Of course, the cost is pretty pricey.

[dan88911]

I've been wrestling with that choice as well.
I want to get the best product.
Thanks for the post.

[canamfan]

Porsche had always gone through enormous lengths to research and develop OE parts and suppliers, besides they have had alot of highly paid, well educated and groomed engineers on the payroll. I've always believed it pretty difficult to out smart them in the aftermarket game to provide a better product than what they've ever so patiently try to develop over the years to work well with their design(s)

[tazzieman]

It's a mistake to think Porsche always got things right. And they made some really expensive mistakes over the years. Quality was not always 100%. Cardboard, plywood and those nasty plastic inner door handles ... VW quality at best. There is always room for improvement , esp after several decades.

Carl83911 , what were the pros of the OEM wires that convinced you? Hard evidence?

There are many racing teams that have "well groomed and educated" engineers on the payroll (ever heard of Mark Donohue?) and some of these have beaten Porsche at their own game with better set ups than ex factory.

[MarkRobinson]

Originally Posted by tazzieman

It's a mistake to think Porsche always got things right. And they made some really expensive mistakes over the years. Quality was not always 100%. Cardboard, plywood and those nasty plastic inner door handles ... VW quality at best. There is always room for improvement , esp after several decades.

Carl83911 , what were the pros of the OEM wires that convinced you? Hard evidence?

There are many racing teams that have "well groomed and educated" engineers on the payroll (ever heard of Mark Donohue?) and some of these have beaten Porsche at their own game with better set ups than ex factory.

On the plug wires & ignition they got it right: hard to improve over solid core wires where both a 7" wire & a 52" wire both have the exact same resistance, as the wire ends carry the resistors; perfect resistance every time. Ignition wires are considered a maintenance item and to get 15 years or so out of a long wire set strung over a hot, high performance engine is pretty impressive.

Pelican's DIY wire sets at about $175 are hard to beat & you can order an OE Beru red wire color now!

[Carl83911]

Originally Posted by tazzieman

Carl83911 , what were the pros of the OEM wires that convinced you? Hard evidence?

Let's see here:

1. first and formost, My originals lasted for almost 30 years. That could possible the only reason I need for going OEM.

2. Why do majority of people buy aftermarket and then install BERU connectors?

3. I haven't heard of any Mags, Clewets, Nology, etc... lasting for 25+ years.

I believe that #1 as hard evidence to opt for the OEMs.

IMHO.

Carl

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Carl83911

Let's see here:

1. first and formost, My originals lasted for almost 30 years. That could possible the only reason I need for going OEM.

2. Why do majority of people buy aftermarket and then install BERU connectors?

3. I haven't heard of any Mags, Clewets, Nology, etc... lasting for 25+ years.

I believe that #1 as hard evidence to opt for the OEMs.

IMHO.

Carl

Your logic is sound. Too bad the reality is different. 30 years ago, those components were probably made in Germany by folks who cared about the quality of the final product. These days, it's all about getting the most money for the least input. It used to be that Bosch was the standard in ignition component quality. No more. The China-sourced spark plugs are complete crap. The supposed motorsport-quality 044 fuel pumps barely last a year for some folks.

If you could get NOS wires, then I'd agree. But anything manufactured in the past few years may or may not be complete and total junk even if it claims to be "OEM".

BTDT.

[81 SC Ray]

Hi Carl,

For what it is worth - I agree with you 100%. I took a 30 year old set of Beru's out - and put in a brand new set of Beru's. Perfect fit - perfect look - perfect performance.

If others chose not to use Beru's - good for them and I am glad they are happy with their choice. I don't care what wires anyone uses - I am just glad we are all keeping these old Porsche's maintained and on the road.

Ray

[dshepp806]

I stay with the Berus......

Best!

Doyle

[gtc]

I suspect that anyone who has examined a Magnecor wire would tell you that the quality exceeds that of the Beru wires by a wide margin.

It also doesn't hurt that they're cheaper than Beru's and American made.

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by gtc

I suspect that anyone who has examined a Magnecor wire would tell you that the quality exceeds that of the Beru wires by a wide margin.

It also doesn't hurt that they're cheaper than Beru's and American made.

So, where are Beru's made nowadays?
And what are the best plugs? The worms keep piling out of the can.

[Carl83911]

The Beru set that I acquired were made in France. Would that be of better quality than Chinese made? Maybe so. Similar quality control as the original? I don't know.

I'll be the first to admit that if they were made in China, I would have my doubts on the quality control issues. Sometimes or if opportunity knocks, most manufacturers will outsource for profit sacrificing quality. Unfortunately, this has been the case with many Western companies looking to increase their profit margins. Outsourcing to cheaper labor markets. Try as they may to maintain the quality control, it usually suffers.

I'm sure that the Mags are a quality product but i'm one to stick with tried and proven products. My new Berus are like night and day better in performance than my 25 year old ones. Hopefully, they will last as long as thr originals.

[tazzieman]

I guess any replacement of 25+yr old plug wires will seem an improvement. I replaced mine because the connectors were very manky. Magnecor gave a good and what to me seemed unbiased analysis of ignition wire science . Some points from their website http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/truth.htm reproduced here:

Ignition wires with grounded braided metal sleeves over the cable have come and gone all over the world for (at least) the last 30 years, and similar wires were used over 20 years ago by a few car makers to solve cross-firing problems on early fuel injected engines and RFI problems on fiberglass bodied cars — only to find other problems were created. The recent Circle Track Magazine (USA, May, 1996 issue) test showed Nology "HotWires" produced no additional horsepower (the test actually showed a 10 horsepower decrease when compared to stock carbon conductor wires).

The perceived effect a brighter spark, conducted by an ignition wire, encased or partially encased in a braided metal sleeve (shield) grounded to the engine, jumping across a huge free-air gap (which bears no relationship to the spark needed to fire the variable air/fuel mixture under pressure in a combustion chamber) is continually being re-discovered and cleverly demonstrated by marketers who convince themselves there's monetary value in such a bright spark, and all sorts of wild, completely un-provable claims are made for this phenomena.

It is common knowledge amongst automotive electrical engineers that it is unwise to use ignition wires fitted with grounded braided metal sleeves fitted over ignition cable jackets on an automobile engine. This type of ignition wires forces its cable jackets to become an unsuitable dielectric for a crude capacitor (effect) between the conductor and the braided metal sleeves. While the wires function normally when first fitted, the cable jackets soon break down as a dielectric, and progressively more spark energy is induced from the conductors (though the cable jackets) into the grounded metal sleeves, causing the ignition coil to unnecessarily output more energy to fire both the spark plug gaps and the additional energy lost via the braided metal sleeves. Often this situation leads to ignition coil and control unit overload failures.

Like transmission oils , whatever floats yer boat I guess! But the science is always interesting.

[kach22i]

I do believe that Nology Hotwires come with a Beru end also, but have no experience with them.

[tobluforu]

There are some very inexpensive wires on paragon that have Beru ends which I bought because of the color only. These replaced some 10 mm magnacores I have, and I didn't notice anything in regards to idle, etc.
Porsche 911 Performance Ignition Wire Set.

[stlrj]

What makes Beru ignition wires so attractive, the fact they are made of stranded copper with resistor ends attached, is also what makes them so susceptible to failure due to moisture and corrosion. With time, as moisture seeps into the rubber boots due to capillary action, a highly conductive green powdery copper oxide forms. Combine that with rubber boots that no longer seal as tight as when they were new due to years of heat cycles, it is no wonder that these wires short out so easily and are so unreliable in the rain.




Cheers,

Joe

[81 SC Ray]

31 years on the first set......I will change mine again when I am 74.... :-)

[stlrj]

Most garage queens that are rarely driven would hardly know the difference. Even decades of the harshest garage environments would keep any ignition wire looking good as new.

It seems only Porsche and BMW, if I'm not mistaken, were the only few insisting on this failure prone copper core wire with resistor ends system and everyone else went with highly reliable carbon core cables that may have never been replaced on cars driven over 200K miles.

[Carl83911]

Originally Posted by stlrj

What makes Beru ignition wires so attractive, the fact they are made of stranded copper with resistor ends attached, is also what makes them so susceptible to failure due to moisture and corrosion. With time, as moisture seeps into the rubber boots due to capillary action, a highly conductive green powdery copper oxide forms. Combine that with rubber boots that no longer seal as tight as when they were new due to years of heat cycles, it is no wonder that these wires short out so easily and are so unreliable in the rain.
Cheers,
Joe

------------------

I beg to differ. I've driven my sc through many downpours and as a daily driver living in northern california where many wet winters come through. I've never had any of the wicking effect you mention. Even at their last legs, the connectors were not sucking up water.

Has this happened to you?