I've been doing my own tune ups for a couple of years now and I've notice that they wear much faster than champion spark plugs. My volvo mechanic says he never uses Bosche plugs because they are terrrible. Is this true. What kind are the best? Mine only lasted 6 months.

The original "Volvo" plugs in my 83 240DL were Bosch and lasted 30,000mi - would have gone much longer but I changed them on principle. (Decent plugs in a properly tuned engine will last a long time...thank unleaded fuel and computer-controlled EFI.) The genuine Volvo replacements were also Bosch (this was 1988). Are today's "Volvo" plugs still Bosch's with a paint job? - I don't know. At around 60k I got the high-tech bug and put in Bosch platinums, and the next winter had cold starting problems. Dealer's diagnosis sheet said "high secondary resistance - engine has platinum plugs". Service mgr frowned at me - I took them out and put in the good old W7's. Around 30k mi later I replaced these (still going well) with NGK BP6ES on the basis of a lot of recommendations and anecdotal evidence on the MGB bulletin board about superior quality and durability. These now have 50k and the car runs fine, passes smog, gets decent fuel economy. My conclusion? Bosch are good, NGK are better.
--
Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-940Sedan B230F)

I like bosch plugs fine. They aren't bad and I've used them for a long time. I prefer using NGKs in my B230F engines but it's just because I think they idle a little bit better.

Champions, however, are another story. There are some applications where you can't get away from them because they're an OEM plug. I'm limited to purchasing Champions for twin FICHT 90s (Evinrude/bombardier) for $8 apiece, and they eat them like candy. But that is the only one I will buy unless it's an emergency, because I've had them fail straight out of the box several times. Nothing more frustrating than chasing problems with a tune up that made things worse than they were before the tune up. I'm sure some people swear by them, but I wouldn't put them in anything that I had a good alternative to, like Bosch or NGK. My opinion: not the worst, but there are better plugs.
--
Chris Herbst, near Chicago.

Platinum do not work in my 85 b21FTi,,Bosch + NGK work well if not GREAT..I gap at .035. In my opnion Bosch are just as good as the rest.

I have never experience any problem with Bosch Plugs, as long as you get the right ones and replace them regularly, but I do have some issue with these plugs, the screw tips tend to come loose, so I check them very often, I don't want over tighten them, any one has idea what I should use to keep them tight ? Crazy glue ?
Regard

When I changed the bosch spark plus after 60k miles they were just fine. Seriously! :-) Michael

Can't say they're crappy - the regulars have worked liked they suppose to for all the times I've used 'em.

The platinums, OTOH ... the red blocks just don't seem to like 'em.

-- Kane ... their new production runs are made in India now, though.
--
Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40

Never had a problem with the Bosch plugs.
Always use BOsch Super WR7DC for the N/A cars.
It's an OEM plug... and Champions are not.
I've never seen excessive plug wear, and always see the
"annealing ring" right around the tip of the center
electrode. This indicates that the car is running right,
at least according to the old time mechanics I know.
I replace them every 30K or so, and that seems to be a
reasonable service life.
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '86 244DL- 215K, 87 244DL- 230K, 88 744GLE- 198K, 91 244 180K

Hey Rob -

I used Bosch W7RDP for years, then I read the onwer's manual, sez W7RDC. So OK I get a set. OOPS. The platinums come gapped to .028", just right for the .028" to .032" recommended range. The W7RDC plus came gapped to .034", had to spend the time to re-gap them.

I have seen a hand-held thing size of Vise-grips that gaps spark plugs. It's been several decades, no one at corner parts house ever heard of one. Have you? Do you use one?

Regards,

Bob

:>)

Tap em down tighter with the handle of my 3/8 ratchet. Open em up with my pocket knife, or anything else clean and handy, but I might be crude. Never had one fail before 70K miles, either....except a Champion.

I suppose there are more proper tools, but I use an oil filter wrench to gap 'em. The jaws can accommodate the entire spark plug.

-- Kane
--
Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40

I love NGK's. But I still don't think Bosch are "crap". Certain turbos and Bosch Plat's don't get along, known fact. But I wouldn't condemn all Bosch plugs.

Champion? Those ARE crap. Every car, boat, mc, whatever - that I tried a Champion plug in plain ass didn't run correctly until I switched the Champion plug out. I will NEVER use a Champion plug again.
--
http://www.fidalgo.net/~brook4/oilslubesfilters.html

I think there's a Champion in my Snapper. Mrs. B doesn't complain about it much.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Champions work great on British cars - which maybe lends an explanation.

Rene Svastal
--
1988 745 GLE B23FT M46 (J-P Type combo). Toronto. 390000Km. Suspension upgraded and lowered . 1982 242 GLT project (B23ET LPT to be included) Also in charge of GF's 1986 244

I have used Bosch Platinum for over ten years in all my cars. My 95 960 has had them for three years with no problems. Most engineering reports I have seen seem to rate them highly. If there ws a problem with your engine, I would look to whether they were torqued and seated properly. Also, if they are wearing quickly, there might be problems with: air cleaner or ignition components if carbon fouled; worn piston rings and/or bad valve seals if oil fouled; nearly bridged plug if excessive carbon or oil buildup on the plug. If the plug is physically damaged there may be severe detonation in the chamber. I have heard nothing bad about Bosch and Volvo's, or any other car to date.

Plug life is measured in miles not months, how many miles? You do not mention what was wrong with the plugs. I can easily get 30K miles from plugs, Bosche or others. If something went wrong with your plugs after say 10K miles you may have issues with the engine not the plugs.
--
David Hunter

I wouldn't say Bosch plugs are crap. I used Bosch plugs for 16 years in the 75 164 and the on my 82 245 NA for the last 18 years. Since I now have a turbo I plan on installing NGK when I change the plugs.

just that they might not be the 'right' ones for our bricks. I just did a tune up this afternoon and I replaced the Bosch platinum plugs with NGK resistor ones. Seems like NGK is what Volvo experts like IPD recommends. Whereas BMW recommends Bosch plugs for their cars. I have Bosch platinums in both my BMWs and they run fine.

Cheers,
SM
--
90 BMW 325is, 98 BMW 528i, 90 Volvo 240DL

I think bosch and champion plugs are crap and I intend to prove it with some info...

On my 1991 245 (B230F) I use the NGK V2 line (BPR6ES) and the fuel consumption has decreased by about 5% from 13.2l/100km to about 12.5l/100km. plus that the idle is more stable and the emmisions level has decreased compared to the period I has Bosch plugs installed (I did not do any other adjustments). Second of all my last pair of Bosch plugs has lasted only about 10.000 km's before dying on me in the middle of the road at -13 degrees Celsius. And of course I had no replacement for those because I was convinced they're brand new... Oh, and did I mention it was 8.30 AM and I was just leaving for work? I just love it when it happens. :-))

I quit buying Champions while I was still having my former car, an Alfa Romeo.
I bought that car with 100000 km's on board and when my mechanic told me that the sparks were still the original ones (factory fitted NGK's) I decided to change them even though the car was still running OK. So I bought Champion Copper or Silver (I really can't remember which one), anyway the premium line from Champion (I have to admit it was my fault, the recommended spark plug for that engine - 16V boxer engine - was NGK platinum, but I got fooled by the Champion dealer that recommended his products as being equally good, even though they were not platinum plugs, not to mention they were coming at less than one third the price of the NGK platinum). The result was that one month and 2000 km later I was forced to change them and buy the original NGK's, because the engine was not running properly. Two years and 50000 km later when I sold that car it was till running on the same NGK platinum spark plugs that were looking brand new.

And as a final bit of info and a question. I don't know about US, but the factory equipped and original replacement spark plugs for BMW's in Europe are NGK. That type with two ground electrodes. Even though they come in the "BMW original teile" wrapping instead of the NGK wrapping. At least for the 3' series. My brother had an E36 and now he's got an E46 so I know what I'm talking about. And here comes the question... what's a NGK resistor!!! spark plug? I guess we don't have them in Europe.
--
1991 Volvo 245; 1979 Volvo 244

entering your stereo system. If you use OEM Volvo cables, they have it built in, but if you are using aftermarkets, the resistor plugs help cut down the 'whine' noise that you hear from your stereo. I have aftermarket wires, hence NGK resistor plugs are needed.

As far as what BMW recommends for their current line-up, you are right, they are NGKs. For older BMWs, like my 90 325is, Bosch is the only one. I have had good results with Bosch plugs till I used them in the Volvo. She just didn't like em! Coughed em out after 12k miles!! She seems happy with the NGKs, though.

Cheers,
SM
--
90 BMW 325is, 98 BMW 528i, 90 Volvo 240DL