So I take my 2009 fJCW to the local independent MINI mechanic (not the MINI dealership) , and they charge me $270 to change the spark plugs! Are you freakin' kidding me?!?

 

Can't imagine it taking more than a half hour. Maybe $150 with parts at most. Sound like you found a fun little project. Really isn't that hard to DIY.

 

Changing spark plugs takes about 5 minutes. You got ripped off.

 

Did you get get an est from the dealer before you went off to the independent?

I do believe the JCW takes a special plug and has a shorter interval, but $270 is a bit rich.

 

Did mine this morning. Cost me $17 for the "special" plug socket, and $62 for the plugs. Took 45 min from walking out the door to gather tools to back inside on the couch. I look at it this way, for what you paid you could have gotten a scan tool and all the plug stuff. These cars are a total blast to own, but you almost need to mitigate the cost of ownership with as much DIY as your willing to do.

 

Do it yourself next time all you need is a spark plug wrench/ torque wrench and 10 mins really one of the easiest things to change on a car

 

This is true, especially for those in the category of prole mini owners (I am in that category). I opted out of DIY plug change because I was worried about over torquing the plugs in the soft soft aluminum head.
I did have my oil changed at the auto shop class where I taught high school though. That was scary. Used Mini brand oil of course.

 

I was quoted $225, but I brought in my own NGK's and they installed them for $70, I was going to attempt to DIY it but I needed it done before I left town to have my ECU tuned, UPS screwed up the delivery of my torque wrench, etc etc.

 

wow that's a crazy rip. Youtube has some good videos showing how easy it is to change them. I'll be doing this myself when the time comes.

 

If I recall correctly I think the JCW plugs are about $36 each list price. I bought OEM NGK on the web for about $17 each.

 

Changing spark plugs is about the easiest DIY thing you can do on the car.

 

Any tips on how to apply the right torque? Any special tool out there to apply torque? This is for a 2006 R50. Dealer wanted $350 here in jersey.

 

A torque wrench.

http://www.craftsman.com/hand-tools-...ches/s-1305596

 

Holy FRACK!!! I bought my lower temp plugs from Way and my local MINI friendly shop installed them for..... free. Took less than 5 minutes.

 

thank you, I am trying to save some money and learn at the same time.

 

You will learn a lot here are NAM. I would highly suggest you get a Bentley manual.

 

I wonder how many of these 1st time "I installed my own plugs and saved a bunch" people are also the ones who later ask about how to fix a spark plug that came out of the head?

For people with no car experience, there is a technique to it......thread the plug in by hand so you don't cross thread it, crush the washer first, then apply the correct amount of torque.

Be careful using antisieze, too much and you can overtorque the plugs. Remember, the head is made out of aluminum, too little torque can be as bad as too much.

 

You should qualify your statement to say "on most cars". You can't say that about every car. Try changing the plugs on a FWD V-6 car or a 3-valve Ford engine. Trust me, they aren't for the faint of heart. Now, FWD inline-4 with a good plug design...that's a no brainer.

 

20ft lbs is the torque spec when installing new plugs. Take a look at our step-by-step DIY article:

MINI Spark Plug Replacement

And great feedback here too, NAM is a great community

 

Awesome information, thank you. i ll be doing it this weekend. thank you very much