2015 S (JCW factory tune) that I purchased new. Close to 60,000 miles and replacing spark plugs. Pulled original plugs and they are BMW R5 NGK. All parts sites list replacement for B48 engine that year, 3 door S. BMW R5 plugs list as engine B46. BMW replacement plugs list #12120040551, high power. All websites list engine as being B48. Tried NGK lazer iridium plugs (94201) SILZKGR8BS as fitting (48). Gaps all .030.

Total error misfire on all cylinders. Pulled new plugs and replaced old. Runs and idles perfect. All gaps .030, old and new.

The MINI was a special order S, manual, as JCW only came with auto trans at that time, 6 speed 6 months later. Anyone run into this? BMW parts show Champion as replacements. Like to stay with NGK. Any suggestions?

 

All 2014 to mid 2019 2.0L use NGK SILZKGR8BS

For all 4 to misfire, something happened during install, and resolved during reinstall of old ones.

EDIT CORRECTION Correct plugs, I had wrong numbers

 

Unless the NGKs are Chinese knockoffs???

 

I forgot to mention, the BMW R5 plug with have the NGK number embossed in the collar.

 

Don't think misfire was caused by install. Foxwell recored all errors, all cylinders. All sites say SILZKGR8B8S NGK will fit. Did a search for NGK SILZKGR8EAS (your post) and no such number came up. Source please?

 

Mistyped, I corrected.

 

4 new Spark plugs can not ALL be bad.

Something happened during the install, that was inadvertently corrected when returning old plugs.

 

If they are the wrong plugs (not high power as specs), fakes, yes they will all misfire. The new plugs are about 2mm longer. The washers are steel and not copper (or plated) like the BMWe R5's. Numbers are stamped on plugs. Photos show them to be copper on most parts websites. Guess I will have to go with BMW Champions. What is strange is that the engine is listed as a B48. BMW R5's are listed as for the B46, for older E series BMW's and the X3's. One site mentioned registering new plugs. Will look into it further.

 

Dont discount MINI Champions, they aren't the Autozone Champions for your lawn mower!!!

R5s are here
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...2120041666kt1/

 

@SFMCS Re B48 vs B46 do you know for a fact which engine is in your F56S? Not clear to me from your post. A VIN decoder will tell the tale in any case, what's actually in your car wins in my book. US spec F56S would almost certainly be a B46 so far as I'm aware but I could be wrong.

I got my F56S used and it had Champions in at the time. I swapped them for BERU (got them in a set from Outmotoring), BERU being one of the 3 OEM spark plug suppliers (the other two being Champion and NGK). Subjectively, much smoother with the BERU, but the Champions I replaced may have had as much as 72K on them and all sorts of other who knows blah blah that comes with a used car purchase, so my experience is anecdotal at best.

If I had to guess, first guess is you got 4 fake NGKs (the steel vs copper washer thing is interesting to say the least) or, second guess, the plugs you got don't line up with the ones you took out (the length difference is... also interesting).

 

Very true about Champions. Will ask ESC about washer type.

 

3d MINI, first 2003. The R5 appears to be replaced by a supersceded #. I will do the VIN but every site shows a B48A204 for the production time. As the F56 was only 6 months or so in production, who knows? Can't use the local MINI/BMW dealership for parts and service anymore. The were boughtout by a conglomerate from Brazil a few years ago and are charging 25% over list for parts let alone for service. Lost my old "pitcrew" as well. My indy shop used 20W last oil change as he thought it was a LCI. Left his shop as he thought MINI forums were BS.. Just replaced the battery, 8+ years and 57,000+ miles. Like to keep it another 57. Wrap is 6+ years old and still there...probaly out last me.

 

Anyone know of a reliable VIN decoder? One site said it was an auto. Another priced original $20,000 under what I paid for it. One said it was a B46 5 door S. And plugs are different. It appears that 99% of sites are BS.

 

What happens if you enter your VIN in realoem.com

 

realoem.com shows a B46 engine for all F56 USA Cooper S manufacture dates from August 2014 through December 2015.

Mixed bag for USA prior to August 2014, mixed bag for EUR regardless of prod month in the same time period.

 

my '15 F-56 2.0L MCS is B46M mfg. date 7/27/14 - everybody should go to Mini & get Build Sheet & VIN # Sheet

 

It's a B46A4..., I found a tech sheet and it shows where it is stamped on the block. Found it. I remember when the tech showed me the engine with crank exposed during the bearing recall. It is a modular system, 3,4, and six cylinders. It also had a blocked casting port where an oil dipstick used to go. The B46 system is supposed to have one of the highest ratings for BMW engines (which may not be saying much, ha, ha).

Anyway, I went with Champions because they show a copper washer on the plug. When I pulled the NGK’s out, it appeared that there was a light residue on the threads and washer area. The NGK’s have a steel washer. They were torqued. Mostl other brands, including OEM’s show a copper washer, some not. A better ground and seat? The cylinders are lined with srayed steel. The main casting an alloy?

Beware of Amazon, AutoZone, and other sites as the do not show the correct B46 option with the ’15 S. They list the B46 as a 1.6L (3 cylinder) or the B46 for the F55 S, not the hatch. They have the JCW as the 2.0 L B48.

O’Reilly’s had the correct size engine and copper washers for the B46A MINI S. My local stealer quoted 30+% over retail. O’Reilly’s will have them ready in the morning for pickup.

Thanks for all of the help and suggestions.

 

Champion 9425's arrived last night-installed in 20 min. today. Runs perfect, maybe 50 rpms higher, but soother. The 9425's are a little hard to find-most suppliers out of stock. Yes, they had copper washers.

 

6425s fit 2.0 engines B46 or 48 from 2014 to 2019

 

They are also iridium (platinum metals family).

 

You need SILZKGR8B8S . Order them from NGK directly.

 

Not on my factory tuned S. I tried them and 3 of 4 cylinders misfired. It appears that the problem is the steel washers and not copper which is OEM. I put the originals back in-no problem. Put Champions in (with copper washers) and runs great. They are also iridium plugs. It appeas that the copper gives a proper ground, steel does not.

 

I just replaced mine they work perfectly

 

B46 or B48?