1. What is the stock spark plug on a 2005 R50?

2. How often are people changing them in the R50?

3. How often are people chaning the spark plug wires?

Thanks

 

i dont remember what the stock plugs were on my 04 R50, they were some sort of 4 prong plug like the bosch +4's, but they werent bosch.

i did run the bosch +4's for a while in the R50, but switched over to the NGK irridium plugs. I highly recommend these, call me crazy, but the car idles smoother with them.

its overkill, but i change my plugs every 25K miles. this is more to ensure the plugs dont get stuck in the head more than plugs wearing out. dont forget high temp anti-sieze when you change plugs btw.

my car is just rolling over 100K right now, and i just ordered the kingsborne plug wires from outmotoring. i am still on the stock wires.

 

1. Cooper and Cooper S: NGK BKR 6 EQUP for stock plug

2. For all MINIs the service interval is 100K miles. The gap is preset and not adjustable. Use 20 Ft-lbs torque on the Spark plug to cylinder head.

3. While you can change wires the stock wires will work for most drivers modded or not. For the MC Nology wires are common, for the MCS kingsborne wires are common. They come in different colors for appearance changes.

4. Ignition coil - stock is fine for most uses. Some do upgrade but your funds are better used for tires.

5. Colder Spark plugs are helpful for Cooper S owners that upgrade to reduction (smaller) Supercharger pulleys.

I don't recommend changing plugs routinely as often as 25,000 miles but inspecting them is fine.

Changing brake fluid and checking the air filter would be more important.

 

inspecting plugs without changing them, in my experience is a bad idea. spark plugs have crush washers for their sealing surface. once you crush a crush washer, it shouldnt be re-used. same on many oil plugs, you will not get as good of a seal. plugs are cheap, if you're going to pull them, replace them.

 

I'm not necessarily looking to "upgrade" my spark plug wires but I am curious what a good time period to change them would be before decreases in performance/efficiency occur. What are most people doing?

 

Wires usually last a long time maybe 3 or 4 years or the standard tune-up interval for a given car. Check for a break in insulation, good to check at each plug replacement interval. As the wires age resistance can go up, wires can be damaged by engine vibration, insulation can be compromised- kinked or cracked.

If you have symptoms of engine missing or rough running in damp weather
or signs of wire wear- heat damage, rubbing, discoloration/darkening, cracks,etc
Then it's time to change wires. Check mpg, idle smoothness and
you can use a multi-meter to check wire resistance.
see
http://www.inct.net/~autotips/plugwire.htm

Try to keep the wire tips clean.

My last two (non MINI) cars that I kept for 12 years each didn't really get much for spark plug wires- I think I might have changed them at about 6-7 years for each with standard wires. Plugs were changes regularly every 2 years, one with standard plugs the other had platinum plugs- I changed them less often. Both cars did well with good mpg.

 

True. Good point.
You can look at the tips as you replace them.

 

Thanks for the help. My car got less than expected gas mileage and I am looking for remedies.

 

Whatever you do don't start messing with the plugs unless the engine is stone cold. I made the mistake of changine mine out. Did the correct torque and 6 mos later #2 plug blows out. Did the antisieze and everything. Ended up with stripped threads and had to do a timesert to the tune of $340! Leave them alone. Keep you plug wires clean is more important than changing them out. If you insist on changing them, go with the stock plugs. If one does blow then you will need to have the stock plugs in to get warranty coverage because the stock is recommended for 100,000 miles and they can deny warranty if changed out. Beware.
What mileage are you getting?