I have been looking to try a set of copper or silver plugs to replace the stock, BKR7EQUP, plugs to see what the performance difference would feel like, if any. I have been given two sets of plugs that were both approximately 1/4 inch longer than the BKR7EQUP. The first set was Autolites, I forget the number. They were longer than I thought they should be. I returned them and they gave me a set of Denso IK 22 plugs. Which I found out were not what I was looking for and were to long. Are the BKR7EQUP short? Can someone tell me what single electrode copper or silver plug I should look for? I have done the search and see all of the recommendations for Brisk, NGK, etc... But nothing for the old fashioned single electrode style plug. Any suggestions would help. I have a 2004 R53 JCW with an Alta CAI as the only mod so far.

 

Personally I would stick with NGK and stay as far away from Autolite as possible. I had a bad experience with Autolite in the past and don't trust them. The copper version of the BKR7EQUP is the BKR7E-11. As far as performance and fit I cannot comment on that, but maybe someone else can chime in with experiences they have had with copper plugs on the Mini. Good luck.

 

I broke down and went to the dealership ready to just pay what they wanted for the JCW plugs. When I got there the first parts guy said that they would have to order them and it would be over $200 for them. The second parts guy overheard our conversation and said that he actually had 8 of the plugs I needed and that they were not showing in their stock because they have had them for so long because a customer did not pick them up after ordering them. He sold them to me for half price so he did not have to ship them back. That was the good news. The bad news is now I have what I describe as a miss when I accelerate moderately or hard. It runs great under easy driving conditions. I think I may need to change my plug wires now. Does that sound like a reasonable assumption? 47,000 on the car and they appear to be the original wires. Any thoughts?

 

First off....be sure to use a torque wrench to tighten down the plugs..mini's have a tendency to BLOW them out. can be $$

http://www.waymotorworks.com/john-co...gs-by-ngk.html
$50+5 shipping.....................
Those were some $$ plugs you bought from the dealer...even at 1/2 price!!
The plug wires are so short, if the ends are ok, and the coil does not have corrosion (a common issue), look elsewhere....with 47,000 miles, the car is barely broken in!!
Not sure about the length, but with a modern coil, rather than the old points.distributor/rotor setup, I kinda doubt you will see any change with copper plugs...the spark is just SO much better than it was with old ignition systems. Folks have tried on dyno's to answer your question...and NEW VS NEW, I have always heard the results are within the error range of the dyno's.

Good luck.....and IF a plug that is too long is used...BOOM...a guy a while back here used a high-tech e2 plug or something along those lines (tag line, something like make 20% more power, less emissions, etc) that was too long...guess the application guide in their book was wrong...wrecked the motor.

 

Not to thread-jack, bit ZippyNH, what brand torque wrench to you trust the most? Like truly calibrated good one to buy? You seem like a good one to ask!!!!

 

A $15-20 one from walmart or even harbour fright is "good enough" imo.
Just don't drop it! If you use it tons, or mistreat it, buy a new one every couple of years.
At airports, airplane mechanics must get their tourqe wreches recacalibrated yearly...many just buy a new one, then give the old one away...lol...could have gotten a well used snap-on for a song a few years back...and i thought...i never need one...then 2 years later had to buy one!!
The most common ones today usually have a twist setting on the handle....the old style with the flex tube and chart is mostly gone....

 

Just to add to this...
Every time I am done using my torque wrench I set it back to the lowest setting and put it back in its case and it is something I recommend to anyone using one to preserve the calibration.

 

Sounds good to me then! TY