Hello Everyone...
I have a 2007 R56 Mini Cooper Base that has 40,000 miles on her.
I'm thinking it should be time to change the spark plugs?
Your thoughts?
Its a stock engine and the only engine mod I plan on doing later is a DDM Works Intake.

If I can also get the torque as well...

I really appreciate all recommendations/tips...
Thanks so much!

 

It wouldn't hurt to pull them for an inspection but it's probably not necessary to replace them if you don't have a turbo engine. It's only worry about it if you have a problem like misfiring.

 

I've changed my spark plugs every 30K miles (NGKs).

All the times I changed them, spark plugs were very dirty, but never were changed due to a problem (misfiring, etc).

 

We recommend examining and/or replacing your spark plugs every 30,000 miles, or about once a year. In reality, you can probably go longer than that, (MINI recommends an interval of 100,000 miles) however, you never really quite know how long the plugs are going to last, or you may forget to do it if you don't setup a yearly schedule. Again, this is personal preference. If you do want to replace them we have some great ignition kits HERE or just the plugs HERE.

 

+1

Did my own at about 40,000 miles on the S, I did the JCW spark plugs a little earlier as they have smaller internals even from MINI its like 30,000 mile .

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2007-Cooper-R56-Base-Coupe-L4_1.6L_N12B16A/Maintenance/Engine/Ignition/

Make sure you get the right ones , the Cooper ( NON S ) take a different coil.

 

As Always Thanks so much for the input...

I pulled 1 plug and it looks beautiful on the inside.

I think I might just leave it alone for a while...

 

You drive 30,000 miles in a year! Heck, it took me six years to get that many miles on the odometer.

 

Spark plugs last longer nowadays, they say. I say that by 30k, it wouldn't hurt to get some new plugs. A few bucks, a better feeling. Even if you don't gain anything but the satisfaction of doing something. Besides, those plugs have been in there since 2007. Why wait for them to seize-up more due to dis-similar metal interaction? Aluminum heads are pretty unforgiving to "stuck" spark plugs.

 

Thank You for that reminder...
I've been on a tight budget for awhile and I was in budget mode...
That was the old me always being one step ahead of maintenance and never having issues... It makes perfect since thinking about how long those plugs have been in that mini...
Do the coils need to be changed as well or do they last a long time?
Thanks

 

2010 mini cooper n12, plugs were done and misfiring under load at 70,000 km's....so my opinion is to replace them. The side electrode was really worn making the gap too large.

 

Thanks so much...
I'll do it.

 

I just changed mine on my 2007 S at 99k. I'm not sure if they had been done before because I bought it used but the boots and plugs came out no problem. One boot looks a little rusty so I'm going to look at swapping those out soon.

 

That's great news nrfitchett4! I bought my 07 a few months ago with about 38k on it.
I really wanted the "S" but this was a great deal to not pass up...
The only issue. Have is the rear driver side marker light has no power. Everything looks good so I'm stumped. But f that's all that goes wrong I'm a happy camper.
I'll probably change my plugs this summer now...

 

Hi folks - a story from over the pond...
I'm really cynical about MINI plug gaps. A couple of years ago I had a 2011 N18 MCS on 12000mls. I checked the plugs and the gaps were all over the place from 0.4mm to 0.6mm! Needless to say I gapped up new BERUs to the recommended 0.7mm and replaced them.
Recently with my 2014 N18 MCS I hit 15000mls and I felt the urge to check. (From my own experience I've felt that it's always a good idea to 'free' the ign modules before they become more permanently fixed.) True to form the plugs I took out were similarly 'everywhere' but nowhere near 0.7mm. I wonder if they're gapped to wear wide over their 100 000mls (gulp) life? So I did the same again with new BERUs - gapping them to the recommended 0.7mm. Again idle/tickover was immediately noticeably improved as was general driving response.
For both sets of plugs it must have been the first time they'd been checked; is it coincidental that they could all be so wrong? They say that these 'special' plugs don't need gapping from new but even both sets of new plugs needed adjusting!
In my (cynical) experience all these new platinum/iridium-type plugs are not reliably gapped for our MINIs and it seems to be part of a 'dark Art' to even consider interfering with them.
I'd recommend replacement, or at least a clean + check, every 25 000mls or couple of years. It's an easy d-i-y and you can use plastic brushes (now) to clean them...


Torque? BERU recommend 23+/-3Nm on their packaging (I usually set to 20Nm on the t-wrench). Hope this helps fellow enthusiasts.

 

I love Ponds cjm...
I will for sure check the gap on my BERU's to 0.7mm and toque those babies to 20Nm.
Thanks for all of the great info.

 

Welcome.

 

I changed my plugs at 40K. The electrodes had noticeably worn and I would estimate that the gap was 30% wider than the new ones. When measured, the new plug gaps varied slightly from spec but not enough to bother adjusting. The car's performance after replacement with the new plugs was quite nice.

 

Thanks Scott13...
I pulled one plug and it looked really clean (Thank God) But I can tell the gap was rather large.

So I'm going to just replace mine sooner rather than later...

 

I'm going to change out my plugs. I'm going to replace mine with what's in it already from the factory.
2007 Min Cooper R56
Mini Cooper Spark Plugs High Power, Plug Set Beru OEM 12ZR6SP03
But I'm seeing different gap settings?
Does anyone know what it will be for these Beru Plugs?
Thanks again,
I would be lost without all of you smart MotorPeeps...

 

You bought the wrong spark plugs, the Beru plugs are for the N18 engine and not the N14 engines. Why Mini went with the Beru plugs for the N18 engine is beyond my comprehension, the NGK's are superior in every way!

 

I think it's marked on the outside of the box (edit: sorry just checked and it's not!) - 0.7mm or 0.276" so a 'tight' 28thou would suffice...


Systemlord, I tried both brands in my 2012 N18 MCS and (personal preference, I know) the Berus seemed noticeably 'torquier' to my 'but-dyno'. Not scientific but...


ps aren't Beru iridium (sorry another edit - they're platinum...) and NGK 'only' platinium, off the top of my head? Goodness knows what the difference is? (Probably a harder tip meaning the accountants can factor replacement even further down the line. IMO I still think 25-30 000mls is long enough for any spark plug; it's an easy d-i-y and I've found that MINI coil packs are quite difficult to remove after even a couple of years from new.)

 

I haven't ordered them yet.. I'm safe so far.
That's really strange because that's what's in the mini from the factory.
Really strange.

 

NGK ILZKBR7B-8DG are your OEM supplier replacement plugs. We have them HERE. Let me know if you have any questions.

Also, check out this thread HERE on NAM. It's a basic guide to spark plugs for your MINI.

 

N14 are linked above , the N18 are linked Here: 12122293697

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2011-...gine/Ignition/


Make sure you get that socket to make it easier to take out. 14mm Deep Well Spark Plug Socket - 3/8" Drive , linked above also.

 

I looked up my Vin and it is telling me my Engine is an N12
Are these Vin code sites reliable?
I am more than confused now?
I'm the second owner and the first owners told me they have never had the spark plugs changed. And the plugs that I pulled and looked at are 12ZR-6SP03
can't I just go back with the same plug?