Wierd Look'en Spark plugs!
 

I feel like a fool asking but, what do normal "stock NGK plugs look like for a Stock '02 S? When I pulled my NGK's for the first time, the ends of the center electrodes were flush with the porcelain insulators. (weird. Bad?)The rest of each plug was a nice tan like it should be. So what gives with the center electrodes? Do they come new like this, or have they worn or burned up? My S is a '02 with only 20,000 miles on it.
I also installed wires and a scream'en daemon coil pack. The instructions suggested to re-gap the spark plugs from the stock .45" to .65". I have never tried to re- gap a multi ground electrode plug. These plugs have 4 grounds surrounding the center electrode. Two grounds are shorter that the other two. Suggestions on how to go about gapping these buggers properly?
Thanks, JD

Sounds normal. Here's what the plugs in my 2003 MCS looked
like after 63,000 miles. I have had them out and cleaned them
several times and they have always looked like this.

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/...41936Plugs.jpg

Thanks Pete. Do all the Mini S plugs come with the multiple ground electrodes? How can a person re-gap these things?

They're non-gappable plugs. These are set from the factory and plop right in. You'd have to buy aftermarket plugs if you want to play around w/ the gaps. Denso Iridium seems to be fairly popular...

Iridium plugs also come pre-gapped. You don't want to go try gapping one of those things yourself.

Oop you're right! From the look of things looks like you can't pregap them..well you probably could but the center electrode looks like it'd break off if you tried to gap them.

I went down to the local auto parts store and found some NGK "V Power" (ZFR6F-11 stock # 4291) plugs that are specified for the '02 MCS by NKG. These are normal single electrode plugs w/o the fancy Iridium. At $1.99 each, the price is sure right even if they do have to be changed more frequently.
Anyone have some experience with the NKG V POWER plug in their MCS?

Mine stoxk ones looked pretty much the same at 54,000

The Results of the research are as follows
These are for the 2003 Mini Cooper
NGK IX iridium 6418 BKR6EIX 0.032 $6.95
And These would be for the 2003 Mini Cooper "S"
NGK IX iridium 6441 ZFR6FIX-11 0.045 Supercharged $6.95

Found it difficult to research the Denso IK-20's The Denso web page would not offer up the part # or price and as you can see stated that the gap was .044 for the Cooper and the Cooper "S" The part # may be IK20 for the Cooper and IK22 for the Cooper "S". I just couldn't verify it.

COOPER 1.6 L - L4 0.044 2003 MINI COOPER S 1.6 L - L4 0.044

Essentially Iridium is Iridium is Iridium and the NGK's seem to run cheaper.

You've installed the coil and wires. Not a time to be cheap.

Denso IK20's are for the MC and the stock MCS. IK22's are for the MCS with
a reduction pulley.

There should be no problem changing the gap on a conventional style plug
(ie one center electrode and one ground electrode which goes over the top
of the center electrode) but you should be careful not to hit the center
electrode because it can break. Just bend the ground electrode to alter the
gap using a standard spark plug tool.

Contrary to popular beliefs, Iridium plugs still need to have their gaps checked even when new. You need to be extra careful when adjusting them closer however or you'll break the Iridium rod.

Thank you all for your replies. I am going to install the NGK V Power single electrode plugs gaped at .65" (as per instruction by the coil mfg. Scream'n Deamon) this afternoon and see what happens. This coil and wire setup is a higher voltage unit than stock. I have never used such a wide gap before, but that is what the mfg suggests. I wish I had a chassis dyno at my disposal to really note if I were helping or hindering. Not that I expect a big improvement here, but I will take any legal mod I can use in a SCCA stock class. None of it will make up for the nut attached to the steering wheel here!... lol
(JD)

I sure hope you meant .065".:eek:

I kid you not Pete. I personally have never used a gap like that in my life, but the instructions explicitly state: "to achieve full benefit from your Screamen' Demon Coil Packs, open up your spark plug gaps to .065".". This unit is a product of "Performance Distributors" a division of Davis Unified Ignition of Memphis Tennessee. I just put 40 miles on the car. It performs fine. Time will tell.

Your prior post mentioned point 65...over a half inch gap :wink:

Yikes! Typo.....and consistent too. Just shoot me and get it over.