How long do coil packs live?

[kroberts]

Three of my coil packs are dated Aug 2000, the others Dec 1997. How long do these things last? Is there a check you can do on them to determine seviceability?

Who's got the best prices?

TIA,

kr

[static]

you can check resistance, but i heard that won't really tell you true story.
I also heard that a bad coil pack can take your ECU with it if it goes. (which makes sense as a bad coil will probably put quite a stress on the power transistor driving it)

[rede30]

Where is a good place to get coils?

[e30_kid89]

a good buddy of mine once sorced out some coil packs from worldpac goin for 45+taxes CAD...only other place i know of is bmw.

[matt]

Mine are all 9/94 and they still work fine.

They don't take the ECU with them... they just quit working.

[surebimmer]

Buy some used ones on eBay. Cheapest your going to get. I got 6 in good shape for $50. Pelican parts sells new ones for for $40.50 each.

[kroberts]

If the failure of a coilpack does not start some electrical domino effect I'll just drive them until one fails. Then I'll replace all six.

Not that I'm driving anything yet.

Soon.

Thanks,

kr