What's wrong with Bosch +4 Platinum plugs?

[dannyyisntt]

I've ran them in my e36 for five years, my 325ix for 3 and had them in my 318i before I pulled the m42, with zero issues.

[nando]

basically, at best they will run as well as cheap bosch or NGK copper plugs, and cost you more money. AT BEST. So all you did was spend extra money, for no benefit at all. why?

all the talk about indexing plugs and having 4 arcs instead of one - hilarious! these are fucking M20s. It's not going to make ANY difference which way your plug is indexed! and the arc off a 4 prong plug IS random anyway, so how would you know which direction it was firing?

The ONLY reason to have the multiple prongs is to increase the life of the plug, except the tiny platinum electrode will have burned away long before an equivalent copper plug starts giving you issues.

you're also stuck with whatever gap you get from the factory, one of the few things you can change that could make a small difference. You aren't going to get more spark energy!! it can't happen, that's limited by the coil and the dwell times programmed by the ECU. Also hope the box yours came in didn't get dropped, bending the prongs and fucking up the gap. pre-gapped plugs suck.

Hell, you can recondition copper plugs (by filing the electrode flat and re-gapping), if the reason you're doing platinum is because they're supposed to last longer. but a new set only costs about $12, so I don't think many people would bother.

it's idiotic! platinum plugs are MARKETING. they always have been, but kids eat them up..

[nando]

In for responses. Found that my race car had these things in there as well.

Thing is, the regular plugs I bought (Champion 9804 iridium) have a different tip and won't fit the wires I have. I'm confused as to what I can put in there.

unscrew the tip.

[u3b3rg33k]

the reason you're doing platinum is because they're supposed to last longer.

If you want plugs that last FOREVER, go steal a set out of a dodge 3.8L pushrod engine.

We have NEVER changed them (the back 3 are a nightmare to even see with the intake manifold on), and after 220k miles it still runs like a top. Must be those coil packs.

[vandol]

basically, at best they will run as well as cheap bosch or NGK copper plugs, and cost you more money. AT BEST. So all you did was spend extra money, for no benefit at all. why?

all the talk about indexing plugs and having 4 arcs instead of one - hilarious! these are fucking M20s. It's not going to make ANY difference which way your plug is indexed! and the arc off a 4 prong plug IS random anyway, so how would you know which direction it was firing?

The ONLY reason to have the multiple prongs is to increase the life of the plug, except the tiny platinum electrode will have burned away long before an equivalent copper plug starts giving you issues.

you're also stuck with whatever gap you get from the factory, one of the few things you can change that could make a small difference. You aren't going to get more spark energy!! it can't happen, that's limited by the coil and the dwell times programmed by the ECU. Also hope the box yours came in didn't get dropped, bending the prongs and fucking up the gap. pre-gapped plugs suck.

Hell, you can recondition copper plugs (by filing the electrode flat and re-gapping), if the reason you're doing platinum is because they're supposed to last longer. but a new set only costs about $12, so I don't think many people would bother.

it's idiotic! platinum plugs are MARKETING. they always have been, but kids eat them up..

+1

+4 plugs are for lazy people. Instead of changing your plugs at the regular

interval, you'd wait 4x as long. Platinum has a higher resistance than copper.

more resistance= less spark. M20's were made to work with copper, putting

platinum would make the spark weaker.. but then again i dont think you would

notice it on your 20+ year old engine. Thats assuming your using just the

standard plat. plugs not the +4.


Also the +4 plugs makes it so that when one of the (ground) electrodes

starts to deteriorate it creates resistance. Electricity takes the path of LEAST

resistance. ie. move on to arcing on another electrode, and so on. thats

why the +4 plugs "last longer".


had an e34 535i with the M30 and it would not accept any type of plat. plugs.

It would have idle problems like V8 status. As soon a I swapped in some copper plugs it would run

and idle perfect***

[priapism]

+1

+4 plugs are for lazy people. Instead of changing your plugs at the regular

interval, you'd wait 4x as long. Platinum has a higher resistance than copper.

more resistance= less spark.

Interesting. Wonder where iridiums fit in the mix.

I just put iridiums in my car because supposedly they were "the best", but race cars don't see much in the way of mileage, so I could give two craps about hwo long they last.

[vandol]

Interesting. Wonder where iridiums fit in the mix.

I just put iridiums in my car because supposedly they were "the best", but race cars don't see much in the way of mileage, so I could give two craps about hwo long they last.

I've never tried iridium plugs. but yeah if your using them for racing apps. Then

as long as they perform to your liking. Iridium is stronger than platinum and has

less resistance, (best of both worlds)

[xwill112x]

All these points being brought up against them but none of that is valid or being argued. Only way they could cause an issue is if the people had the issues had a weak coil, or other problems. Reminds me of the vlad threads

Cliffs: These plugs work fine, I've ran them for years with no issues. Lots of bandwagon riding going on here. How about factual information, not opinions next time.

[vandol]

All these points being brought up against them but none of that is valid or being argued. Only way they could cause an issue is if the people had the issues had a weak coil, or other problems. Reminds me of the vlad threads

Cliffs: These plugs work fine, I've ran them for years with no issues. Lots of bandwagon riding going on here. How about factual information, not opinions next time.

i thought i stated some facts..

[nando]

All these points being brought up against them but none of that is valid or being argued. Only way they could cause an issue is if the people had the issues had a weak coil, or other problems. Reminds me of the vlad threads

Cliffs: These plugs work fine, I've ran them for years with no issues. Lots of bandwagon riding going on here. How about factual information, not opinions next time.

you ran them in an M42. not the same thing.

you still wasted your money..

[xwill112x]

you ran them in an M42. not the same thing.

you still wasted your money..

If you read I had a m20 car with them as well. 0 issues. Anyone who has problems with them has underlying issues.

[nando]

You still wasted your money.

[bmwm42]

anything other than the cheap copper plugs on an m20 are a stupid waste of money not an opinion simply a fact

[dnguyen1963]

anything other than the cheap copper plugs on an m20 are a stupid waste of money not an opinion simply a fact

You guys completely forget the original question of this post. Many of you have strongly implied that +4 Bosch plug would "DAMAGE" M20 engine. I would like to see some evidence of the said damage. There are plenty of post saying that we do not need to spend money on the +4 because it does not make any difference. What are the damages? I guess I would never see any evidence because a lot of what I hear is basically hearsay.

[bmwm42]

these are the things noobs just dont understand, these plugs do fuck with the car they run hotter etc there is no use in going into detail for something you arent going to understand, if we tell you its cause we have been there done that or noticted it on someone elses car..dont take my word for it as most people here have there mind made up either way, there are no performance gains to be had with running those plugs.