Looking for ignition wires, options confuse me

[Earendil]

I currently have a set of old, mileage unknown, blue Bremi spark plug wires. These probably constitute "aftermarket" but they were free off a parts car at a time when mine were obviously shot. That was 3 years ago.

After searching for info, I get two common reoccurring opinions:

1. "Performance wires offer no benefits, go OEM" (This is especially popular in the racing communities)
2. "Performance offers no HP increase, but they are both cheaper and more durable"

Now I go looking for a set of wires from my normal sources, and I end up hopping around as prices either very wildly, I find brands I haven't heard of, or can't find a listing for brands at all. If anyone could help clarify which brands are good, OEM, and "performance" that would be awesome. While I've added price, that is not the primary concern. Mostly I'm trying to figure out why one plug costs significantly more/less than another. (The final cost to my door is far different from what's listed anyway, as the shipping and discounts vary wildly between them.)

To start us off, two wire sets from BMAParts that have the same description
OPParts - "wire set" - $87 (737 06027 501)
OPParts - "wire set" - $126 (737 06026 501)
KARLYN/STI - "Wire set" - $103

From BluntTech
Bremi - "Wire set" - $144
Bosch - "Wire set with mag-core" $276

Bimmerworld
no brand - "8MM Performance Ignition Wire Sets" - $140

Turner
no brand - "Genuine BMW Performance Ignition Wire Set" - $105
no brand - "8mm High-Performance Wire Set" - $140

PelicanParts
Karlyn-STI - "Ignition Wire Set" (marked as OEM supplier) - $135


I quite like my blue colored ones, as they add a tiny bit of spice to the monochromatic engine bay that is silver cars. But it would seem only BimmerWorlds wires have a color option.

So it looks like there are certainly wire sets that cost less than what looks like the go-to performance price of $140, contradicting what I read across the internet. Of course, the only ones marked as being from an OEM supplier, the Karlyn-STI ones are just about on par price wise. And then there is the high-as-@#$% Bosch ones for almost twice what everything else is

Could someone give me a hand here?

[TobyB]

If yours are still working, don't change them!

Sometimes the cheaper option is the eta without the cylinder sensor...
that's the case at BMA.

I got lucky with some "Standard Motor Products" from Rock Auto- turned
out to have Bremi ends on Bosch wire. Which past history has shown to be OK.

Otherwise, the Karlyn were my next choice.

hth

t

[Earendil]

Whether mine are working is questionable. Unknown age, but they've been in my car for three years, and sat in a parts car for two years before that. I've had a stumbling miss that still allows for a lot of power and pushing through redline with ease, but bugs me. Since the problem started, I've replaced almost everything in the system on spark and fuel side for a number of different reasons, and nothing has ever fixed or modified the stumble. The remaining things are the plug wires, the entire wiring harness, and the ECU. I hope to swap in an ECU as early as tomorrow, and want to be ready with a plug wire order soon after.

Yeah, like you wanted to know all that. It was good advice though, it's just probably "time" to replace them, and they are suspect. Worst case I end up with a spare set for when these go bad in a year or two.

[illest318i]

Bosch premium wire sets are $148 on Amazon. I'd rather go with that.

[TobyB]

Do the E30 Bosch sparkplug ends fall off like the 2002 sets do? I got really sick of that in a hurry.

t

[EatsHondas]

Grab a set of Magnecor's, part number 6767. I got them shipped to my door for $90.31 total and they're phenomenal. The only "catch" is the reference sensor hanging off the wire for cylinder 6 on the stock wires. You will have to cut your old wire, remove the sensor, and install it on the Magnecor's #6. I've had them for at least 5,000 miles now and they're great. No radio interference either.

[digger]

i have the IE ones, seem like good quality wire and connectors. i dont run the inductive pickup because my ECU doesnt use it but it is there like the stock ones. have run bavauto, nology, VAC ones before and these new ones i like best have had them about a year

[illest318i]

Do the E30 Bosch sparkplug ends fall off like the 2002 sets do? I got really sick of that in a hurry.

t

Hmm.. They screw off, if that's what you mean?

[karmatose]

i have the IE ones, seem like good quality wire and connectors.

Here here. I also have the IE ones. They're manufactured by Bremi and are great quality for the money.

[Kozworth]

If yours are still working, don't change them!

Sometimes the cheaper option is the eta without the cylinder sensor...
that's the case at BMA.

I got lucky with some "Standard Motor Products" from Rock Auto- turned
out to have Bremi ends on Bosch wire. Which past history has shown to be OK.

Otherwise, the Karlyn were my next choice.

hth

t

Thats because the eta has 2 crank reference sensors. You can do it, but why not actually buy the right wires?

As for the post, I haven't really read much about upgraded wires. More or less just di vs ei, and wasted spark. Myself, I wouldnt shell more then 100 bucks for a set of wires.

[Earendil]

di and ei?

For my own part, I was able to borrow a buddies brand new Kylin wires, and they didn't resolve my issue. I'm probably down to a wiring harness issue :) but that's another post.

[Kozworth]

Distributor ignition as in cap an rotor, or electronic ignition which is coil packs.

Ei produces a much stronger spark since there are more coils, no gap to jump
And more spark dwell time. Di gets the job done but has wear items and not as powerful of a spark.

If your keeping the car on motronic then your only option is di I believe

[liquidgroove]

Grab a set of Magnecor's, part number 6767. I got them shipped to my door for $90.31 total and they're phenomenal. The only "catch" is the reference sensor hanging off the wire for cylinder 6 on the stock wires. You will have to cut your old wire, remove the sensor, and install it on the Magnecor's #6. I've had them for at least 5,000 miles now and they're great. No radio interference either.

I had this as well. I remembered I needed use a drill to bore out the sensor hole slightly to fit through the magnecor's wire.

It was not a plug and play solution, but worked good with good price.