From digest.v7.n415 Fri Oct 10 12:28:35 1997
From: barrettn_at_worldnet.att.net (Barrett Nicholas)
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 1997 16:36:43 GMT
Subject: re: Spark Plugs and Transmission service

Berney: You might want to consider ordering your plugs from Steve D'Gerolamo (201) 262-0412. He knows what's right for you car, and if you need anything else like antiseize or a plug socket, he has all that and only sells good or exceptional quality items. I bought plugs (Bosch F7LDCR) for my car from him - $4 each.They come pre-gapped, ready to use. My car is a '95 325i, I'd think your car would use the same plug, but double check to be sure. Here's an interesting post from a past digest on plugs for the e36:

> From: kenneth inn <keninn4_at_airmail.net>
>Date: Thu, 09 Jan 1997 21:12:59 -0500
>Subject: RE:Christian Lee, Bosch platinum plugs
>
>Your car uses the Bosch F7LDCR plug, which is a dual electrode. There
>is no platinum Bosch for it. The motor in your car is in a VERY high
>state of tune, as most BMW engines are, and if you mess up one small
>component, it can have a very detrimental effect on the entire motor.=20
>prior to this, the early M42 and M50 motors used a platform electrode
>plug, mostly NGK. these made enough noise to set off the knock sensors,
>and retard timing, greatly affecting performance. when we changed the
>plugs to the new F7LDCR, sometimes the owners would come back, drooling
>and all excited, yelling, "what did you do to the car?? It goes like=20
>hell(real fast)nnow!!"" of course, under full revs, it was now getting
>full advance, and the acceleration was much better. I am constantly
>amazed at the technology that BMW seems to come up with in the engines
>and the fuel systems, and being in the parts business, I can see the
>trend, as always, BMW is the leader, the rest seem to follow after
>watching for years. remember, the spark plug is very important in
>maintaining fuel burn, and a small change will greatly affect emissions
>and performance.=20

As far as gaskets for the transmission drain plugs, I haven't done mine yet either, but if it's any consolation, the dealer told me the same thing, that there aren't any, and none show up on my (bootleg, don't ask where I got it!) parts CD. There is one shown however, for the drain plug for the differential, and the dealer was able to find it for me.

>From: "Berney, Butch" <butch.berney_at_lamrc.com>
>Date: Thu, 9 Oct 1997 16:56:38 -0700
>Subject: Spark Plugs and Transmission service
>
>Hi,
>
>I am about to do some maintenance, and had a couple of questions for the
>group.
>
>The owners manual for my 94 325is calls for either a Bosch "FO 3 DA R"
>or a NGK "BC PR 7 ER" spark plug, neither one of which is available at
>the three Auto Parts stores that I went to. The dealer wants $7 each for
>the plugs, which I think is somewhat unreasonable. The parts store that
>I went to says that a Champion "Premium Gold" 2095 is the recommended
>plug.
>
>Does anyone have any advice? Also, what should the gap be set to?
>
>While at the dealer to buy the microfilter, I tried to buy drain plug
>gaskets for the transmission. The parts person says that there are none
>required. Could someone that has changed the manual transmission fluid
>give a description of the drain and fill plugs, and their approximate
>location.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Butch Berney
>Fremont, CA
>
>94 325is about to be Redline MTL'd

Barrett Nicholas
barrettn_at_worldnet.att.net
Houston, Texas
BMWCCA# 130,000
'95 325i - CeeKay, the SuperCar
JimC powered