» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 331,011 Views | | | | | | 11-02-2007, 08:53 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 322 | Spark Plug Firing Order I took out my spark plugs and forgot to notice what order they were in, and now I need to know how to put them back. Everywhere says that the firing order is 1-3-4-2, but my problem is that the 3 won't reach to where it is supposedly supposed to be. I checked which pistons were in the same position at the same time, hoping that I could switch a couple of the plugs. I've got it plugged in right now as 1-4-3-2 (switched 3 and 4) and everything fits perfectly, but I don't know if this is problematic or if my car will run okay this way. So basically I'm asking if these are interchangeable.... Thanks so much | | | 11-02-2007, 08:56 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: 43609 Posts: 3,425 | Firing order is NOT interchangeable. I cant think of the order off the top of my head, but you can start the engine and see how it runs. If it runs like crap, switch the ones in question and youll be fine. Never remove or install the wires while the engine is running or you WILL damage the ignition wire and/or shock yourself. __________________ 1995 Hellrot Clubsport 318ti -Gone 1996 Schwartz II Sport 357ti - 5.7L V8 LS1/6 1997 Moregrun Metallic 318ti - Gone 1998 Schwartz II sport 318ti - M50TUB25/5 | | | 11-02-2007, 09:51 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 322 | Okay, thanks. It's just weird because with the order that it is supposed to be in, one of the wires won't reach to the "right" place. I'll try and figure it out though. | | | 11-02-2007, 09:54 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 11-02-2007, 10:14 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 322 | Thanks Mallard, I actually saw that same thing in my book. The problem is, it doesn't fit that way, and I'm just trying to see if there is any accepted alternative way. | | | 11-02-2007, 10:55 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | Call me crazy, but I remember being confused when I swapped out my wires. My last car didn't have a coil pack, so you had to take the wires off the distributor, and out them in the correct order of the engine. When I was putting the wires back on the 318ti engine, I was wondering if the coil pack just fires in the correct order and I can just put the wires on in order, 1-2-3-4. That could never work on a car with a distributor, since it rotates in a circle, and you take them off the distributor and plug them in the 1-3-4-2 order. If that is the case, it could explain why your wires are not reaching. Am I making any sense? Quote: Originally Posted by bmw318tiChic Okay, thanks. It's just weird because with the order that it is supposed to be in, one of the wires won't reach to the "right" place. I'll try and figure it out though. | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 11-03-2007, 10:07 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | Bmchick, take a picture, and we΄ll get someone to compare with theirs __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 11-08-2010, 07:33 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Greenfield, Ma Posts: 133 | I'm having the same exact problem. The 3 wire is to short. Should I just switch the 3 & 4 wire to make it reach. | | | 11-08-2010, 11:42 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oxford, Ohio Posts: 868 | No. The coil pack is number 1,2,3,4 with 1 oriented toward the front of the car IIRC. The DME will fire them in the correct order (1,3,4,2). So you have to put the wire 1 on plug 1. Plug 1 is closest to the radiator. The wire for plug 4 is longer than the wire for plug 3 because it wraps around plug 3 and comes back. I'll take a picture tonight if this doesn't make sense. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |