Spark plug wires: Who makes shorter ones?

[Mopho]

On my 1996 318ti.....

I would like to have my spark plug wires run from the coil pack directly to the spark plugs. I want to eliminate the long wires.
Any suggestions? Is there a racing set that does not run clear behind the engine and 10 feet long?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I'm about to take an old set off my old 1.9L ti and make them myself. (somehow) I haven't figgured out how to shorten the stock wires yet.
I have a bad #1 wire, I disconnected and ran a generic plug wire to #1 cylinder, to get car running this week. Having trouble spending 150 bucks for a new stock set of wires that will fail again...

[projekt EPiK]

speaking from a general stand point, MSD makes wires that you terminate yourself.. now for the Ti, i dunno.

shortening the wire should be easy, it is almost like a coaxial cable.. several layers. you just have to get the clip that attaches to the spark plug inside the boot off and be able to reattach it. i have some stock wires in the hatch, the PO gave them to me b/c he put BavAuto wires on. i'll see if i can pull them apart tomorrow and post up the results.

why do you want them shorter anyway?

[projekt EPiK]

wow.. just saw that 150 bucks? geez.. most msd sets are like 50-60 for 4 cyl, and 8.5 mm.. not rf shielded though, may cause radio noise..

[Marv17]

there is a coil pack modification that was done on a M42. its on the M42club forum and on here too but don't know what the link is for it.

[spidertri]

Originally Posted by Marv17

there is a coil pack modification that was done on a M42. its on the M42club forum and on here too but don't know what the link is for it.

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20823

[projekt EPiK]

very nice.. anyone have dyno info before/after on an otherwise stock car? more spark = more power.. slight, but there is probably some increase. looks cool too. any ignition amplifiers that anyone is using? with a more powerful spark you can open up plug gap and have a more complete burn.. better economy and power.

plenty of dyno evidence on other cars to support that (in my personal experience)

[pdxmotorhead]

IMHO The BMW stock ignition is fine, its not worth replacing with aftermarket, you'd have to get pretty radical to get much more voltage, that's why the stock plug wires only last a couple years. The coil on plug setup helps because its 2 less connections. Don't know why it took so long for auto manufacturers to figure it out... YOu could always custom order Magnecore wires that would reach direct, just give them the lengths and pay the 200 bucks... Or you could buy the MSD tool, and wires, and parts and build your own.

Good Luck

Dave

[projekt EPiK]

most MSD sets i have bought included the little crimping block for installing the terminations.
i have a set of bav auto wires on my car, if they ever give me a fit, i'll prob go to the
e46 COP setup.
obviously they are working well now though, 32mpg hwy and so far almost 170 miles on this tank around town, and now even used 1/2 way yet.

[pdxmotorhead]

I like the Pliers better than the block, I like being able to feel how much bite I'm getting.

But your right especially for 1 wire set the block will work.

I'd use heat tube over the wires if I was going from the coil
packs straight to the head.

Dave

[projekt EPiK]

true on the heat tube. you are right on the MSD block too, i usually end up following with crimp pliers anyway.

[pdxmotorhead]

The MSD pliers have a nifty little widget that really sets the crimp.

Ever grabbed a plug wire on a 318 ? I did one day checking to see if one was tight.

I said some really bad words it hurt for 2 days...

Dave

[osu_ti]

I'm working on an M44 COP setup at the moment. I plan to make it plug and play by buying a used coil and gutting it for the connector. One of the guys who used to make the COP brackets for M42's is a friend of mine, so he gave me a couple spare brackets and hardware to play with when I bought my car. I bought a set of 6 E46 coils off ebay along with the wiring harness for $130. I'm hoping to have the COP setup working over Christmas break. I'll start a thread when I get it all worked out.

I don't think there's much of a performance improvement to be had unless you're having spark blow-out issues due to extremely high cylinder pressures (i.e. lots of boost). Quite a few people have reported better idle quality, which is the other area where a hotter spark typically helps.

Josh

[Mopho]

Originally Posted by osu_ti

I'm working on an M44 COP setup at the moment. I plan to make it plug and play by buying a used coil and gutting it for the connector. One of the guys who used to make the COP brackets for M42's is a friend of mine, so he gave me a couple spare brackets and hardware to play with when I bought my car. I bought a set of 6 E46 coils off ebay along with the wiring harness for $130. I'm hoping to have the COP setup working over Christmas break. I'll start a thread when I get it all worked out.

I don't think there's much of a performance improvement to be had unless you're having spark blow-out issues due to extremely high cylinder pressures (i.e. lots of boost). Quite a few people have reported better idle quality, which is the other area where a hotter spark typically helps.

Josh

I would like to see your results.
I have been playing with my old wires, and Have a problem making a end to fit in the coil pack. The stock wire went bad on the coil pack end. I shortened the bad wire, and now I am working on making an end that will be more permanent on the coil pack. I actually cut half the length of wire, and now am going directly from the coil pack to the spark plug. Shrink tubing is a good idea for extra insolation. I see no reason to run wires longer than necessary, like the factory wires except it looks "prettier" to have the wires out of sight and the cute little "BMW" plastic cover on there....

[osu_ti]

Typically the M42 guys route the wires (not spark plug wires) to the back of the engine and bundle them together. They usually don't bother with trying to fit the "BMW" cover back on, though. I wouldn't mind finding a way to keep the cover (dirt/dust protection reasons), but I'll ditch it if it's too much trouble.

Josh

[Mopho]

Originally Posted by osu_ti

Typically the M42 guys route the wires (not spark plug wires) to the back of the engine and bundle them together. They usually don't bother with trying to fit the "BMW" cover back on, though. I wouldn't mind finding a way to keep the cover (dirt/dust protection reasons), but I'll ditch it if it's too much trouble.

Josh

If someone is going to the coil on plug design, how would you get the small wires to the plug coils? My M44 has a screw in wiring harness going to the coil block. No way to run wires from that plug unless you had an adaptor.