Ignition coil quality

[JohnnyTooBad]

I replaced my ignition coils about 2 years ago with cheap ones. One went bad while on a road trip, leaving me stranded and needing to be towed and then spending $250 for a dealership to replace the bad one. Just recently, while accelerating uphill at 70mph+, twice, I got a shutter that felt a lot like a misfire. So I'm thinking of replacing the coils and plugs again.

My question is, do high-end coils make any difference over OEM quality on a car that has no performance upgrades? Other than reliability and build quality? Doe high-end coils burn fuel any better, get you better performance/power/mileage or less carbon build up? Or should I just go with OEM level? A basic OEM level kit with new plugs from ECS. Or, I could spend $250 for Huco red coils with iridium plugs. There's another set (Karlyn coils) that comes with the same NGK iridium plugs for $130. Some of these sets say they are one heat range cooler for cars with basic performance mods. I don't have any performance mods. Would it hurt the car to use those?

Also, should I replace wiring, and if so, is that easy to do? I haven't even looked into that at all yet.

Thanks guys!

[Charles.waite]

Can we rewind to the part where you paid a dealer TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY US DOLLARS to replace a coil pack?!?!?!

Holy fucking shit!

Also, ONLY ONLY ONLY buy OEM coil packs. I'm met zero people who have had good experiences with aftermarket coils, aside from the ridiculously expensive Okada ones.

My advice, since your car is stock. Get OEM Bosch or NGK Iridium/Platinum plugs (I run these Bosch FR6KPP332S), they should be around $8/ea. Then get 07K905715F coil packs from a trusted source so you know they're OEM. They should only cost around $20/ea. Done and done. They should all last for years.

But seriously, don't fuck with other brands. OEM or bust when it comes to coil packs.

[JohnnyTooBad]

Thanks Charles.

Yup, you heard that right. $250 to spend about 2 minutes to replace a $20 coil pack. Sucked to be me, at the time. They charged me something like 2 hours book time labor, and I think about $50 for the part. And people wonder why I work on my own car.

RockAuto has true Bosch OE coils for $22/ea. If I go though them, they don't have 4 pack kits, so I might just only buy 3, since I now have one OE Bosch from the stealership. I have Bosch platinum plugs in there but maybe I'll give the NGK iridium plugs a try.

The more I surf the web and read, it doesn't seem like there is any difference in high-end coils. I would think that if there was, I'd be able to find some claims of it. Do you guys with the performance mods just use OEM coil packs?

[Charles.waite]

I think most do. A few have gone to Okada but I'm not sure the purported performance benefits are really there. And for the price it's not really worth it.

Fwiw I've used NGK BKR7EIX plugs in the past with zero issues. I believe they're a tad cheaper than Bosch. Either one should work just fine and last a long time. Just remember NGK heat range 7 is standard for the 2.0t.

[dalmation53]

Can we rewind to the part where you paid a dealer TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY US DOLLARS to replace a coil pack?!?!?!

Holy fucking shit!

Also, ONLY ONLY ONLY buy OEM coil packs. I'm met zero people who have had good experiences with aftermarket coils, aside from the ridiculously expensive Okada ones.

My advice, since your car is stock. Get OEM Bosch or NGK Iridium/Platinum plugs (I run these Bosch FR6KPP332S), they should be around $8/ea. Then get 07K905715F coil packs from a trusted source so you know they're OEM. They should only cost around $20/ea. Done and done. They should all last for years.

But seriously, don't fuck with other brands. OEM or bust when it comes to coil packs.

LOL he got raped right in the asshole... I think it would of been better to say i lost $250 and don't know what i did with the money then to spend that just too looses 2 torx bolts and a harness haha

[aluthman]

NGK BKR7EIX plugs @ 0.028" gap and OEM red top coils for me. No issues with them for 3+ years and 65k miles on a stage 3 car.

[vce1232000]

Can we rewind to the part where you paid a dealer TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY US DOLLARS to replace a coil pack?!?!?!

Holy fucking shit!

Also, ONLY ONLY ONLY buy OEM coil packs. I'm met zero people who have had good experiences with aftermarket coils, aside from the ridiculously expensive Okada ones.

My advice, since your car is stock. Get OEM Bosch or NGK Iridium/Platinum plugs (I run these Bosch FR6KPP332S), they should be around $8/ea. Then get 07K905715F coil packs from a trusted source so you know they're OEM. They should only cost around $20/ea. Done and done. They should all last for years.

But seriously, don't fuck with other brands. OEM or bust when it comes to coil packs.

I think most do. A few have gone to Okada but I'm not sure the purported performance benefits are really there. And for the price it's not really worth it.

Fwiw I've used NGK BKR7EIX plugs in the past with zero issues. I believe they're a tad cheaper than Bosch. Either one should work just fine and last a long time. Just remember NGK heat range 7 is standard for the 2.0t.

NGK BKR7EIX plugs @ 0.028" gap and OEM red top coils for me. No issues with them for 3+ years and 65k miles on a stage 3 car.

Agree with all the above. Ive got these NGK'sed going on 2 years and 35k miles no issues. Ive got the red oem coil paks https://www.europaparts.com/ultimate...-kit-2-0t.html with the same mileage. Red coil paks also +50awhp just because

[typeslone]

Thanks Charles.

Yup, you heard that right. $250 to spend about 2 minutes to replace a $20 coil pack. Sucked to be me, at the time. They charged me something like 2 hours book time labor, and I think about $50 for the part. And people wonder why I work on my own car.

RockAuto has true Bosch OE coils for $22/ea. If I go though them, they don't have 4 pack kits, so I might just only buy 3, since I now have one OE Bosch from the stealership. I have Bosch platinum plugs in there but maybe I'll give the NGK iridium plugs a try.

The more I surf the web and read, it doesn't seem like there is any difference in high-end coils. I would think that if there was, I'd be able to find some claims of it. Do you guys with the performance mods just use OEM coil packs?

Bosch does not make the oem ignition coils for our cars, so please don't buy Bosch branded coils. Eldor is the company that produces the factory coil packs for our cars so stick to those. In fact Bosch makes very few ignition coils for vw/audi in general. I manage a vw dealership parts dept for a living. Eldor makes most of the coil packs for modern cars, Beru makes a few for the new mk7 and hitachi also makes some of the oem 1.8t coils. I haven't seen Bosch make a factory oem coil pack in many many years.

Anyway, the red top 06E-905-115-E coils or the black top 07K-905-715-F coils are both fine, they both cost within a $1 of each other usually so it really comes down to preference of color haha. I prefer NGK plugs for my vehicles but there is nothing wrong with Bosch spark plugs either. Also FYI, NGK is currently the factory plug for our 2.0T, but many years ago when our motors first came out, Bosch was the factory fitted spark plug, then somewhere along the line, corporate decided to change over to NGK plugs.

[Silveravant]

I would buy 4 new OEM coils and keep the one that you had replaced in the trunk for a spare.

[Axis]

Bosch does not make the oem ignition coils for our cars, so please don't buy Bosch branded coils. Eldor is the company that produces the factory coil packs for our cars so stick to those. In fact Bosch makes very few ignition coils for vw/audi in general. I manage a vw dealership parts dept for a living. Eldor makes most of the coil packs for modern cars, Beru makes a few for the new mk7 and hitachi also makes some of the oem 1.8t coils. I haven't seen Bosch make a factory oem coil pack in many many years.

Anyway, the red top 06E-905-115-E coils or the black top 07K-905-715-F coils are both fine, they both cost within a $1 of each other usually so it really comes down to preference of color haha. I prefer NGK plugs for my vehicles but there is nothing wrong with Bosch spark plugs either. Also FYI, NGK is currently the factory plug for our 2.0T, but many years ago when our motors first came out, Bosch was the factory fitted spark plug, then somewhere along the line, corporate decided to change over to NGK plugs.

Qft! But in Canada the price difference between the red and black ones is $20cad.. The red ones being cheaper. At my garage price the black ones were $46cad and the red ones $26cad

My friend manages a vw parts departement and told me to stick with Eldor, he used to do the same job in Europe in a Seat dealer.

[Cobra351]

I would buy 4 new OEM coils and keep the one that you had replaced in the trunk for a spare.

yup! get a kit like this:

https://www.europaparts.com/ultimate...FctKDQodMZcJ7Q

[1killera4]

I would buy 4 new OEM coils and keep the one that you had replaced in the trunk for a spare.

This. That way you know they are all of the same age.

[esandes]

I replaced my ignition coils about 2 years ago with cheap ones. One went bad while on a road trip, leaving me stranded and needing to be towed and then spending $250 for a dealership to replace the bad one. Just recently, while accelerating uphill at 70mph+, twice, I got a shutter that felt a lot like a misfire. So I'm thinking of replacing the coils and plugs again.

My question is, do high-end coils make any difference over OEM quality on a car that has no performance upgrades? Other than reliability and build quality? Doe high-end coils burn fuel any better, get you better performance/power/mileage or less carbon build up? Or should I just go with OEM level? A basic OEM level kit with new plugs from ECS. Or, I could spend $250 for Huco red coils with iridium plugs. There's another set (Karlyn coils) that comes with the same NGK iridium plugs for $130. Some of these sets say they are one heat range cooler for cars with basic performance mods. I don't have any performance mods. Would it hurt the car to use those?

Also, should I replace wiring, and if so, is that easy to do? I haven't even looked into that at all yet.

Thanks guys!

the carbon build up in the intake ports and valves put a lot of stress on the ignition to perform properly. it results in misfires and bad coils. i had my coils go twice. the last time i replaced the coils with R8 coils (hotter than stock) and copper plugs. it works better for me. no problems yet.

[doughboy17]

I would buy 4 new OEM coils and keep the one that you had replaced in the trunk for a spare.

Ditto. I keep a spare in the trunk ever since getting misfires and replacing some. I taught my 13 year old (at the time) son how to replace the coil pack and why one is kept in the trunk as a spare. He will be receiving the car next year, Lord willing.

[Charles.waite]

I don't bother with spare coils. Partly because I'm never very far from home, but also because I haven't had a single coilpack failure since 2010 across 4 different Audi I4 turbos and roughly 60k miles. I used to keep a spare couple in the trunk just in case but it doesn't seem worthwhile for me given my history with coil packs.

Just get new OEM ones and you should be golden.

[Silveravant]

I get what you're saying, but its pretty easy to stick a spare under the trunk floor with the spare tire.

[Theiceman]

the carbon build up in the intake ports and valves put a lot of stress on the ignition to perform properly. it results in misfires and bad coils. i had my coils go twice. the last time i replaced the coils with R8 coils (hotter than stock) and copper plugs. it works better for me. no problems yet.

Would you mind explaining this ? this makes no sense to me whatsoever.

The coil fires the plug based on input from the ecu to fire. I do not understand how carbon buildup can result in bad coils. im not saying you are wrong , I am just saying I don't understand your logic.

[Charles.waite]

Would you mind explaining this ? this makes no sense to me whatsoever.

The coil fires the plug based on input from the ecu to fire. I do not understand how carbon buildup can result in bad coils. im not saying you are wrong , I am just saying I don't understand your logic.

Because he doesn't know what he's talking about. Carbon buildup will slow down airflow through the head but if anything it'll just negatively affect the AFR. The ignition system is basically unaffected as I'm fairly sure it sends the same electrical pulse to the coilpacks regardless of combustion status.

Now your spark plugs can get fouled from carbon I suppose but only if your combustion is way off on that cylinder. In which case the plug will have issues with discharging the pulse in the coil pack and that could lead to issues I suppose.

[esandes]

Would you mind explaining this ? this makes no sense to me whatsoever.

The coil fires the plug based on input from the ecu to fire. I do not understand how carbon buildup can result in bad coils. im not saying you are wrong , I am just saying I don't understand your logic.

carbon buildup in the intake ports and intake valves causes the air flow to the combustion chamber to become more turbulent and with a higher velocity. this results in misfires.

contrary to the comment above, flow doesn't "slow down" with carbon build up. gas is compressible.

copper produces a much hotter spark as it is more conductive than platinum.

take it from someone who knows from experience.

[danbfree]

carbon buildup in the intake ports and intake valves causes the air flow to the combustion chamber to become more turbulent and with a higher velocity. this results in misfires.

contrary to the comment above, flow doesn't "slow down" with carbon build up. gas is compressible.

copper produces a much hotter spark as it is more conductive than platinum.

take it from someone who knows from experience.

So often do the copper plugs need to be changed? I know platinum lasts the longest but I don't mind changing plugs more often with copper if it means less carbon buildup with it's hotter spark.

[Charles.waite]

Copper doesn't have a hotter spark.

[danbfree]

Copper doesn't have a hotter spark.

Obviously just one opinion, but they are on the side of copper has a stronger spark: http://www.carsdirect.com/car-repair...op-performance

Edit: And I'm finding more and more people saying the same thing, with a few dissents... I'd lean to copper with our turbo, direct injection cars for a stronger spark, but be sure to check and replace more often...

Edit: Stronger is definitely different than hotter, thanks to Charles for pointing that out.

[Charles.waite]

Do you mean stronger spark?

[danbfree]

Do you mean stronger spark?

Yes, that would be correct, and I see the difference now...

[aluthman]

Copper plugs are good for ~10k miles. The good news is they are stupid cheap.

[esandes]

So often do the copper plugs need to be changed? I know platinum lasts the longest but I don't mind changing plugs more often with copper if it means less carbon buildup with it's hotter spark.

I will change them with every oil change. They are so cheap and easy to install so why not?

They will not reduce carbon build up. They, along with the more powerful r8 coil packs, facilitate a better spark to deal with the carbon buildup.

I can count the number of misfires I have experienced on one hand with this combo. With OEM plugs (platinum) and OEM coil packs my engine misfired every day especially with a cold engine.

I use tri electrode Bosch coppers, pregapped. You can find them on JHM tuning's site. They also recommend copper.

Stick this in your pipe, Charles Waite, and take a deep puff. Then blow it out your ass.

[Okedokey]

Mr social

[vce1232000]

Stick this in your pipe, Charles Waite, and take a deep puff. Then blow it out your ass.

Ohhhh .... WTF............

[Charles.waite]

Hahahaha. Whatever troll.

[danbfree]

I will change them with every oil change. They are so cheap and easy to install so why not?

They will not reduce carbon build up. They, along with the more powerful r8 coil packs, facilitate a better spark to deal with the carbon buildup.

I can count the number of misfires I have experienced on one hand with this combo. With OEM plugs (platinum) and OEM coil packs my engine misfired every day especially with a cold engine.

I use tri electrode Bosch coppers, pregapped. You can find them on JHM tuning's site. They also recommend copper.

Stick this in your pipe, Charles Waite, and take a deep puff. Then blow it out your ass.

Whoa, awesome information, and then the last paragraph...not sure if there is some inside feud but otherwise people are entitled to their opinion.


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[Okedokey]

Pretty sure the R8 coils have been shown to give no benefit besides look?

[Charles.waite]

Whoa, awesome information, and then the last paragraph...not sure if there is some inside feud but otherwise people are entitled to their opinion.


Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Nah he's just a dick and is mad I'm disagreeing with him.

[JohnnyTooBad]

LOL he got raped right in the asshole... I think it would of been better to say i lost $250 and don't know what i did with the money then to spend that just too looses 2 torx bolts and a harness haha

So to get this back on topic (some good info above), not only did I get raped by the dealership, but I was able to force the CEL to come on, and immediately plugged in my code reader. As it turns out, the bad coil is the one the dealership installed, sitting in #3. I can tell, because the top if it is a slightly different color of black than the other 3. When I got the car back from them after they installed the new coil (this was 2 years ago), I swapped the coils around to make sure it wasn't something else in the cylinder that was causing the misfire. I ordered new OE coils (red, just for the hell of it) from ECS. They should be here tomorrow. And yes, I'll toss one of my other, working coils in the back. Cheap insurance, just in case something ever happens again. That car goes on a lot of road trips.

[Axis]

They, along with the more powerful r8 coil packs

So being red makes them more powerfull than the 07K 905 715 F?

[Charles.waite]

Duh.

[Axis]

I need to find a red T.

[vce1232000]

I need to find a red T.

agree ......

[Charles.waite]

I need to find a red T.

Can you handle it though?

[Axis]

Can you handle it though?

Too scared of being flagged TD1

[esandes]

So being red makes them more powerfull than the 07K 905 715 F?

Do some more research into the detailed numbers of the R8 coil packs vs the OEM.

Charles Waite is on my ignore list for a reason. It's people like him with his infinite self proclaimed expertise and surely BS that brings down the quality of technical forums like this.