Ceramic plug cracked during Inspection 1 at BMW dealer

gtm3 · Sun, Aug-02-2009, 02:11:37 PM

About 2 weeks ago I dropped my car in for service at a local BMW dealership in Atlanta, Ga. I have a 2004 M3 with ~81k miles, and I took it there for an Inspection I (second Inspection I during the life of the car). I took the car in the night before and dropped it off, since a valve adjustment was scheduled and the engine had to be cold when this was performed.

When I picked up the car after the Inspection I was complete, the service manager said they found nothing wrong with the car and I was counting my blessings. Once I drove the car off, I noticed the car stuttering during lower rpms. I thought they may have put some fuel injector cleaner, so I decided to drive it for a few more miles. Same result, the car was stuttering during low rpms and almost seemed like it was misfiring under heavy load. I immediately drove it back to the dealer and the service manager wanted to take a look. He drove it and said "he should of test drove it before saying it was complete...and it definitely wasn't pulling like a M3" and something was definitely wrong and drove it back into the garage where the mechanics did a quick visual (making sure all the sensors were connected), and couldn't find anything wrong. They said they need to keep it another day and have to look at it in the morning. So they found my rental car and told me to keep it for another day.

The next day, the service manager called me later in the day and said the car was fixed. When I asked what happened, he said the ceramic part of the one of the plugs cracked, which was causing a short and thus the stuttering. They replaced the plug and said the problem was solved. I asked if there was any potential damage to the engine, and he said no.

After driving the car, I know it is not pulling like it use to prior to them "servicing" the car. What would could cause the ceramic part of the plug to crack and could this have caused any long term damage to the engine (i.e. ceramic pieces end up in the cylinder) ? Should I take the car to another BMW dealership for an unbiased opinion...would they be able diagnose or locate any damage that was caused by the cracked ceramic?

I apologize for the long post, however as costly as the engine is I want to make sure it was diagnosed correctly and fixed correctly. Also when you take the car to the dealer, you expect the job to be done right.

I appreciate all the assistance and Thanks in Advance,
GTM3

I-Love-M3s · Sun, Aug-02-2009, 03:48:01 PM

shouldn't affect the long term engine performance.....thats why am reluctant to get my car over to bmw/or any other mechanic....what runs welll before may not work as well after....
i do ll my own engine oil, filter changes.
last bmw went to 130,000 k without any faults and no servicing done except by me....i hope my current m3 does the same!!
good luck with it....

**deilenberger** · Sun, Aug-02-2009, 03:52:53 PM

I wouldn't worry about it - be next to impossible for the upper ceramic part of a plug to get into the cylinder. It's a non-issue. If they reflashed your ECU (for one of the several recalls in effect) or reset the adaptation it may take some time for the engine to relearn how you want it to run.

Drive it and forgeddaboutit.

gtm3 · Tue, Aug-04-2009, 12:27:11 PM

Thanks for the responses. Quick question: If the ceramic part of the plug cracked, couldn't there be some little pieces that could fall into the cylinder when pulling the plug out? I know the car is less responsive, so what can this be attributed to?

Thanks in advance.

r6vr6 · Fri, Aug-07-2009, 04:22:46 PM

I have seen one that had a crack. Not like your thinking though. It is a hair line fracture that allows the arc to jump from it rather than the electrode. In the case that I saw there would be no piece left in the engine. I suspect this is what was wrong with your car.

They may have put new software on your car for the recent recall. It might take some miles for your adaptations get optimal again. You may just have to give it an italian tune up. ( lots 'o WOT)

gtm3 · Fri, Aug-07-2009, 07:02:08 PM

Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it. It does seem as if the car is becoming more responsive. However, it also seems like the traction control light comes on when I'm gunning it from a stop (specifically when i upshift and get to 2nd), even during dry days....I guess the computer has to re-learn my driving habits....

Once again, Thanks.

tony(topaz,SMG) · Fri, Aug-07-2009, 11:31:42 PM

Was this at Global by any chance?

wallaka · Sat, Aug-08-2009, 12:55:11 AM

The plug was cracked when they pulled them to do the valve adjustment. Any sideways pressure on the socket will crack the plug. I've done it myself. It's generally a hairline crack; I've never seen a piece break off.

chukostar · Fri, Aug-14-2009, 08:31:10 PM

man, that's scary... i want to know which dealer as well

so i can avoid going there.

**flow350** · Fri, Aug-14-2009, 08:44:10 PM

Guys, this is not a big deal at all. There will be NO long term affects from the cracked plug. All that happens is the spark wants to find the least path of resistance--and in the case of a cracked plug, it is not always going to be the tip of the electrode. The spark jumps to the block==no spark to electode in the cylinder==a misfire== a loss of power. I would commend the dealership for finding the problem and trying their best to meet your needs in while they fixed it.

Sun, Aug-02-2009, 02:11:37 PM	#1
gtm3 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 32 Reputation: 0 Location: Atlanta	Ceramic plug cracked during Inspection 1 at BMW dealer About 2 weeks ago I dropped my car in for service at a local BMW dealership in Atlanta, Ga. I have a 2004 M3 with ~81k miles, and I took it there for an Inspection I (second Inspection I during the life of the car). I took the car in the night before and dropped it off, since a valve adjustment was scheduled and the engine had to be cold when this was performed. When I picked up the car after the Inspection I was complete, the service manager said they found nothing wrong with the car and I was counting my blessings. Once I drove the car off, I noticed the car stuttering during lower rpms. I thought they may have put some fuel injector cleaner, so I decided to drive it for a few more miles. Same result, the car was stuttering during low rpms and almost seemed like it was misfiring under heavy load. I immediately drove it back to the dealer and the service manager wanted to take a look. He drove it and said "he should of test drove it before saying it was complete...and it definitely wasn't pulling like a M3" and something was definitely wrong and drove it back into the garage where the mechanics did a quick visual (making sure all the sensors were connected), and couldn't find anything wrong. They said they need to keep it another day and have to look at it in the morning. So they found my rental car and told me to keep it for another day. The next day, the service manager called me later in the day and said the car was fixed. When I asked what happened, he said the ceramic part of the one of the plugs cracked, which was causing a short and thus the stuttering. They replaced the plug and said the problem was solved. I asked if there was any potential damage to the engine, and he said no. After driving the car, I know it is not pulling like it use to prior to them "servicing" the car. What would could cause the ceramic part of the plug to crack and could this have caused any long term damage to the engine (i.e. ceramic pieces end up in the cylinder) ? Should I take the car to another BMW dealership for an unbiased opinion...would they be able diagnose or locate any damage that was caused by the cracked ceramic? I apologize for the long post, however as costly as the engine is I want to make sure it was diagnosed correctly and fixed correctly. Also when you take the car to the dealer, you expect the job to be done right. I appreciate all the assistance and Thanks in Advance, GTM3

Sun, Aug-02-2009, 03:52:53 PM	#3
deilenberger Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 13,324 Reputation: 578	I wouldn't worry about it - be next to impossible for the upper ceramic part of a plug to get into the cylinder. It's a non-issue. If they reflashed your ECU (for one of the several recalls in effect) or reset the adaptation it may take some time for the engine to relearn how you want it to run. Drive it and forgeddaboutit. __________________ Don Eilenberger AKA bellymeisterburgermeister and denilegiiiiiiiiiiiiibennnnegerieragher (but that's misspelled..) 2001 M-Coupe - TiSilver/Black - Das Boot.. 2002 M3C/6 - Imola Red/Black - SOLD 2003 525iT - Green/Tan - SOLD - replaced with Lexus 2006 Cayenne/S - Iceland Silver Metallic/Stone-steel Gray - Truckster. 2007 R1200R - Roadster, black mit/white pinstripes - the REAL BMW.. 2011 Lexus RX-350. SWMBO's new toy.

Fri, Aug-07-2009, 04:22:46 PM	#5
r6vr6 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 439 Reputation: 0	I have seen one that had a crack. Not like your thinking though. It is a hair line fracture that allows the arc to jump from it rather than the electrode. In the case that I saw there would be no piece left in the engine. I suspect this is what was wrong with your car. They may have put new software on your car for the recent recall. It might take some miles for your adaptations get optimal again. You may just have to give it an italian tune up. ( lots 'o WOT) __________________

Fri, Aug-07-2009, 11:31:42 PM	#7
tony(topaz,SMG) Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,031 Reputation: 0 Location: Atlanta, GA	Was this at Global by any chance? __________________

Sat, Aug-08-2009, 12:55:11 AM	#8
wallaka Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 303 Reputation: 0 Location: Montgomery	The plug was cracked when they pulled them to do the valve adjustment. Any sideways pressure on the socket will crack the plug. I've done it myself. It's generally a hairline crack; I've never seen a piece break off. __________________ 2004 TiAg 6MT Coupe: Rogue El Diablo, Custom Performance CRT, JVT Headers. 19" VMR V710s, H&R Springs. Depo smoked corners, smoked side markers. Black gills and grills, black badges. Umnitza Orion V2, HID foglights.

Sun, Aug-02-2009, 03:48:01 PM	#2
I-Love-M3s Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 17 Reputation: 0	shouldn't affect the long term engine performance.....thats why am reluctant to get my car over to bmw/or any other mechanic....what runs welll before may not work as well after.... i do ll my own engine oil, filter changes. last bmw went to 130,000 k without any faults and no servicing done except by me....i hope my current m3 does the same!! good luck with it....

Tue, Aug-04-2009, 12:27:11 PM	#4
gtm3 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 32 Reputation: 0 Location: Atlanta	Thanks for the responses. Quick question: If the ceramic part of the plug cracked, couldn't there be some little pieces that could fall into the cylinder when pulling the plug out? I know the car is less responsive, so what can this be attributed to? Thanks in advance.

Fri, Aug-07-2009, 07:02:08 PM	#6
gtm3 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 32 Reputation: 0 Location: Atlanta	Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it. It does seem as if the car is becoming more responsive. However, it also seems like the traction control light comes on when I'm gunning it from a stop (specifically when i upshift and get to 2nd), even during dry days....I guess the computer has to re-learn my driving habits.... Once again, Thanks.

Fri, Aug-14-2009, 08:31:10 PM	#9
chukostar Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 22 Reputation: 0 Location: Atlanta	man, that's scary... i want to know which dealer as well so i can avoid going there.

Fri, Aug-14-2009, 08:44:10 PM	#10
flow350 Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 530 Reputation: 0 Location: Atlanta	Guys, this is not a big deal at all. There will be NO long term affects from the cracked plug. All that happens is the spark wants to find the least path of resistance--and in the case of a cracked plug, it is not always going to be the tip of the electrode. The spark jumps to the block==no spark to electode in the cylinder==a misfire== a loss of power. I would commend the dealership for finding the problem and trying their best to meet your needs in while they fixed it.

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