Tune up

[BMWPower600]

I am getting ready to do a tune up on my 89 325 IX. Do you guys reccomend any special electrical components? Or are the basic plugs, rotor, etc. fine to go with. In particular are the performance plug wires worth the extra $? This is my forst foray into doing the work myself. I foolishly let the shop correct my vac leak. I don't want to let them soak me twice.

[pyro]

Performance wires typically won't show any actual advantages to the Bosch OEM wires (which are already very good and cost ~$130). If your wires are still OK (test resistance per Bentley), just keep them. Get the regular copper plugs that are supposed to be in the M20 (Bosch W8LCR). I have heard of good results with NGKs. Don't use platinum plugs that can (potentially) burn holes in your cylinder walls. Check your coil for resistance per Bentley.

Make sure you label each wire before you remove it and draw a diagram of where the wire used to be on the cap before you remove it. There is a diagram in the Bentley, but it's best to just not screw up.

Not sure what you mean about the ShopVac.

EDIT: Ah, got it. Was it a torn intake boot and the idle was jumping around?

[pyro]

Oh, and I would use oem/bosch parts. Anything else will usually be worse.

When you put in the plugs, I would use some antiseize. And torque them up to spec. Use a spark plug socket with the foam inside not to break the ceramic. I would get a u-joint 13/16 socket because it's longer and you can grab on to it with a ratchet and pull it out. Also, it will let you get the last cylinder which is quite close to the firewall.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/tech_main.htm
Many DYI articles here and good prices on parts as well. The shipping is usually always around $10, so I wait for when I need a bunch of parts and just order them all at a really siginificant savings to the dealer.