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Thread: Ignition wires for M70 and M73 engine

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3

    Ignition wires for M70 and M73 engine

    Presently have them in black and a red available. No cheap cable 'rubber' and plug 'rubber', they are made of silicon material. So much softer than the OEM ones.
    Why should you replace your original wires? Here is a few reasons: new spark plug wires provide better conductivity and more spark. Better conductivity and more spark means improved throttle response. Good plug wires are absolutely essential for reliable ignition performance and trouble-free operation. A bad spark plug plug wire may create so much resistance that the voltage never reaches the plug, or a break in the insulation may allow the spark to arc to ground. Either way, a bad plug wire will cause a spark plug to misfire. Bad spark plug plug wires can cause hard starting (particularly during wet weather), poor fuel economy, rough idle, hesitation when accelerating and increased hydrocarbon (HC) emissions. Spark plug wires should always be inspected if any of these symptoms are present, and when the spark plugs are changed. If wires show any obvious damage such as burned or cracked insulation, chaffing, loose plug boots or terminals, the wires should be replaced. Also, if visible arcing is present new wires are needed. Wires should also be replaced if their resistance measured end to end with an ohmmeter exceeds OEM specifications.

    M30/M70 ignition system data accdg to Bentley
    Coil primary, coil code # 2051118335 terminals 1 (-) and 15 (+) resistance 0.50 ohm
    Coil primary, coil code # 20510171101 terminals 1 (-) and 15 (+) resistance 0.37 ohm
    Coil secondary, coil code # 2051118335 terminals 15 (+) and 4 (ctr. resistance 6.0 kohm
    Coil secondary, coil code # 20510171101 terminals 15 (+) and 4 (ctr. resistance 9.0 kohm
    spark plug ends 5.0+/- 10% kohm, shielded plugs 1.0 +/- 20% kohm, spark plug wires 0 ohm (approx.), rotor 1.1 +/- 10% kohm

    M70 firing order: 1-7-5-11-3-9-6-12-2-8-4-10, crankshaft position/rpm sensor: 540+/- 10% ohm. from workshop manual: distributor rotor 1+/-20% kohm, angled/shielded connectors 1+/- 20% kohm, spark plug connectors 5+/- 20% kohm, cylinder identification sender coil resistance at 20 degree C (68F) <1 ohm, pulse sender/crankshaft position sensor coil resistance 540 +/- 10% ohm, temperature switch for e-box cooling E32 750: switch on at 44 +/- 3 degree C, switch off at 36 +/- 3 degree C.

    Without the 2 donuts/speed sensors (can be used from the old set or separate buy/supply new ones) and without the funnel/bracket (use the old funnel/bracket installed in the car). No marten repeller included too.

    Price per set of black ignition wires consisting of 12 ignition wires between distributors and spark plugs + 2 wires between ignition coils and distributors = total 14 wires US$ 190 ex Japan+ shipping.
    Price per set of red ignition wires consisting of 12 ignition wires between distributors and spark plugs + 2 wires between ignition coils and distributors = total 14 wires US$ 210 exJapan + shipping.
    Paypal o.k. Please contact me by PM with shipping address. Make sure your old plastic ignition wire tubes are not brittle.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by shogun; 04-22-2023 at 10:38 PM. Reason: updated
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  2. #2
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    1991 e32 750il
    Thanks for all your help shogun! I wasn't sure when the wires got here how they came apart. He went out of his way to send me some pictures of everything taken apart! Great set of wires, Great customer service, Excellent guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Everyone needs a set of these for there 750!

    Thanks,

    Ryan
    Last edited by shogun; 09-20-2014 at 07:17 PM. Reason: merged posts

  3. #3
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    2020 VW Tiguan R-Line
    Thanks Shogun!

    The original ignition wires are now 24 years old and very ready for replacement.
    I'll probably order more of your goodies later. Just have to get the beast running again first.


    Quote Originally Posted by shogun View Post
    @trolav
    1 set M70 ignition wires in black will be sent to Åkrehamn in Norway. Thanks
    Still have more black sets and 2 blue sets on stock.

  4. #4
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    '91 E31 850i,'05 E53 4.4
    Thanks Shogun
    I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
    Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
    Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
    BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

  5. #5
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    92 750iL 88 M6
    Thank you Shogun!! A set of new pretty blue plug wires just showed up =). So got new wires, new CI sensors and new plugs, just waiting on the new distributor caps and rotors to be delivered.
    Last edited by shogun; 10-17-2015 at 08:50 PM.
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  6. #6
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    '91 E31 850i,'05 E53 4.4
    Hi all. Has anyone measured the resistance for their wires AFTER they have installed the CID sensors?
    These are the values I got if you'd like to compare

    Side one:
    1) 5.62ohm (shortest wire)
    2) 5.82ohm
    3) 5.95ohm
    4) 5.97ohm
    5) 6.13ohm
    6) 5.78ohm (longest wire)
    Ignition wire) 2.05ohm

    Side two:
    1) 6.13ohm (shortest wire)
    2) 5.82ohm
    3) 5.73ohm
    4) 5.75ohm
    5) 6.10ohm
    6) 5.91ohm (longest wire)
    Ignition wire) 2.04ohm

    Do you know if these numbers prove good connectivity between ends?
    I was more curious about the 6.13ohm on the #1 wire on set two. I was playing with removing the wires from their wood screw connectors and heard a bunch of "crunching" as I kept twisting wires. I am worried I may have broke many wires inside the silicone sheath.
    I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
    Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
    Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
    BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

  7. #7
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    Bentley manual mentions as reference: spark plug ends 5.0 +/- 10% kOhm, shielded plugs 1.0 +/- 20% kOhm, spark plug wires 0 Ohm approx. , so based on this all is o.k. within tolerances.
    The angled boots between the ignition coil and distributor center are each 1 kOhm, so 2 kOhm in total.

    DV8OR also just installed the wires in blue, maybe he also has measured them?

    Importance of functioning donuts, cyl. identification sensors M70
    I just read in the German forum about a case where someone changed on his M70 distributors, rotors, spark plugs and ignition wires on cyl. 6 and 12 and used the re-old donuts. Then he had trouble. Engine starts, runs short time with increased RPM and then dies. EML lamp goes on with ignition on and then goes out again as it should be. Diagnosis faults: fault ignition cylinder 1-6 and 7-12. That was 2 weeks ago. Today he fixed it. He noticed that he installed the cylinder identification sensors/donuts/pulse generators on ignition wires cyl. 6 and 12 the wrong way. Turned the donuts the correct way and engine runs starts and smooth.
    Apparently there no direction marks on the original ones, if I remember correct.pics from ECS website, original
    https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...e/12121725020/
    I recommend to use original BMW donuts. This is not the first time that I read that when donuts are not working properly or the ignition wires/plugs # 6 and 12 are not functioning, there will be engine problems.
    So if the M70 starts, idles for some seconds, then dies, also check the ignition wires, plugs and donuts from cylinder 6 and 12. The usual cause of running for a few seconds and then stopping is the lack of cylinder identification signals. These are provided by the inductive sensors on HT leads 6 and 12. When you get a fault with INPA ti-signal, this is the injection time signal, the base timing is derived from the cylinder identification signal. We had the same problem some years back on an 850: lack of cylinder identification signals. In our case the ignition wire boot of cylinder 12 was lose/not connected to the spark plug. Before we checked the usually subjects like fuel pumps, fuel pressure, ignition = distributors + rotors, crankshaft position sensors.

    The car is telling you what is wrong, the CID sensors...
    Make sure you have them plugged into the right plugs?
    Make sure they are actually any good? Bad "donuts" have been a common problem with some replacements...(aftermarket).

    Another comment: Friend had same sort of problem a while back, motor would start and then died shortly thereafter. He'd brought it used from out of state. I had a suspicion after listening to the motor start and die a few times that not all cylinders were firing. I took a look and found they were from a 3 series! Popped in a spare set from an M70 and the car fired up and purred like a kitten. Turns out original owner sold car because it kept shutting off.

    So important is, when you change ignition wires and re-use the old donuts, make sure the donuts are installed the same way as original, not flipped. Basically it is not possible to installed them the wrong way, because the donut inner ring is conical and not round, so it should go onto the wire only one way. but some apparently squeeze it on the wrong way.
    Last edited by shogun; 04-22-2023 at 10:41 PM. Reason: update
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  8. #8
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    92 750iL 88 M6

    Shogun's Plug Wire Install Write Up

    Installing Shogun's plug wires.

    I did not take pics, sorry. I am the impatient type and taking pics takes too long plus I don't wear gloves so I would have to wash my hand every time to pick up my camera. So hopefully my write up will be good enough to understand and if you have questions please let me know.

    This will be in a semi bullet/step style write up with notes, I will not bore you will some hurdle details I needed to overcome just the fixes/work arounds.

    First off these wires are excellent quality!

    The "wood" screw type connector is traditional type i.e. if you are looking at the top of the screw it is clockwise on counter clockwise off. Righty tighty lefty loosey.

    I laid out all wires to get the groupings done and label all the wires with 1-12 by the distributor boot.

    I Installed the CI sensor on 6 and 12 wires. 1st hurdle, I could NOT unscrew the plug ends because the rubber boot was so tight and I could not verify removal unscrew direction at this point. I just pulled the boot off with force hoping it would not damage anything else. Once that was done and the plug end was cleaned of any remaining wire in the screw portion I was able to verify righty tighty lefty loosey. Installed CI Sensors. 2nd hurdle could not screw the ends back on due the rubber boot being so tight. So I removed the actual plug by prying it out. Once out I slid the boot over the wire and down a few inches then screwed the ends on and slid the boot over the ends. Be careful push/pull only on the plug itself (NOT THE WIRE) when doing this so you don't pull the wire out of the plug again. I used some dielectric grease to help.

    Installed the wires into the guides, this took some playing around to get the wires to lay nicely.

    Installed wires and guides into car, unplugged at this point.

    ** These wires do not self align to the spark plugs or the distributor cap plugs like the OEM wires/boots, more on this at end of write up**

    Started to plug wires on to plugs. 3rd hurdle, I could not get the boots to plug onto the spark plugs, see note above. This took a while but the fix was to wiggle the plug boot around till it lined up on the spark plug and push hard. Once I realized this it was not a big deal.

    Started to plug wires to distributor. 4th hurdle, once again you have to wiggle the boots around to get them to plug in.

    Plugged CI sensors in

    After install was done just a quick double to make sure I had correct order on distributor cap I started it up.

    **So more on the wire plugs. I cannot say for the spark plug side of the wire why it did not self align but the distributor side I can say it is because the portion of the plug that goes into the distributor is thinner then the OEM plugs so they will not self align. I am assuming that it is a similar issue with the spark plug side being that the boot is a bit too wide to align on spark plug. Either way you HAVE to wiggle the boot around till it seats properly and then push, this took some time the first go around. If/when I have to do it again it will be much faster.**

    Install time: 3hours, once again it would have been about 1-2 hours if I had the forehand knowledge of the screw direction and the alignment.
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  9. #9
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    '91 E31 850i,'05 E53 4.4
    I too have just done this task and agree with Dv8or. kind of a hard task to do, but very doable with patience and grease grease grease to lube the boot up to slide off and on again.
    I put them in my car tonight and I swear it seems like a new engine. So glad I bought the new wires and new cyl ID sensors (from BMW).
    thanks again Shogun.
    And just to let people know, I tried the aftermarket cyl id sensors sold by worldpac and they do not work. Have to use BMW brand cylinder id sensors (aka pulse generators). So yes I was "lucky" and got to do the job of removing/adding the boots twice.
    Last edited by clockwork; 10-02-2014 at 01:28 AM.
    I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
    Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
    Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
    BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
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    UK
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    1988 BMW 750i
    Quote Originally Posted by shogun View Post
    @Triggsy
    1 ignition wire set for M70 will be shipped to U.K. this week.
    Arrived safe and sound this week. Thanks Shogun.

  11. #11
    Join Date
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    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    My igntion wires come without ID sensors. Please buy locally your ID sensors and put then on, I suggest in this case you buy genuine/original from BMW or online vendors. Genuine! Pulse generator 2 pcs # 12121725020 not aftermarket. 12121725020 was found on the following vehicles: E31 850Ci + 850CSi, E32 750.Cylinder Identification Sensor (donuts) 12121725020, 12121725023.The second is NLA and replaced by 020 according to RealOEM.

    NEVER pull on the ignition wires when you want to remove the boots from the spark plugs. There are special boot removal tools, or use your hand and wiggle/twist on the boot and pull. If you pull on the wire, the connection could be damaged between wire/boot.

    Fits on BMW: E32 750 M70, E38 M73, E31 M70, M73
    I also have some extra, new Ignition Coil Wires which attach between coil and distributor cap, BMW p/n for comparison 12121725038. My ones consisting of silicone cable copper core, 2 boots angled, each 1 K Ohm. Contact me in case of need with zip for shipping cost calculation, can sell single or as pair, whatever is needed. Limited qty available. Same applies for the ignition wires, can deliver single wires for each cylinder #, need to know the length you want. Approx. length of all: between ignition coil + distributor 54 cm/21.3", 44cm/17,3", 51cm/20", 60cm/23,6", 70cm/27,5", 77cm/30", 85cm/33" .Specify which length in Zentimeter you need. Then I will check and tell you if I have. If not, I suggest to deliver next longer size.

    by set I mean for all 12 cylinders the ignition wires. Not only for one side as they are sold usually, that means for cylinder row 1-6 and another set for 7-12.

    cable - double layer of silicon with braid conductor,single copper wires 1mm, tin plating silicon terminals with suppressor resistor (used boots and terminals are identical to the original), may be applied to vehicles equipped with LPG installation,will fit on the BMW tube, outer diameter of the black cable version is (roughly) 6.90 mm =0.271 in

    I also have single cables with boots available, as I decided to sell one set part by part to help out some people here which just need one wire with boots. That are (at the moment, subject to prior sale) all wires with boots from cylinder 1 to 12, plus the wires with boots between ignition coils and distributor caps center. In case you need a single one, tell me by PM the number of the cylinder and also the length of the wire including the boots in Centimeters to avoid misunderstandings.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by shogun; 11-28-2019 at 08:19 AM. Reason: update
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
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    1995 BMW 750
    Finally I found some time to install the wires

    On the M73 in E38 I noticed that the wires to the coils differ in length compared to the original wires, one is approximately 100 mm shorter and one is approximately 150 mm longer. A slightly different routing of the cables solves that issue. All the other cables are also a little shorter compared to the original ones but that is not a problem. Installation went smooth for being a task under the hood on the 750

    // Magnus

    Quote Originally Posted by shogun View Post
    @750 Swede: 1 set ignition wires in RED for your M73 shipped to Sweden

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
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    1996 850CI
    Hi Shogun!

    Do you still have these? I will need a complete set when putting my E31 M73 back together.
    Last edited by buildit; 08-04-2019 at 07:37 PM.

  14. #14
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    no problem, have them in red and black, PM sent

    Here's a quick & simple write up with pictures for installing cylinder identification sensors aka donuts on wires #6 and #12. These wires are identified by comparing length with the rest of the wires, them being the longest ones obviously.
    On the distributor boot end of the wire, get a slim flat blade screwdriver and slide it between the rubber boot and the wire. Use a lubricant of your preference, in my case WD-40, and spray it liberally. Follow up with more lubricant into the boot opening.



    Work it in and you should be able to simply slide over the rubber boot towards the inner part of the wire like this. Hold the wire and push on the boot, don't pull on the cable. Use more lubricant if necessary as you don't want to pull on the wire and stretch it.


    Grab and hold the wire with a microfiber cloth (for better grip) and start unscrewing the plug in anti-clockwise direction. It takes a decent amount of force to unscrew the plug so don't be afraid to use it as you can't really do any damage here. The plug simply unscrews and the woodscrew inside looks like this.




    Remove the rubber boot from the wire and it's time to install the cylinder identification sensor. The direction in which the sensor is installed matters. If you are reusing your old sensors, simply install them using your old wires as a reference. If you are installing new sensors, as I did, the 4 tips/prongs should be pointed in the distributor cap direction like this.




    Lubricate the rubber boot and slide it back onto the wire.



    Grab a pair of sharp scissors and cut off 3 mm of the end of the wire thus getting a fresh bit of the wire where the woodscrew will go in.



    Apply WD-40 on the end of the wire and reinstall the plug by screwing it back into place in the clockwise direction. Slide the rubber boot over the plug, if needed use more WD-40 to help boot slide easier without putting stress on the wire.




    Now we want to verify that we have a proper connection and installation was successful. Break out your multimeter and set it to measure resistance (Ω). Stick a test lead at each end of the wire and you should be getting a readout of around 6 kOhm. This goes for all 12 wires, spark plug boot is 5 kOhm and distributor cap boot is 1 kOhm. The wire for ignition coil to the distributor cap is 2kOhm.



    Additionally, you can wiggle and bend the wires slightly to make sure the connection is constant and doesn't drop.

    Last edited by shogun; 11-11-2019 at 06:01 PM.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  15. #15
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    1991 850i

    Quote Originally Posted by shogun View Post
    no problem, have them in red and black, PM sent

    Hello --

    I need a Ignition Wire Set for my 1991 850i. Have a hard miss, did compression check all cylinders 145-150 psi, tested Injector wires for pulse, all checkout OK and recently put in new plugs, cap and rotors which helped from random missing. Most likely I have aggrevated the old wires and they are donzooo.

    Please let me know if you have a set ready to go.

    Thanks!

    Mike

  16. #16
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    yes, have stock, PM sent, see details in E32 classifieds
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  17. #17
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    E60 530D, 1600-2, E30
    Hi Shogun,

    I am in need of a complete set of the ignition wire set (12 + 2 for coil). Can you please send me prices and availability?
    any chance that you might also have them with both CI Donuts sensors included?

    thank you

  18. #18
    Join Date
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    1990 BMW 750iL
    Oh dang. Would have bought some from you. I thought you weren't doing it anymore because this thread was so old. But...
    Are you still producing your chips? Wouldn't mind taking out these chips I have as I believe they are counterfeit.
    Thank you

  19. #19
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    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    chipsets for the M70 = 2 x for the DME + 1 x for EML for sportier throttle valve opening + v-max. limiter removed I have, which Motronic do you have? M1.2 with Bosch end # 156 or M1.7 with Bosch end # -352 ?
    Last edited by shogun; 04-22-2023 at 10:56 PM.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

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