BMW 2001 e46 ignition coils - best choice

[mckenzie333]

BMW e46 m54 engines befor September 2002 require a different ignition coil. Years ago Brenna were recommended but now owners report inferior results with them. There is a Bosch coil that costs more than the coils for post 9/2002. Any recommendations? Also is Rock auto a trustworthy supplier?

 

[mckenzie333]

BMW e46 m54 engines befor September 2002 require a different ignition coil. Years ago Brenna were recommended but now owners report inferior results with them. There is a Bosch coil that costs more than the coils for post 9/2002. Any recommendations? Also is Rock auto a trustworthy supplier?

Should read brembi

 

[FowVay]

I'd pull one out and try to verify who the manufacturer of the original is. There are a couple of brands to choose and it likely doesn't make any difference which you choose.

As for where to buy... I give FCP Euro my business. They're a bit more than RockAuto but shipping is free, replacements are free, customer service is stellar, and if you have issues it's a much easier task to resolve dealing with them. Rock's customer service leaves quite a bit to be desired.

 

[Trav]

Check out what Turner motor sport has to offer.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/

 

[CleanSump]

FCP Euro has BMW, Bosch, Dinan, Bremi, and Beru.

 

[Carmudgeon]

RA is an online storefront that relies on drop shippers, so what is received will depend on the particular parts supplier that receives the order and fulfills it.

FCP, as well as ECS/Turner/Pelican (owned by the same parent company) carry their own inventory, and as noted, the former's service is very good.

Turner was very good before the parts operation was sold to ECS. ECS has mixed, shall we say, reviews, but I've successfully ordered from them before without incident, and the one time I did need service, it went smoothly.

I've also had good luck with RMeuropean in the past, who use SSF as their supplier.

 

[Marcozi]

FCP Euro has BMW, Bosch, Dinan, Bremi, and Beru.

Bremi

 

[mckenzie333]

RA is an online storefront that relies on drop shippers, so what is received will depend on the particular parts supplier that receives the order and fulfills it.

FCP, as well as ECS/Turner/Pelican (owned by the same parent company) carry their own inventory, and as noted, the former's service is very good.

Turner was very good before the parts operation was sold to ECS. ECS has mixed, shall we say, reviews, but I've successfully ordered from them before without incident, and the one time I did need service, it went smoothly.

I've also had good luck with RMeuropean in the past, who use SSF as their supplier.

Thank you- I never knew about drop shippers- But FCP has always been great. I wonder what kind of company would be a drop shipper? Someone once shared it could be parts that are from a liquidation

 

[mckenzie333]

Bremi

I plan on getting the Bosch for pre 9/2002 e46s. A number of owners have said the bremi which were outstanding are now from china and are inferior

 

[edyvw]

I plan on getting the Bosch for pre 9/2002 e46s. A number of owners have said the bremi which were outstanding are now from china and are inferior

Is Eldor making for E46? Because those are best for E60/90.

 

[mckenzie333]

Is Eldor making for E46? Because those are best for E60/90.

Hi Edyvw- hope all goes well- just ordered the eldor(with nkg plugs) for my e90 - FCP said they agree with you- no eldor for e46 -they suggest a Bosch 395438 or a Brembi- any thoughts on the brembi?

 

[RooflessVW]

I've always had good luck with Beru ignition parts

 

[Carmudgeon]

Thank you- I never knew about drop shippers- But FCP has always been great. I wonder what kind of company would be a drop shipper? Someone once shared it could be parts that are from a liquidation

With RA, it varies. The closeout stuff tends to come from a large liquidator based in Texas. Otherwise, they can come from anything like a medium sized distributor, down to an individual parts store. A reverse lookup of the return address on the shipping label usually reveals the source.

The online catalogs can also betray which supplier is used. Without having ordered from Autohaus, I'd guess from their catalog, and its pictures, that they also rely on SSF as their supplier, along with RM, and the like.

In the past, I also ordered a fair amount from Patrick or Yves at BMA, but I guess the business has changed, and they're no longer involved, and since the website has disappeared, they've exited online sales.

 

[edyvw]

Hi Edyvw- hope all goes well- just ordered the eldor(with nkg plugs) for my e90 - FCP said they agree with you- no eldor for e46 -they suggest a Bosch 395438 or a Brembi- any thoughts on the brembi?

FCP is right on the money. If they suggest either, go with the cheaper one, I guess. I know Bsoch was an issue on E90, if that makes a difference.

 

[d00df00d]

FCP Euro good
Rock Auto bad
OE coils good

 

[wavinwayne]

I'd buy the closest thing to OEM that FCP Euro sells. As far as sellers go, I've had good results with FCP and ECS.

 

[Marcozi]

I can confirm that Bremi coils are made in China. They get very mixed reviews on FCP Euro. Go with Bosch.

 

[drtyler]

I've had good service from the original and replacement Bosch ignition coils for N52 engines in E60 and E90 applications. I would go with the Bosch.

 

[CleanSump]

I used Bosch in the 2008 238i. However, that was like 13 years ago. They're still in it and doing fine.

 

[f355spider]

Bremi is oem to BMW and used to be made in Germany. They moved production to China about 8 or 9 years ago. I have used the Bremi made in China ones without issue. I bought two or three of them from FCP Euro for the lifetime warranty, but (knock wood) have not had to replace any...its been at least 7 or 8 years now. E46 and E39 (what I have) are from the same time period and I believe use the same coils.

Whatever you choose, get them from FCP Euro for the lifetime warranty. Also read their buyer reviews on the coils, you may find some useful information there. (Be aware the compaints on the Bremi about fit, is related to the early production Chinese ones, that has not been an issue for years. The ones I got 7 or 8 years ago fit just fine, holes lined up with the mounting perfectly).

FCP Euro claims the Bremi without the boots are still made in Germany...I am suspect of that claim. I would call and confirm with them:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-ignition-coil-bremi-12137599219

The ones with the boots are confirmed made in China...those are the ones I bought.
Also, FCP does not sell the Bremi coil boots seperately, except from BMW, which are way more expensive.
The aftermarket ones they sell are from Beru or Bosch...which should both be of good quality, but buying the coils and boots seperately is much more expensive.

On the M62TU2, some years got Bosch, and others got Bremi. Historically, there were a lot of issues and complaints with the Bosch...but that was 20 years ago. I have not heard of complaints recently. My car came with Bremi, so that is what I used when I have experienced failures. I don't normally replace coils as a maintenance item... I just wait for failure. They are easy to swap out...I've only had a couple fail over the 25 years I've had my car...390,000+ miles now.