Recommended spark plugs for my '01 Boxster

[Bobiam]

My Box is an '01 with 35,000 miles. Still has origingal plugs and runs fine, but per manual should have had plugs changed 2-4 yrs ago (depending on what manual or guide you happen to have).

What plugs are recommended by you guys????????

Thanks
Bob

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by Bobiam

My Box is an '01 with 35,000 miles. Still has origingal plugs and runs fine, but per manual should have had plugs changed 2-4 yrs ago (depending on what manual or guide you happen to have).

What plugs are recommended by you guys????????

Thanks
Bob

I use the OEM recommended plugs which are made by Beru. They cost a little more than some others, but I think they're worth it.

http://e-partssales.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=986plu&Category_Code=986engele

[Jaxonalden]

I replaced mine with OEM Beru's, $13 a piece. Bosch also has a multi ground electrode plug in heat range 6, P/N FGR6KQE, they're about $8 a piece.

http://www.partsgeek.com/ntparts/2000/porsche/boxster/spark_plug.html?utm_source=yahoo+shopping&utm_medium=pf&utm_term=Porsche+Boxster+Spark+Plug+-+Beru&utm_content=mmbpp_limited&utm_campaign=PartsGeek+Yahoo+Shopping

[Lil bastard]

Stick w/ oem.

Exotic metal plugs are mostly marketing hype and the only real supposed benefit is longevity. Longevity isn't really a plus on a car that's driven for performance or where the plugs are so easily changed, especially on a car where the mileage spec is already 60k mi. to begin with.

Aftermarket plugs may not be indexed properly and there is no universal standard on heat range. One Mfgr.'s #6 does not necessarily equal another's #6.

[Jaxonalden]

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

Stick w/ oem.

Exotic metal plugs are mostly marketing hype and the only real supposed benefit is longevity. Longevity isn't really a plus on a car that's driven for performance or where the plugs are so easily changed, especially on a car where the mileage spec is already 60k mi. to begin with.

Aftermarket plugs may not be indexed properly and there is no universal standard on heat range. One Mfgr.'s #6 does not necessarily equal another's #6.

Bosch, aftermarket? Beru isn't made by Porsche so that would make them aftermarket also. The Bosch plugs suggested aren't Platinum or Iridium, like that would even matter. You won't go wrong Bosch (~$50) or Beru (~$90)...just about a $40 difference in price for six spark plugs.

[fastorange]

I guess I'm a little confused Jax. You recommend and defend Bosch, but you replaced with the OEM Beru plugs??? Pick one....

[Kirk]

I went with Beru. They're a pretty fancy plug with 4 grounding prongs per plug. I think you get what you pay for to an extent.

Kirk

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by Jaxonalden

Bosch, aftermarket? Beru isn't made by Porsche so that would make them aftermarket also. The Bosch plugs suggested aren't Platinum or Iridium, like that would even matter. You won't go wrong Bosch (~$50) or Beru (~$90)...just about a $40 difference in price for six spark plugs.

I don't think you totally understood my reply.

The Plugs Bosch #FR7LDC4, FG6LDC, and Beru 14FR6LDU, 14FR7KQU are all OEM plugs used by Porsche interchangeably (depending on your engine displacement).

These plugs were selected and then the heads tapped so that when properly torqued (22Ft.Lbs. new, 18.5 Ft. Lbs. used), they are inset optimally in the heads(depth) and their spark is properly aligned with the desired flamefront travel. Also, their respective heat ranges are close or matched too.

I suspect that none of these are better than any of the others spec'd, so if you can save on one over the other, so much the better.

But, there have been reported issues when using other plugs than these spec'd. Specifically, some of the other Bosche Platinums have been reported to have broken electrodes inside the motor which have caused some cylinder/piston scarring.

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by Jaxonalden

Bosch, aftermarket? Beru isn't made by Porsche so that would make them aftermarket also. The Bosch plugs suggested aren't Platinum or Iridium, like that would even matter. You won't go wrong Bosch (~$50) or Beru (~$90)...just about a $40 difference in price for six spark plugs.

The Beru's are $68 bucks from the Suncoast Porsche Dealer link I posted above, so it's not that much of a difference in price.

[Bobiam]

The Suncoast link that Boxaboy provided shows a set of plugs with 2 ground electrodes each. The catalog listing doesn't actually say what brand there are!!! They balso have a "radio button" for 00-04 Box and another for 00-04 Box S. But when you put them in your cart and then compare the part numbers, they are the same plug.

Kirk says that his Beru's have 4 ground electrodes.

So, what's what? The Suncoast price isn't so bad, but for all I know, (based on their catalog) they're K-mart brand. I think I'll write Suncoast.

[Bob O]

I ordered, and installed, the oem plugs from Suncoast several months ago. They were Beru. Cost was 53.70 for six, 8.95 each. List price at the time was 16.58 each, without discount. hmmmm I HAVE ordered quite a lot of stuff from them, but don't think I'm getting any kind of "good customer" discount.

Bob

[Bobiam]

Originally Posted by Bob O

I ordered, and installed, the oem plugs from Suncoast several months ago. They were Beru. Cost was 53.70 for six, 8.95 each. List price at the time was 16.58 each, without discount. hmmmm I HAVE ordered quite a lot of stuff from them, but don't think I'm getting any kind of "good customer" discount.

Bob

They're $67.74 now........so you didn't do so bad!!!!!!!

[Jaxonalden]

Originally Posted by fastorange

I guess I'm a little confused Jax. You recommend and defend Bosch, but you replaced with the OEM Beru plugs??? Pick one....

No problem. I've owned my Boxster for a year and when I first got my hands on it I did a through "Acceptance" inspection. That included a full tune-up, oil change and brake job. At the time I didn't know much about Porsche's so I ordered a set of OEM Beru's, when I received them I didn't notice much difference over Bosch. I have Bosch in all my toys and have never regretted them once, Champion plugs on the other hand...now they suck!

So with that being said you asked me to pick one...well with all things being equal I would save a couple of bucks and go with Bosch.

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by Bobiam

The Suncoast link that Boxaboy provided shows a set of plugs with 2 ground electrodes each. The catalog listing doesn't actually say what brand there are!!! They balso have a "radio button" for 00-04 Box and another for 00-04 Box S. But when you put them in your cart and then compare the part numbers, they are the same plug.

Kirk says that his Beru's have 4 ground electrodes.

So, what's what? The Suncoast price isn't so bad, but for all I know, (based on their catalog) they're K-mart brand. I think I'll write Suncoast.

The picture may be old on the site, but they send you the correct 4 pronged electrode set.

[Bobiam]

Originally Posted by Bobiam

The Suncoast link that Boxaboy provided shows a set of plugs with 2 ground electrodes each. The catalog listing doesn't actually say what brand there are!!! They balso have a "radio button" for 00-04 Box and another for 00-04 Box S. But when you put them in your cart and then compare the part numbers, they are the same plug.

Kirk says that his Beru's have 4 ground electrodes.

So, what's what? The Suncoast price isn't so bad, but for all I know, (based on their catalog) they're K-mart brand. I think I'll write Suncoast.

Suncoast replied........the plugs on their site are Beru. So, not a bad price fro a dependable premium plug.