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View Full Version : Difference in ignition coils?


Felixdacat
10-29-2006, 02:21 PM
I know that I need an ignition coil for my car. No spark. Bmw made two different types of coils. 1. Ring type, 2. Can style. Does it really matter which one is used? The can style is by far less expensive than the ring type. Besides cost, is there a difference in voltage output between the two?
TIA...........Felix This is for a '89 535i auto
Rigmaster
10-29-2006, 05:27 PM
Not sure what the 2 types are that they are referring to, but you should have the can type on a 535i.

525i's and 530i's have individual coils on each spark plug, your car only has 1 coil with plug wires leading from the distributor cap to the individual spark plugs.

Where are you getting your info? Maybe that would help.

Bret.
Felixdacat
10-29-2006, 06:56 PM
Thanks Bret, I have the ring type coil. It comes on some of the 7 series, and some 8 series also. I have a Parts store here named Olympic auto parts, and they are pretty good. Can get pretty much get all OEM parts, excluding body parts. I also did some research on the net, and it showed the two different styles. The only thing I can't figure out is if there is a difference in voltage output.
Felixdacat
10-30-2006, 04:42 AM
bump
genphreak
10-30-2006, 06:14 AM
bumpPost a pic Fx ;)
Felixdacat
10-30-2006, 06:38 AM
The can style top pic, and the ring style bottom pic. Mine is the ring style.
Ferret
10-30-2006, 07:23 AM
Ah, isnt the bottom one the type of coil pack used on distributor-less 4 cyl vehicles?
winfred
10-30-2006, 08:55 AM
no that's just the later style m20/30/70 coil, most of the 318s used the same coils as the m50, it just has a plug wire stuck on the bottom of it instead of the boot connector


Ah, isnt the bottom one the type of coil pack used on distributor-less 4 cyl vehicles?
Ferret
10-30-2006, 09:01 AM
no that's just the later style m20/30/70 coil, most of the 318s used the same coils as the m50, it just has a plug wire stuck on the bottom of it instead of the boot connector

Ah So! That second one looks too small to have the thermal capability to run a 6 cyl... that's where the confusions come from.

I could just be misinterpreting the size though.
genphreak
10-30-2006, 09:48 AM
Ah So! That second one looks too small to have the thermal capability to run a 6 cyl... that's where the confusions come from.

I could just be misinterpreting the size though.I have the second one on mine I think, it must have been stock in 1988...
Ferret
10-30-2006, 09:50 AM
Strange, my euro 535 '89 had the first coil on it.
DaveVoorhis
10-30-2006, 09:57 AM
Far as I can tell, BMW used one or the other quite arbitrarily. Maybe Bosch gave 'em a good deal if they'd be willing to accept either form factor.