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BMW’s use ignition coils that are coil-on-plug. These are excellent if you are looking to improve the management and efficiency of your engine. These plugs allow for saturation times that are longer and energy sparks that are higher and provide timing that is more precise. This means that the fuel economy is improved and the efficiency of the engine is increased. Coil-on-plug coils also reduce the need for service of the ignition system because it eliminates the spark plug wires, the rotors, and the distributor caps. It pretty much eliminates the service needs of the entire distributor and all the hardware associated with it. The hemispherical cylinder head designs have come with new challenges of service for these vehicles.

Because of the higher heat and longer intervals for service3, the connector boots linking the ignition coils and the spark plugs have the tendency to glue themselves to the end of the spark plugs, or the spark plug insulators. This can cause the owner a major headache. This is because the spark plugs are found deep in the recessed tubes located in the head of the cylinder. The process of pulling the boot of typically rips it, having you standing there with part of the boot still stuck in your hand and the rest attached to the plug. Anytime this occurs, it prevents you from removing the spark plug thanks to the fact that the rubber boot remaining in place prevent the socket from properly fitting the plug. Here is how you can remove the boot in order to finish the job.

Step One

If you have the bolt-on coils found in the earlier style that use a separate connector boot and the boot remains behind when the coil is removed, then you want to grab a pair of needle-nose pliers. Use the pliers first in order to attempt to pull off the boot. However, if you have the later style, the ones that contain integral connectors with a short boot at the bottom of them, and the boot rips or is pulled off from the end of the coil, then skip steps one and two and go to step three.

Step Two

If using the pliers rips the boot more than it is already ripped, then grasp the center electrical connector part of the boot and begin to pull it outward. The hope is that the entire boot will come out. However, there are instances where the electrical connector will separate from the boot and then pull out. If this happens, continue to the next step.

Step 3

At this point, you should have a hollow boot. You can use a shot of spray silicone and apply it into the boot. Once you have sprayed the silicone, you can then insert a long pick tool, if you do not have this type of tool you can use a small flathead screwdriver instead. Insert the tool down through the boot. Gently force this tool in between the spark plug insulator and the inside wall of the boot. This process should break the seal and allow the silicone that was applied to seep down between the plug and the boot. At this point, use the pliers or the pick tool in order to pull what is left of the boot off the spark plug.

Step 4

It’s important that you apply a small amount of silicone grease to the inside of the connector boot when you are installing new parts. You should do this before you assemble the boot onto the spark plug. This prevents problems in the future when you are trying to remove the boot. If you are looking for parts for your BMW, Score BMW Parts has got you covered.