We recently carried out an LPG conversion on a 4.8 v8 BMW X5, the vehicle left us running perfectly. Last week the vehicle owner took the X5 to our local BMW main dealer for routine service which included renewing the spark plugs.

The dealer renewed the spark plugs on the right hand bank (o/s) but didn't renew the other bank as the LPG reducer we fitted was in their way and would have to be removed. We have no problem with the dealer and would prefer anyway them not to disturb a system covered by our warranty.

As a goodwill gesture we told the customer we'd fit his own supplied spark plugs free of charge and the vehicle was left with us this morning.

Upon removal of the LPG reducer and associated components we found that to remove coils 1 & 2 was fairly easy but, due to the length of coil insulator, to remove them from the 2 rear cylinders looked impossible. It appears that the 2 coils would press against the vehicles inner wing and chassis leg making it necessary to probably lower the engine in some way.

We refitted the LPG system components and told the customer to re-book the vehicle into BMW but to bring it to us first to partially remove the LPG.He has since spoken to a Technician friend who works at BMW who has said they can be removed in situ but wasn't prepared to say how.

Have any UK Autotalk members ever carried out a spark plug change on one of these models,and, if so how difficult is it?

Many thanks in advance.
Regards,
Eddie Zyla.

www.crdperformance.com