BMW 2 Series Spark Plugs: Intervals, Fitment & Warning Signs
On the 2 Series, related engines have genuinely had a confirmed bulletin addressing a fault where the engine fails to restart after a cold start.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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OEM Part Number: confirm via engine code — aftermarket NGK 94201 / Bosch 0 242 145 515
| Petrol engines in this generation | 218i 136 HP; 220i 136 and 184 HP; 225i 184 HP; 228i 243 and 245 HP; 230i 252 HP; M235i 320 and 326 HP; M240i 340 HP; M2 370 HP; M2 Competition 411 HP; M2 CS 450 HP |
|---|---|
| Spark plugs (aftermarket) | NGK 94201 (iridium, 14 mm Bi-Hex, M12x1.25); NGK 91874 (iridium, gap 0.8 mm, 14 mm, M12x1.25); NGK 97506 (iridium, 14 mm Bi-Hex, M12x1.25); Bosch 0 242 145 515, 0 242 145 541 and 0 242 145 555 (gap 0.8 mm, 14 mm, M12x1.25); Champion OE242 and OE243 (platinum, gap 0.8 mm, 14 mm Bi-Hex, M12x1.25); Champion OE245 and OE259 (iridium, gap 0.8 and 0.74 mm); Denso SXB24HCF-D7 (iridium centre, platinum earth, M12x1.25); Beru Z366, Z364 (iridium centre, platinum earth, gap 0.8 mm, M12x1.25) |
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | Denso SXB24HCF-D7 quotes OE 12 12 0 050 948 |
| Fitment notes | Every plug listed is a 14 mm hex, M12x1.25 fine-wire type (iridium or platinum) |
BMW 2 Series Spark Plugs: A Cheap Part That Causes Expensive-Feeling Problems
Worn spark plugs on the BMW 2 Series rarely announce themselves clearly — a slightly rougher idle, a bit less punch off the line — symptoms easy to blame on almost anything else in the engine bay. The part itself costs very little, which makes it an easy one to overlook for far longer than it should be.
BMW 2 Series Spark Plugs: What They Do
The BMW 2 Series's spark plugs ignite the compressed fuel-air mixture inside each cylinder, and their condition directly affects combustion efficiency, fuel economy and smooth running. Petrol engines rely entirely on them; diesel engines don't use spark plugs at all, relying on compression instead.
BMW 2 Series Spark Plugs: Generations, Engines & Spark Plug Count
| Diesel variants | Not applicable — diesel engines use compression ignition and have no spark plugs at all |
|---|---|
| Petrol four-cylinder (most trims) | 4 spark plugs — one per cylinder |
| Petrol six-cylinder (M-Performance trims, where fitted) | 6 spark plugs — a genuinely different engine family (BMW's inline-six) from the standard four-cylinder units, not a bored-out version of the same engine |
BMW 2 Series Spark Plugs: Watch: Replacing It
Names the 228i (F22) and covers the N20 four-cylinder
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A Genuinely Useful Piece of Context Worth Knowing About Misfires — BMW 2 Series Spark Plugs
If the engine has turned over but failed to actually start on a repeated cold-start attempt, this is genuinely worth knowing: related BMW engines have had a confirmed technical bulletin addressing exactly this fault, caused by unfavourable software combined with the original spark plug part, since superseded twice with revised versions.
It's also genuinely worth knowing that coil packs have been documented failing even on cars with genuinely low mileage.
BMW 2 Series Spark Plugs: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Spark Plugs Guide for symptoms of worn plugs, why matching your exact plug specification matters, and trusted brands to buy from.
More BMW Spark Plugs
The same part, covered across other BMW models.