Technical Fiat 500 1.2 Pop Spark Plugs

[306maxi]

Car is doing stupidly well! Trip computer is showing 55.9mpg. Up from 54.8 this morning. I worked out that I actually did almost 60mpg on the way home from work tonight. I suspect these plugs are going to pay for themselves over their life or at least come very close!

 

[jrkitching]

Car is doing stupidly well! Trip computer is showing 55.9mpg. Up from 54.8 this morning. I worked out that I actually did almost 60mpg on the way home from work tonight. I suspect these plugs are going to pay for themselves over their life or at least come very close!

Since they're only about twice the price of OEM plugs & will likely last at least three times as long, I'd say that's a pretty safe assumption, even without the fuel savings .

Why FIAT don't fit decent plugs in the factory is beyond me. It'd knock at least £50 off the price of a main dealer 18k service, which is definitely something folks look at when deciding to buy a new car.

 

[bgunn]

Since they're only about twice the price of OEM plugs & will likely last at least three times as long, I'd say that's a pretty safe assumption, even without the fuel savings .

Why FIAT don't fit decent plugs in the factory is beyond me. It'd knock at least £50 off the price of an 18k service, which is definitely something folks look at when deciding to buy a new car.

Twice the price of OEM plugs at *retail* price. I have a feeling the cheapie standard ones are probably a tiny fraction of the others when bought in bulk and sent to an engine factory. Making a profit when manufacturing small cars means cutting costs wherever possible, and selling as many as you can.

 

[306maxi]

Twice the price of OEM plugs at *retail* price. I have a feeling the cheapie standard ones are probably a tiny fraction of the others when bought in bulk and sent to an engine factory. Making a profit when manufacturing small cars means cutting costs wherever possible, and selling as many as you can.

Yup. I don't blame Fiat for only fitting copper plugs, it's not the sort of thing most people would appreciate anyway. Have to say I'm never buying copper plugs again, though the Subaru already runs platinums anyway.

 

[306maxi]

Well the jury has deliberated and I've had 54.2mpg measured from brim to brim over 480 odd miles. I was getting 49 before so that's a hefty increase, I would say I'm probably driving an mpg or 2 better myself, but most of that is down to the plugs and servicing

 

[jrkitching]

Well the jury has deliberated and I've had 54.2mpg measured from brim to brim over 480 odd miles. I was getting 49 before so that's a hefty increase, I would say I'm probably driving an mpg or 2 better myself, but most of that is down to the plugs and servicing

Glad you're pleased with the result .

Time to put a set in the Panda, perhaps?

 

[306maxi]

Probably won't. Panda does sod all mileage and i want it gone. I want to get rid of it and get something more interesting. I really fancy an Alfa 156 GTA. Changing plugs on that would be more fun

 

[bgunn]

Probably won't. Panda does sod all mileage and i want it gone. I want to get rid of it and get something more interesting. I really fancy an Alfa 156 GTA. Changing plugs on that would be more fun

Platinum plugs fitted as standard, as the plenum has to come off to get to the rear bank. Lots of Alfa V6s have the front plugs changed, but not the rears for that reason.

My advice is get a set of clic-r pliers if you do get a Busso engined Alfa

 

[306maxi]

Hell, I'd buy a hard to work on car just to get the chance to buy more tools

 

[bgunn]

Hell, I'd buy a hard to work on car just to get the chance to buy more tools

They're lovely to work on. Cramped engine bay, yes, but a real joy of an engine.

 

[306maxi]

As soon as i find out about a job and my wife gets over the annoyance of my latest purchase..... Need to find a nice sportwagon though. I'd probably settle for a 2.5, but i really want a gta....

 

[frupi]

I finally got round to replacing the plugs (and air filter) today at 14,000 miles.

I declined having them changed on the 2 year service due to both the cost being quoted for the plugs and the labour to fit them. I ended up buying original Fiat branded NGK made plugs ZKR7A10 for £12.98 delivered. Why exactly do Fiat allegedly charge £62.50 for a set of these?....

Original plugs had pretty much had it. Still, they lasted 2 years 4 months.
Hoping that the fuel economy might pick itself back up from an average 46 mpg to 50 mpg. We'll see.

 

[jrkitching]

I ended up buying original Fiat branded NGK made plugs ZKR7A10 for £12.98 delivered.

At that price, replacing them every 9k would probably pay for itself in the fuel you'd save - and the car will run better for it as well .

Or if you can accept the compromise of no tip projection and a slightly smaller plug gap, fit NGK DCPR7EIX Iridium at around £26 delivered and forget about them for the next 36k.

£62.50 for a set of 4 copper core plugs is ridiculous, though I suppose that includes fitting at FIAT main dealer rates. Easy enough to change yourself in around half an hour or so - and that includes doing the air filter while you've got the airbox off.

 

[frupi]

At that price, replacing them every 9k would probably pay for itself in the fuel you'd save - and the car will run better for it as well .

Or if you can accept the compromise of no tip projection and a slightly smaller plug gap, fit NGK DCPR7EIX Iridium at around £26 delivered and forget about them for the next 36k.

£62.50 for a set of 4 copper core plugs is ridiculous, though I suppose that includes fitting at FIAT main dealer rates. Easy enough to change yourself in around half an hour or so - and that includes doing the air filter while you've got the airbox off.

Yup, I did change the air filter at the same time, also first time change for the air filter. Replaced the Fiat one with a Wix Filtron filter, cost £6.61 delivered. I also had to replace the breather hose from the air box down to the inlet because it had split almost entirely along its whole length. Cost £4.99 for a metre length from my local motor factors which I cut in half, so I have a length for spare if I need to replace again in the future.

 

[jrkitching]

Yup, I did change the air filter at the same time, also first time change for the air filter. Replaced the Fiat one with a Wix Filtron filter, cost £6.61 delivered. I also had to replace the breather hose from the air box down to the inlet because it had split almost entirely along its whole length. Cost £4.99 for a metre length from my local motor factors which I cut in half, so I have a length for spare if I need to replace again in the future.

The OEM breather hose is a preformed part shaped to fit, though you can of course replace it with a length of suitable plain tubing if you wish. FIAT now produce a modified breather hose which should not split (time will tell), part number 71769083; several FIAT main dealers sell them on ebay for around £12 delivered.

 

[frupi]

The OEM breather hose is a preformed part shaped to fit, though you can of course replace it with a length of suitable plain tubing if you wish. FIAT now produce a modified breather hose which should not split (time will tell), part number 71769083; several FIAT main dealers sell them on ebay for around £12 delivered.

The hose I replaced was definitely not pre-formed, just a straight length of hose, part number 51777763 from the airbox and down to the inlet. The pipe you are referring to, was/is absolutely fine. I'm just glad I didn't nip to the local Fiat dealer and pay their prices!

 

[jrkitching]

The hose I replaced was definitely not pre-formed, just a straight length of hose, part number 51777763 from the airbox and down to the inlet. The pipe you are referring to, was/is absolutely fine. I'm just glad I didn't nip to the local Fiat dealer and pay their prices!

Aah, yes, the small breather is just a bit of hose. Your car probably had the modified big breather fitted at the factory - these aren't known for splitting.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I declined having them changed on the 2 year service due to both the cost being quoted for the plugs and the labour to fit them. I ended up buying original Fiat branded NGK made plugs ZKR7A10 for £12.98 delivered. Why exactly do Fiat allegedly charge £62.50 for a set of these?....

My dealer doesn't. Were yours high on crack when quoting you that

 

[frupi]

My dealer doesn't. Were yours high on crack when quoting you that

My only use a Fiat dealer recently, was for the recent free software download they offered that revealed a faulty electric steering motor subsequently replaced FOC to me under the 3rd year warranty.

I'm not going to start mudslinging particular dealerships, but when I was originally quoted £455 for a second year service on a car that at the time had only done 11300 miles and then told by the dealer that that is what they are allegedly told to charge, then you can see how the price of a service can seemingly escalate! You know, brake fluid, plugs, oil/filter change, general healthcare check etc. That is why I got a good independent garage to service it. It cost me £169 for the second year service inclusive of brake fluid change and using genuine Fiat service items and in my opinion, I thought that was a fair price. In fairness, I asked the indy garage not to change the plugs because I wanted a little longer out of them and it seems I took them to the edge anyway.

In the link below if you read through the description, £62.80 is apparently the retail charge for four plugs (I actually really hope it isn't!) especially when the identical (NGK branded only) plugs, can be had for as little as £13 for four. I have seen this price (£62.80) quoted on other sites and from internet searching.

I didn't buy my plugs from the following link but they are identical, stamped NGK ZKR7A-10 and mine were cheaper, but these are a still a good price compared to many for genuine branded plugs:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-500-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35c8c98ca3

 

[jrkitching]

Jeez, I thought that £62.80 included fitting.

These plugs are unique to the 500, the NGK branded ones will be absolutely identical to the OEM set stamped with the FPT logo.

The FIAT main dealer price isn't just taking the p**s, it's surgically extracting the s**t .