LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone
Home >> BMW >> 2009 >> 528i Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Engine Performance >> Ignition System >> Engine Electrical System - Repair >> Ignition Coil >> 12 13 009 Check ignition pencil coils with diagnosis and information system tester or oscilloscope (M54, M56, N40, N42, N43, N45, N46, N52, N62, N62TU, N73)

12 13 009 Check ignition pencil coils with diagnosis and information system tester or oscilloscope (M54, M56, N40, N42, N43, N45, N46, N52, N62, N62TU, N73)

Special tools required: 

Necessary preliminary tasks: 

Unlock plug fastener (1) of ignition coil.

Fig 1: Unlocking Plug Fastener Of Ignition Coil
G04739710Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Detach plug (1) in direction of arrow. Pull out ignition coil (2) towards top.

NOTE: Procedure applies to all rod-type ignition coils.
Fig 2: Detaching Plug
G04739711Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Install special tool 12 7 050  .

Installation: 

Special tool 12 7 050  is attached between spark plug and rod-type ignition coil.

Fig 3: Identifying Special Tool (12 7 050)
G04740362Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Secondary measurement: 

Connect KV clip-on probe (1) of DIS Tester to special tool 12 7 050  .

Procedure on DIS Tester:

For subsequent procedure, follow DIS instructions.

Fig 4: Identifying DIS Tester
G04740363Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
NOTE: Illustration shows: KV clip-on probe (1) US version.

Primary measurement: 

Connect 26-pin pin box with special tool 12 1 301  to connector (1) DME module 5.

Procedure on DIS Tester:

For subsequent procedure, follow DIS instructions.

NOTE: Pin assignment acc. to connection scheme.
Illustration N42.
IMPORTANT: Ignition signal is a multiple spark ignition  .
Fig 5: Identifying KV Clip-On Probe
G04740364Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Illustration of multiple spark ignition

  1. Start of ignition peak.
  2. Level of ignition voltage.
  3. Level of sparking voltage.
  4. Spark duration.
  5. Sparking voltage curve.
  6. Start of decay process.
  7. Decay process.
Fig 6: Multiple Spark Ignition Waveform
G04740365Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

M54 / M56 / N40 / N42 / N45 / N46 / N62 / N73: 

The following ignition oscillogram applies to engines with multiple spark ignition  from a production date of April 2001:

Depending on engine temperature  (approx. -20° to 100°) and engine speed  (<2000 rpm.), some ignition voltage peaks (approx. 1-5 ignition peaks) can occur before the typical ignition voltage characteristic.

The additional ignition peaks play no role in diagnosis. The last ignition peak (1) on the oscillogram is decisive.

Fig 7: Multiple Spark Ignition Waveform
G04740366Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
NOTE: The display of the ignition voltage peak is approx. 20-25 % lower than the real value.
It is not the height of the ignition voltage peaks but rather the uniformity of all the cylinders that is important.
Differences of 3000 to 4000 volts are permitted.