GTA - Install BHR ignition. Shop or driveway job?
 

Just received my BHR ignition and plugs from Charles for an 09 R3.... have an AEM intake so getting to the ignition seems a bit easier than with the OEM box but not 100% confident on how to reach the plugs/wires and ensure leading/trailing are connected properly.

Maybe just over thinking it but wanting to know if this a simple driveway job or one best handled by a shop? If so, any recommendations in the GTA? Located in Milton

I'd say you'd have to be the judge on that, it is fairly straight forward though.

BTW. Nice Fuelly rating, do you do almost all highway driving? How many Km's do you get to the tank?

In all reality if your worried about it, mabye you would be best taking it to a shop. If you are decent with tools and are familiar with the system you really wont have any trouble. An easy way to do it is mark each coil as you pull them off which number they are just leave the wires attached until the BHR kit is installed. Once done, attach new wires one by one, then do the plugs one by one.


Below i attached the diagram for them though, figured you could use it. :)

Do it yourself in the driveway. Instructions from Charles are clear and easy to follow.

++1

too easy driveway job take 20mins+ maybe even less if your fast.

It's 20 minutes if you've done it before.. Doing it the first time is a PITA. That harness.. and you ALWAYS drop one of the 10mm nuts. Always.

Thanks, this looks straight forward enough.

I am not getting as good this year which lead me to look into the bhr kit, that and being at 60,000km. Hoping it goes back up, yes mostly hwy

I bought mine 2nd hand, without instructions. The installation wasn't difficult at all. You just have to route the right wire to the proper spark plug.

This took me about 3 hours to do while also cleaning everything I took off. This was my first ignition install. I was also bring very careful and double checking everything. You have to take off the front driver side wheel to get to the plugs.

I ended up with a high voltage to the air flow sensor CEL but cleared it and it was fine. I've driven about a thousand miles since then and everything is running great. So don't freak out of you get something similar.

Posted From RX8Club.com Android App

Just do it yourself. It is very simple if you follow Charles' instructions and the YouTube video that one of the other members provided a link for.

I have very little experience working on my car and it took me an hour to do the whole thing with the stock intake box. With an air intake, it should take less time.

Charles labels the plug wires, so it's really difficult to screw this up.

are HST and Customs Duties added to the cost of the kit when importing to Canada?

Yes, customs and taxes are USUALLY added. When I bought the ignition kit, I just picked it up from Charles in Scottsdale as I happened to be there on vacation.

That said, I just bought the BHR midpipe ($450 US) two weeks ago and asked Charles to ship it by USPS as UPS charges ridiculous broker fees. The extra customes/taxes charges came to $78 CND. I hope that helps.

Just wondering if there is a place/shop that would sell the ignition kit and install it here in the Toronto area? Or if you had it shipped and brought it to a Mazda dealer would they install it for you?

To the best of my knowledge, no one in Toronto sells the kits. I would just buy it online from BHR and have it shipped. When you do, consider buying new spark plugs as well, depending on how old yours are.

As far as installation is concerned, my recommendation would be to do it yourself. It is quite simple if you follow the instructions that come with the kit. I was just starting to wrench on my car when I bought this and it took less than an hour.

I had the same dilemma as you and then decided to do it myself one evening.

If you're not comfortable with it most garages will be able to do it.

I think I saw a couple of used sets on the forum or on the GTA RX8 Club Facebook page.

This thread's a year old. @Unoriginalusername, did you end up DIY'ing it or did you have it done for you?

I want to do the BHR/spark plug upgrades... seen YouTube videos and not all sure I am able. Just got my 2009 R3 2 months ago and it only has 37000km. Not sure I should/need to do it just yet...what are your opinions? Thanks

If the coils have not been changed yet, it's time to do it.
30k is recommended.
The BHR kit is a little trickier than the normal setup, less room for it, but it's not too difficult if you have some mechanical aptitude.
The biggest thing is to be sure you don't get the coils & plugs mixed up.
Plenty of threads & DIYs on it.

Easy to follow instructions.

Charles, you are correct! There are no duties, the charge is simply Ontario sales tax.

The $78 bucks that I was charged for the BHR midpipe order at delivery translates to provincial sales tax. ($450 X approx 1.25 for exchange rate difference X 13% works out to $78 plus/minus a dollar or two).

yes my harness is only on 1 nut now, the rest in the undercarriage

I ended up installing my kit with my friend (2.5 hrs) could have been 30 minutes.

Didn't take the wheel off to get to plugs just ran my hand in and connected. real simple

:bowdown:
1.0 hrs 2-3 Beers and talk about removing old coils & wires
0.25 hrs remove old coils & wires
1.0 hrs 2-3 Beers and talk about how to replace new coils & wires
0.25 hrs replace new coils & wires

fixed

I've done it twice, first to my car then for a friend of mine. First time doing it I ran into a bunch of problems (breaking the bolts because of rust being one of them). Second time around it was completed in around 30 minutes.

I'd say do it in the driveway if your comfortable with the instructions and are good with tools. Good luck!

:yelrotflm:yelrotflm

Forgot:
drink pint of Grand Marnier
back in to neighbors car
$1500 install plus coils & wires