BHR Ignition System: Results/Impressions
 

Repost: Started new topic for ON-TOPIC discussion

Well, I've gone through the first few tanks since the ignition swap. The biggest story thus far is mileage. I've had a couple of "city only" tanks, that have had close to zero highway miles on them. I'm averaging 18.3 city now. I was honestly getting below 15 before, averaging around 14.3 on city-only tanks. Keep in mind, these are tanks that have absolutely NO highway miles, thus the lower numbers. I've only had 1 tank since the swap that was primarily highway (6th gear, cruise on 84 mph, with a few bursts here and there), probably about a 90/10 split. That came out 26.1 mpg.

So, mileage comparison:

Before: 14.3/21.2
After: 18.3/26.1

Pretty decent improvement there, if you ask me. No other changes were made, nor were driving habits altered in any way. I'm pretty diligent about documenting mileage, so the "before" numbers are measured from when I know I had 4 good coils. Or at least, 4 functioning coils. There's also a small power increase (verified on dyno, and an improvement in top end smoothness (from 7-7500+ in my car prior, it kind of felt like it was running out of breath. Not the case now). It was also nice that I filled up yesterday for under $30.

So better economy, more power, hopefully more durability, and an easy install rates this as an A in my mod list. Even for us NA folks, there is enough of an improvement where I would recommend. Naturally, everyone's mileage and power results may vary.

Congrats! I cannot wait for my number to come up and get mine.

Nice write up, as usual...

Before: 14.3/21.2
After: 18.3/26.1

All I care about!

don't expect those results to be valid for everyone though... didn't do anything for me

made my day... Charles can be sure to have my order on his desk in march ^^

My mileage is not bad (around 20-22 mpg with mixed driving city/ highway) but i expect a real improvement in my mileage.

br,
EdFred

The mileage I was receiving prior to my upgrade was low compared to what a lot of others have posted. My in-town mileage has naturally dropped a bit in the cold weather. My last couple of tanks of in-town only commute has been at 18.2 mpg. Still better than the 14.3 I saw before the upgrade.

And as I said in my original post, results may definitely vary. I'm only saying that this is what I have observed on my personal car. I can't vouch for others. Hopefully others with this modification will post and present their impressions of the new coils so we can get some cumulative data.

Forgot to mention, my engine mods: Cobb AP running the Cobb Stage 1 tune, and the BHR Coils.

everyones results are going to be different. as r0tor said, he didnt see any tangible mpg improvements. If you have OEM coils at 100%, then you likely wont see much if anything.

I bought these for 2 reasons:
1) I am going FI and needed a coil solution that could keep up. These coils can do that without need for dwell adjustments AND if i ever need to replace the coils, i can get replacement coils myself very easily.
2) Regardless of being FI, i dont like the idea of changing my coils every few months. This should stop that.

back on topic
 

just finished my installation of the BHR coils and plugs. i must say it was quite a tight fit. the T2 coil is very close to the UIM, almost touching. i took the stupid clip that holds the alternator cable off which made things a little better.

before i was noticing some very rough idle. i was able to start it up and pull it back in the driveway and it idled very nice. i was able to drive around yet but i will over the next few days possibly. i was averaging around 22mpg hwy before the upgrade and i'll be making another trip in about a week to test it out some more.

some tools i'd recommend for someone installing is a long flexible extension to get the 10mm bolts. also if you are changing the spark plugs i used a long extension that had a wobble spark plug socket on the end.

all in all i'm very impressed so far but i will post some more results in the next week or so. this should compliment my turbo i'll be installing soon as well.

I hate that clip :banghead:

How long did it take you to install?

yeah me too. i was wondering what that metal tab piece if for anyways? i'm thinking of removing it and putting shorter screws in when i change my water pump.

it took about 4 hours. that included taking a 30min break and 2 trips to Autozone for tools.

took me almost 3 hours, I'm sure it would've been more, but fortunately I had the tools I needed

Mod Edit: Removed Crap from Thread.

If your post is missing, you know why.

thanks Al. :)

thanks :)

thanks Al!

alright enough thanks...

nuke you were getting 22 highway before the mod? what other mods do you have on your car ATM?

K&N typhoon Ver. 2 intake, RX7store resonated midpipe, HKS Hi-Power, Z-Ent grounding kit. thats about it that i can think of that might help mpg.

Oh wow, you're using the HKS Hi-power with the kit as well!?!

I would be curious what kind of MPG numbers you would get without the hi-power kit.

here's some pics of my old spark plugs. to my knowledge they are the original plugs with around 48,000mi on them. no wonder my car was idling rough.

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/8847/dsc0478id1.jpg
By nuke0907, shot with NIKON D40X at 2008-12-24

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/4423/dsc0480fp7.jpg
By nuke0907 at 2008-12-24

it's cruel and unusual punishment to leave plugs like that in an RX-8.

Installed the kit. Now the car is incredibly hard to start and misfires under boost. Don't have any MPG numbers as I won't be driving it until I figure this out :squint:

Barring any possible defect in the coils themselves, it is likely you either have the leading/trailing crossed on one rotor or one of the trailing wires or harnesses is disconnected.

Just to make sure, the instructions state L1, T1, L2, T2 front to rear. If this is the case I'm pretty sure I've got it right. I already checked it twice, though I do have my retarded moments.

Yes.
You are also aware that the leading plug is the lower plug and the trailing is the higher one?

actually that is not a stupid question------its easy to get it out of sorts. to make it a no brainer--i color coded mine!
OD