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BWD Coils? Anyone tried them out yet??

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Old 05-31-2010 | 10:42 PM
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BWD Coils? Anyone tried them out yet??

It's about time to do tune-up number 2 for me. This time plugs are WAY cheaper ($20 instead of $45 each) and Taylor finally makes plug wires, Im a big fan. But I coils are around the same price. Which leads to my question:

I noticed at Advance Auto Parts they have BWD coils for $25 each with a lifetime warranty on them. This sounds really good to me, but being a tech we have a rule of thumb; Stay with stock parts on ignition stuff unless you upgrade to performance.

Has anyone tried out the BWD coils? If so what do you think? Anyone know voltage output for stock coils and these by chance?

Thanx in advance. You guys have been a HUGE help for me lately.
Old 06-01-2010 | 03:22 AM
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Before someone tells you to "Search, NOOB!";

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ight=BWD+coils
Old 06-01-2010 | 07:05 AM
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SEARCH NOOB!

...

oh ooops, am I a little too late ?
Old 06-01-2010 | 12:08 PM
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Hell go for it and report back!

Advance is really good about their warranties on these types of parts so if they fail early no big deal. I've had them replace MAF sensors as well as other small electronic parts like this when they go out. I just bring them the dead unit and 5min later I walk out with a new one.
Old 06-01-2010 | 03:17 PM
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Ive had them on for a week now and they seem fine now that doesnt mean
they will last forever but my car does seem to idle better and my AC feels colder
but thats my opinion also changed the plugs all from O'Reilly
Old 06-01-2010 | 11:28 PM
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Well since my search came across this thread and NO ONE had tried them out I figured I would try to put it in the title and maybe get someone that had tried them.

How does being a member for 3 years constitute being a noob?

Last edited by RxJaye; 06-01-2010 at 11:33 PM.
Old 06-01-2010 | 11:29 PM
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Originally Posted by djlaundry2000
Ive had them on for a week now and they seem fine now that doesnt mean
they will last forever but my car does seem to idle better and my AC feels colder
but thats my opinion also changed the plugs all from O'Reilly
Thanx man, It will be about a month before I do the tune up. Do you mind if I hit you up and see if everything is still ok?
Old 06-02-2010 | 01:37 AM
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So this thread caught my attention.

I'd first like to say that I'm a salesperson and a customer. Even more, I'm one who likes to be satisfied with what I've purchased as long as I've done my research and concluded my opinions on whatever part I may put into my Rx8.

That being said, I'm running BWD coils in my car.

Reasons? Price wise, its obvious. Most autopart stores will offer lifetime warranties with their products. Honestly, I think this is to entice potential customers into corporate/brand loyalty. Lol. The drawback is people might, ...and do..., try to abuse these warranties.

Ok, BWD is a great supplier. They're parts are "premium" for my store, and I trust them and my own company, Kragen/O'Reilly. Some guys don't, and that's cool too.

But I would rather go BWD over store brands (Which are really all the same, only relabeled into brands such as Duralast, EverLast, Evertough, MasterPro etc.). I got my four coils for less than 120$. AND a lifetime warranty.

I say go for it. Even though what I really wanted was the BHR ignition kit, I went with BWD, OEM NGK plugs and Moroso wires from Raceroots because cost was definitely a factor.

And some truth, Autoparts store workers have a lot more bullshit to deal with in terms of duties that the public doesn't recognize when they walk in and look for parts that, any casual warranty claim wouldn't be given more than a second thought to complete. Unless its just plain stupid.

Some things are obvious though and I'm not offering any sort of crude protection to autoparts store guys (like Kragen/O'Reilly, Autozone, Napa, Advance). They just wanna do their job quickly before deadline; and you will know what kind of hourly paid salesperson really gives a **** when you spend some time with them.

I think it took me over a year to finally accept BWD as a worthy replacement to Mazda coils. And given prices/warranties/people I know in the industry, it was a clear choice. I got four BWD coils provided through Kragen/O'Reilly.

And after the first few weeks telling myself, "OMFreakingG! I'm so happy! I get better mileage AND more Powerz!," I just thought to myself, "Heh, least I got some quality coils that will do the job of Mazda's stuff without paying more money on unwarrantied parts. Cool, I'll save up for aftermarket performance parts when I get a raise."

I'm happy with that, will you be?
Old 06-02-2010 | 10:45 AM
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Im thinking of trying out BWD coils too.

but right now, my stock still works + Advance Auto (no Kragen/O'Reilly around here) dont have them in stock. So I guess I will just wait.

Its a few bux cheaper than buying from MMS and its local (18 miles)

Just gonna wait till my current set of coils die (15K so far), then I will give these a shot.
Old 06-02-2010 | 11:31 AM
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I just haven't been able to accept the idea of the ignition coils as a regular maintenance item.
Even if the cost was zero, not knowing when they were going to fail and then having to deal with replacing them annually or even more often just seems ridiculous to me.
Not to mention the very high risk of catastrophic engine damage from a trailing-only misfire...
Old 06-03-2010 | 05:18 AM
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I think BWD is great alternative because of the price and warranty. It's perfect for people like me who aren't in a rush to upgrade and need to save up for beefier parts than normal.

I'd love to wonder though, how some Yukon coils would feel with my fresh Moroso wires...hm....
Old 06-03-2010 | 09:20 AM
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I'm lucky and know my Mazda tech (I'm a Chrysler tech at a dealer right up the road). and he replaced plugs wires and coils at 33k miles under warranty for me but now I've got 64k on it and about to do NGK plugs, Taylor wires (Thundervolt 8.2mm wires are only $32 from Jeggs and they are really nice wires with 50ohms per foot), and I think I'm going to try out the BWD coils. I hate the fact that out coils only last around 30k and I really dont like the idea of doing them for maint either but they do work 3 times harder than a piston driven engines coil and I really dont like the idea of having a misfire and causing internal issues.

Does anyone know the voltage output of the stock coils and/or know the output of BWD coils or any other of the very few aftermarket ones.

I would love to find a nice high output coil, but the stock ones might already be high output I cant find any specs for them.
Old 06-03-2010 | 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by RxJaye
1) ........ but they do work 3 times harder than a piston driven engines coil

2) I would love to find a nice high output coil, but the stock ones might already be high output I cant find any specs for them.
1) What makes you think that?
2) For the past two years we have demostrated that the OEM coils are lacking in the RX-8 application.
Old 06-03-2010 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Targatheory
I'd love to wonder though, how some Yukon coils would feel with my fresh Moroso wires...hm....
Are you currently using the Moroso wires on your OEM coils?
Old 06-03-2010 | 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
1) What makes you think that?
2) For the past two years we have demostrated that the OEM coils are lacking in the RX-8 application.
I always assumed they were lacking especially since they have a life expectancy of around 30k.

The reason I said the work 3 times as hard is,with my understanding of a rotary engine (my expertise is vehicle electrical system including drivability and high performance piston driven engines) is that in a piston driven engine with a coil on plug setup the coil drives 1 cyl, in a rotary the coil per plug has to fire on all 3 faces of the rotor making it work 3 times harder than a typical coil on plug setup. I could very easily be mistaken as I'm not a Mazda tech and my Rotary training was very brief when we covered them in college . the coils do appear to not be made heavy duty.

Charles would you happen to know the output voltage of the stock coil? Ive always been curius as to what a rotary ignitions coil output is.

Last edited by RxJaye; 06-03-2010 at 10:53 AM.
Old 06-03-2010 | 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by RxJaye
1) I always assumed they were lacking especially since they have a life expectancy of around 30k.

2) The reason I said the work 3 times as hard is,with my understanding of a rotary engine (my expertise is vehicle electrical system including drivability and high performance piston driven engines) is that in a piston driven engine with a coil on plug setup the coil drives 1 cyl, in a rotary the coil per plug has to fire on all 3 faces of the rotor making it work 3 times harder than a typical coil on plug setup. I could very easily be mistaken as I'm not a Mazda tech and my Rotary training was very brief when we covered them in college . the coils do appear to not be made heavy duty.

3) Charles would you happen to know the output voltage of the stock coil? Ive always been curius as to what a rotary ignitions coil output is.
1) Correct.
2) You are a perfect candidate to demonstrate what is called "being too smart by half", and I do NOT mean that as an insult. I mean that in the sense that the concept is quite simple and you are making it more complex in your mind than it needs to be. I often have conversations like these with people in many different disciplines be they engineering, philosophy, law, and what have you.

Given your expertise and specialty, take my word for it that the GM coils we use see no greater demand in the Renesis application than they do in their OEM application. Can you guess why? There are two major reasons and we can discuss them, if you like.

3) Once we verified a superior alternative coil that we got to work on the RX-8 our concerns over the OEM coil became moot.

When we are through here you'll see I am right about flywheels, too.
Old 06-03-2010 | 11:23 AM
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^ wild guess at #2: the Yukon runs the coil with wasted spark?
Old 06-03-2010 | 11:29 AM
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Mazda has been "cheap on coils" since FD3S.

FC coils can support 500+hp + it rarely fails. but those cost like 800+ bux brand new for trailing and 500+ bux for leading. Made by Denso (Quality)

you get what you paid for I guess ?

Many FD guys swap their coils and mount the FC coils by the firewall, cuz used FC coils are mad cheap + it can support much higher hp.

unlike the FC, FD's coil stock location is behind/in the intake manifold. which is f-ing hot and it kills it much faster

The "updated" Rx-8 coils are already 10 times better than the original one ... still suck tho

Last edited by nycgps; 06-03-2010 at 11:35 AM.
Old 06-03-2010 | 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by TheWulf
^ wild guess at #2: the Yukon runs the coil with wasted spark?
Gold star for you.
Note; I have dyno'd my own engine to a legit 10,000 RPMs and the ignition system ran smooth the whole way. The factory coils, even when NEW will start to misfire around 7,000 and we can see it on dyno charts every time.
Old 06-03-2010 | 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by nycgps
Mazda has been "cheap on coils" since FD3S.

FC coils can support 500+hp + it rarely fails. but those cost like 700+ bux brand new for leading and 500+ bux for trailing. Many FD guys swap their coils and mount the FC coils by the firewall (cuz FD's coil stock location is behind/in the intake manifold. which is f-ing hot and it kills it much faster)
We are developing our application for the FD but the FC is a ways away and yould require an external EMS.
Old 06-03-2010 | 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
We are developing our application for the FD but the FC is a ways away and yould require an external EMS.
Most FD guys these days have external EMS already so its not hard for them to use a 50 bux FC coils
Old 06-03-2010 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by nycgps
Most FD guys these days have external EMS already so its not hard for them to use a 50 bux FC coils
Really? Because the request to develop our system for the FD application comes from one of the FD Gods, himself. When he asks, we listen. When he needs something, guess who he calls?
Old 06-03-2010 | 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Really? Because the request to develop our system for the FD application comes from one of the FD Gods, himself. When he asks, we listen. When he needs something, guess who he calls?
lol

Well, u guys make great products ! if Im one of the FD guys (will be soon ... *cough) Im sure I will get it from you guys too
Old 06-03-2010 | 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Are you currently using the Moroso wires on your OEM coils?
Yeah, should I not be? Or is it just a "you don't really need wires like that for stock coils" matter.
Old 06-03-2010 | 06:04 PM
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Charles I am curious with the two reasons. I'm always willing and eager to learn more about the rotary since like I said we breifly covered those while I was in collage several years back and ofcourse my Chrysler training has had none since that time. And ofcourse you are the man when it comes to Rotary ignition systems.

I do also have a couple of questions about the BHR ignition on the site store. Should I send you an email through there or PM you on here with those.

I decided I'm gonna do the flywheel too lol


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