Bosch Premium Spark Plug Wire Quality Control

[Vanagon Nut]

Hi folks.

Maybe this should be a poll but....

Have users here found that the Bosch Premium plug wires have good quality control? This thread suggests maybe not:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

The "wholesaler closeout" Bosch set from rock auto I'm considering:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=278793&cc=1283723&pt=7224&jsn=842

On my low mile (Bremi?) wires, I might have an issue related, in part, to the heat soak issue this person found. But, he had Bosch wires so I don't want to chase bad with bad:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=...e.#8655531

Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[jlrftype7]

I’m in the Wow, Bosch quality used to be so much better . Camp.....
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[joetiger]

Hi Neil,

Wire problems were recently the source of a lot of problems for me, and I incorrectly identified them in my thread as Beru wires.

I just went back and checked the order at ECS Tuning and it turns out they were Bosch wires. I won't use them again.

Edit to add:

These show "Bosch" as the brand in the pic, but in the description it says "Prenco." So maybe I inadvertently bought a knock-off set.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bosch-parts/ignition-wire-set-oe-1hm998031/1hm998031~bos/
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[Wildthings]

Bosch points, plugs, condensers, spark plug wires, there is a long list of Bosch parts that shouldn't be used any more if you want a dependable rig. Up until 15 years ago, I almost exclusively used Bosch ignition and other electrical parts, but then I had a failure of a new set up Bosch points, followed shortly thereafter by having my daughter being stuck far from home in the middle of the night because of the failure of a new Bosch alternator that took out the wiring harness when it went. For a while I searched for NOS parts, but the supply has been pretty well picked over by now.

[hardway]

The Robert Bosch Corporation of America was different than Bosch of Germany a long time ago. American executives have a different mindset. Although the Germans are catching up with them. Bosch in America started selling questionable stuff in the 80's. Not too long ago they listed two ignition wire sets for the wasserboxer. One was much better than the other.

I started using Beru or Bremi only a long time ago. The Beru wires are just as good as the original ones. STI (Spark Technology International) is a reboxer that usually sells good stuff.

I had an intermittent misfire In my Carat recently that took me a long time to fix. It turned out to be a bad Bosch WR7CC+ spark plug that was made in Russia! The conductor physically broke inside the ceramic. It is NGK for me from now on.

I will say that the caps and rotors for the old cars seem to be exactly as they were in the 80s, in other words the very best. The Bosch reman rotating electric line was sold off to an offshore buyer years ago. It is harder and harder to get good parts now and that is without considering the large amount of counterfeit parts on the market now.

[Ahwahnee]

I've had good luck with the Bosch Premium set. Installed in 1996 it needed to be replaced in 2012 - Bosch honored the lifetime guarantee and refunded the full purchase price of the replacement (which also carries a lifetime guarantee).

Nine years in that set is still good - I guess so long as they provide new wires for life I'll stay with them (and carry a spare plug wire as long as the longest one needed).

[Wildthings]

[Vanagon Nut]

Great information folks.

I did damage a plug wire (see below) but the stall issue was happening before that. I haven't ruled G40 distributor hall sender, (or wiring, plug contacts) as the cause or part of cause.

I just called my VW parts guy. My wires are likely Beru. I mentioned the Bosch wires in question and that they're a "wholesaler closeout" item. He said they're likely fine. I don't know if $15 for shipping is a bit high.

Neil.

In hindsight, this is likely a generic type tool. It's what I used to try and remove the plug wires. I bought it on a whim while getting parts from AZ Autohaus several years ago.

This appears to be a more suitable tool:

Just for fun. The leaking spark. I could hear it! A road side repair of electrical tape is holding, so far.

_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[CessnaJon]

I use a lot of Napa brand parts on my 90. Their plug wires are top notch.
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1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159

[Vanagon Nut]

^^

Thanks CessnaJon. Their Canadian online store shows quite a few brands, and a wide range of prices.

https://www.napacanada.com/en/search?q=Nty%3D1%26N...abled=true

I installed a 'premium' NAPA coolant pump in my other ABA Vanagon. It looked like a stout well made part. It still works fine.

Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[joetiger]

[Butcher]

Many times the metal shielded plug wires cannot be truly diagnosed unless the metal shield is torn off the plug end. Many times the resister fails and the spark jumps to the shield which is shorted to the plug.

As far as I'm concerned, if you do not have a metal shielded plug wire, then you probably got an inferior plug wire. The Germans seems to like using a real wire to transmit the spark where the cheaper 'carbon core' wires have no wire in them. Many people yank on those cheaper wires which stresses that carbon core which causes the 'wire' not to transfer the spark.

Someone above mentioned that above and said that the resister ends are the thing that goes bad. I agree 100%. Wires rarely, if ever fail, it's the ends. Sadly, the ends cost much more than a complete wire set and when one goes, they are usually all knocking on that door.

[jlrftype7]