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I was having some problems with rough idle this past summer, also. Having checked my service records, I decided that my ’97 900SET (100,000 miles at the time) was about due for a tune-up. Usually, I have the dealer perform this type of service. But to save money I decided to dive in and do it myself this time (I definitely had the experience--I’ve owned nine Volkswagens, two BMW’s, and one Porsche).
Since it was my first Saab plug change, I went to the autoparts store and gave them my year and model and they came up with a few compatible plugs (including the factory NGK’s). Of course the Bosch Platinum plugs were more expensive, but I decided to give them a try anyway.
Immediately I knew something was wrong. The car was stalling for the first time since I’ve owned it, and suddenly the check engine light is coming on sporadically (I reset it a few times by disconnecting the battery, but it keeps returning). I am really worried I have done something horribly wrong to the car and make an appointment to have the ECU codes read at the dealer (usually about $90).
While waiting for my appointment, I stumble upon this site and all the talk about the NGK vs. Bosch plugs. Realizing this may be my problem, I install new NGK’s and immediately the car drives like new again—no stalls, no hesitation, no rough idle, AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT! The difference was so remarkable I wouldn’t have believed it had it not happened to me.
This made me recall my earlier experiences with Bosch plugs. They were always great in my German cars on the highway (my main mode of travel), though not splendid around town. This was especially apparent in a Euro-spec GTI 16V I had imported back in ’91. I had serious drivability problems with that car using the platinum plugs, and I wasn’t able to resolve them until an old crusty German immigrant mechanic turned me on to Bosch Silber (silver) plugs. I was told that it had something to do with the plug’s intended temperature range—some plugs are intended for high RPM’s while others are better suited for varied speeds. In the case of the Silber, it had a broader temperature range which allowed for the varied driving style my car was subjected to (stop and go traffic, some highway land speed record attempts and a lot of green light 0 to 60 tests!). Again, I noticed a dramatic difference. Note: these plugs were not cheap at $7.00 a piece!
To make along story short, maybe this has something to do with why the platinum’s don’t work well in Saabs. Maybe it is just the wrong temperature range for the car, or the resistance characteristics are incompatible. Either way, they simply do not work well from my experience (and others). Don’t be fooled by boutique parts—if something works AND is cheaper, why question it? Also, don’t be misled by Bosch’s claims of higher quality. The NGK’s are extremely well-made plugs and easily the equal to Bosch as far as quality is concerned.
Good luck!
PaulG
posted by 68.54.8...
, Fri, 14 Feb 2003 12:59:16, Fri, 14 Feb 2003 14:50:44, Fri, 14 Feb 2003 13:40:48
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