Purchasing coil packes, 2 options

[miata007]

Was checking out ebay today for Y33 Coil packs.

option 1: Whole set (8) for $500. Have anybody experience with those generic coil packs or the ones from Kragen auto parts.

option 2:Used individual coils (3 available) for $30 each. There's one seller (junkyard) have 3 of them. I remember there are two types of coil for our Y33. I am thinking about buying these 3 and doing trail and error to see if I can find the bad coil (if they're bad). Replace 3 at a time and there are a total of 8 coilis. Le me do some math. 8/3 = 2 and remainder of 2. Wowhwwwww ( I can do math)

It will take me 3 tries to see if I have bad coils. (assuming the 3 used ebay ones are good). If the problem goes away, I am happy and actually don't mind putting out the $1000-$1200 to replace all 8.

By the way how do you differentiate the two coil type?

Thanks007

[maxnix]

Let me introduce a third option, new OEM from Joe.

Warranty.

[Q45tech]

We have had problems with generic I35 coils purchased by customer from chain store..............we pulled and replaced with oem and problems dissappeared?

As long as they have unconditional 12 month warranty on defects?

Coils seem to be the chain guides of >the 97-2010 models?

"......So far, we've had 57 forum readers experiencing 81 coil failures (several with multiple failures) on their 2002 Audi A4s." FROM:http://forums.audiworld.com/a4...phtml

[bullittandy]

You might get lucky but if the problem remains you'll have to start with new. If you can't assume that the new/"new" parts you put on are good then you'll be driven to an insane asylum trying to figure out what's wrong-like the time I got ONE bad sparkplug in two consecutive sets for a 1972 Chevy P20 van.

[miata007]

Thanks for the opinions. There are quite a few Y33 out there with this stumbling problem (could be related to the coils). If I get some bad used coils, the problem may never be solved.

How about the 4th options? (anything I can to save money)I buy 4 new coils from Joe. Put it on the passenger side. If the problem goes away...bingo. If the doesn't, move the 4 new coils to the driver side.If the condition does not improve, I atleast save the cost of replace 4 coils.I might as well put new spark plugs at the same time. The current ones are probably 60k mi.

007

[bullittandy]

That would work, the passenger side is easier to get to. The driver's is a little more difficult with the intake and all.

Although, I really would just buy one, and replace it down the line. After you've changed the first it should get alot easier.

Of course, be extremely careful with the old ones so that you don't damage one that is weak. Otherwise you've got two bad coils, then three then etc etc.

Plugs at the same time would be easier, also may want to consider valve cover gaskets too. Check out my post on the gasket replacement, the passengers was easy, the driver was a b*tch. I ended up cutting a bracket off the intake to save my sanity-it was very clever.

[maxnix]

Why don't you do a power balance test first and determine which are bad with further diagnosis? Seems kind of insane to buy 4 just for grins.