Why does a spark plug cost 50 dollars?

[faffi]

Just replaced the spark plugs in my 1.4 litre turbo passenger car at around 50 buck a pop. They are supposed to last 40k miles, and likely will go well beyond that without failing, so the cost per mile is not horrific. Still, for a piece of metal and porcelain, the price seems steep. Especially compared to what spark plugs cost when I began riding in 1980. And that is relatively speaking, taking inflation into consideration.

So, anyone have the insight knowledge to explain why many current sparkies are so costly? Are they that much better, or do the manufacturers just make more money?

[TN Mark]

Without knowing the particulars of the plug and the car, difficult to say.
That being said, modern spark plugs routinely go 100k miles. Your 40K estimate also seems a bit odd.

If your car is a diesel, I have zero experience with glow plugs, their cost or their life expectancy.

[Dirk_S]

Clearly your problem is that you’re buying the authentic NGK plugs. You should be getting the poorly made Chinese fakes off eBay.

[turboguzzi]

if they irridium, then yes, thats how much they cost, some exotic material in there

regular, non fancy  NGK are still 7$

check price also here

https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/

[faffi]

Skoda say the sparkies should be replaced every 60 kkm, which is 37kmi. As I wrote initially, they will likely last longer. However, even though they are costly, having one fail on the road by trying to extend the miles will cost more. I consider it preventive maintenance. For 4 spark plugs, new oil and filter plus a health check I paid the eqv. of 500 USD. I use a cheap garage that deliver high quality - using the Skoda shop would have cost 800 bucks. Could I do the service myself? Sure. But I do not want to. Opposite with bikes, where I will never use a shop and do everything myself.

[michaell32]

Unless it's a plug that's specifically made for your motor, I can't see a reason. Authentic NGK CR10EIX are well under 10 dollars and they are iridium. I also don't see why they are only lasting 40k miles. Iridium should make it to 100k. Maybe Skoda is only charging that much because people are willing to pay. When I had a shop, Infiniti charged significantly more than Nissan for the same part. Mercury did the same with Ford parts.

[Perazzimx14]

NGK LMAR8AI-10 laser iridium spark plugs for the Boxer 1250 are $23ea with a 12,000 miles replaced interval and by 12,000 they need it.

[sdcr]

Skoda say the sparkies should be replaced every 60 kkm, which is 37kmi. As I wrote initially, they will likely last longer. However, even though they are costly, having one fail on the road by trying to extend the miles will cost more. I consider it preventive maintenance. For 4 spark plugs, new oil and filter plus a health check I paid the eqv. of 500 USD. I use a cheap garage that deliver high quality - using the Skoda shop would have cost 800 bucks. Could I do the service myself? Sure. But I do not want to. Opposite with bikes, where I will never use a shop and do everything myself.

Can you reveal what the vehicle is, and what the brand and plug number is?

[DoubleGuzzi]

NGK LMAR8AI-10 laser iridium spark plugs for the Boxer 1250 are $23ea with a 12,000 miles replaced interval and by 12,000 they need it.

That's kinda painful!
On feeBay, I tend to search for non-specific bike plugs, once I identify what's needed. Usually saves a heap of cash and if they're duff (can happen with genuine ones), then replacement/refund is requested.

Glow plugs for the car tend to be three times the price, apart from the pressure sensitive one which is more like 4-5 times as expensive.

[guzzisteve]

Bought plugs for tractors, Guzzi's, Jeeps at Farm & Fleet for a $1, now maybe 3. only the mother ship Tractor Supply is in GA. still cheap at $3.

[drdwb]

A few months back I posted about the $40.00 bucks a pop for replacement plugs for our VW Tiguan, which I got at NAPA, at the same time I had to dig out in pieces the plug boot because it only cam out in pieces.
The VW shop price was $350.00 for four plugs, if I had taken it there for plug change the cost would have been closer to $500.00 due to the plug boot. I did it myself. Next maintenance due is brakes, they want $600 for that cus the say the rotors and discs need to be changed together, I’m thinking I’ll just do the pads, I’ve never had to change discs on any vehicle before. You tube videos help, a lot!  plus I can justify to the wife why It’s necessary for me to keep tools and my shop during her moments where she’s bent on downsizing. At least part of the saved money keeps my beer fund supplied.

[faffi]

Can you reveal what the vehicle is, and what the brand and plug number is?

Sorry, it is not revealed on the receipt.

[turboguzzi]

Faffi, maybe tell us the exact car model then?

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Sounds like they're high mileage spark plugs. Not sure how buried they are in your Skoda, but for many modern vehicles (motorcycles included) unless you're DIYing everything, the more expensive spark plugs with a higher service life result in a lower total cost of ownership since the labor to replace cheaper spark plugs more frequently costs more. Even for DIY, having to pull and airbox or fuel tank on a motorcycle or engine cover, intake plenum, wiper cowl, etc on a car/truck, can be a pain to do on a more frequent schedule.

[faffi]

A few months back I posted about the $40.00 bucks a pop for replacement plugs for our VW Tiguan, which I got at NAPA, at the same time I had to dig out in pieces the plug boot because it only cam out in pieces.
The VW shop price was $350.00 for four plugs, if I had taken it there for plug change the cost would have been closer to $500.00 due to the plug boot. I did it myself. Next maintenance due is brakes, they want $600 for that cus the say the rotors and discs need to be changed together, I’m thinking I’ll just do the pads, I’ve never had to change discs on any vehicle before. You tube videos help, a lot!  plus I can justify to the wife why It’s necessary for me to keep tools and my shop during her moments where she’s bent on downsizing. At least part of the saved money keeps my beer fund supplied.

As mentioned, I dislike working on cars, and do what I can to prevent doing it. Which means spending money to let others do it for me.

I was told my Octavia also are in need of new brakes soon, pads and discs. The car is now at 140,000km, or 87,000 miles, still running on the original discs and pads. I was told that "nobody get that much out of brakes on cars of today" and that "it is not worth replacing just the pads, as discs are also worn". I know the discs are visibly worn, but I was surprised that the pads are gone as they had what appeared to be decent material left when I fitted the winter wheels last fall. Then again, they are unlikely to make it another 40-60k miles that I expect to drive the car, so replacing them now and get full use of them make more sense than replacing them later. But I may replace them myself, depending on the price. On my son's Hyundai Veloster, new discs and pads for the rear wheels came to USD 120 (non-original), while the brand shop wanted USD 850, including work. It took about an hour in total to replace everything, so it was time well spent.

[faffi]

Faffi, maybe tell us the exact car model then?

Sorry, I missed that request the first time you asked. It is a Skoda Octavia III from 2018 fitted with a 150PS 1.4 turbo engine.

[AJ Huff]

Just a quick search, that appears to be the same engine we got in the VW Tiguan. Looks like spark plugs for that are around $50/4 here online.

-AJ

[SIR REAL ED]

NGK LMAR8AI-10 laser iridium spark plugs for the Boxer 1250 are $23ea with a 12,000 miles replaced interval and by 12,000 they need it.

Why would they need to be replaced at such low mileage?

200,000 volt ignition system?

What is the recommended spark plug gap?

Enquiring minds want to know!!

[SIR REAL ED]

A few months back I posted about the $40.00 bucks a pop for replacement plugs for our VW Tiguan, which I got at NAPA, at the same time I had to dig out in pieces the plug boot because it only cam out in pieces.
The VW shop price was $350.00 for four plugs, if I had taken it there for plug change the cost would have been closer to $500.00 due to the plug boot. I did it myself. Next maintenance due is brakes, they want $600 for that cus the say the rotors and discs need to be changed together, I’m thinking I’ll just do the pads, I’ve never had to change discs on any vehicle before. You tube videos help, a lot!  plus I can justify to the wife why It’s necessary for me to keep tools and my shop during her moments where she’s bent on downsizing. At least part of the saved money keeps my beer fund supplied.

I remember a yuppie Beemer driver bragging about how the rotors had to be changed on his BMW car every 35,000 miles because they were made from a very special steel than maximizes braking performance.

I remember the W.C Fields quote of "Never give a sucker an even break!"

Status!  If you want it bad, you are going to get it....BAD!

[SIR REAL ED]

As mentioned, I dislike working on cars, and do what I can to prevent doing it. Which means spending money to let others do it for me.

I was told my Octavia also are in need of new brakes soon, pads and discs. The car is now at 140,000km, or 87,000 miles, still running on the original discs and pads. I was told that "nobody get that much out of brakes on cars of today" and that "it is not worth replacing just the pads, as discs are also worn". I know the discs are visibly worn, but I was surprised that the pads are gone as they had what appeared to be decent material left when I fitted the winter wheels last fall. Then again, they are unlikely to make it another 40-60k miles that I expect to drive the car, so replacing them now and get full use of them make more sense than replacing them later. But I may replace them myself, depending on the price. On my son's Hyundai Veloster, new discs and pads for the rear wheels came to USD 120 (non-original), while the brand shop wanted USD 850, including work. It took about an hour in total to replace everything, so it was time well spent.

I would expect to get at least 100,000 miles out of brake rotors.  Granted with all the twisty mountain roads in your country, that mileage would be much less.

On the table top flat parts of the American midwest, I would imagine a lot of drivers get exceptional mileage (300,000 miles?) from brake rotors.

If the Skoda boys are going to charge that kind of money, at least they could change out the Soda name badge or a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce or Bugatti badge!!

[SIR REAL ED]

Just replaced the spark plugs in my 1.4 litre turbo passenger car at around 50 buck a pop. They are supposed to last 40k miles, and likely will go well beyond that without failing, so the cost per mile is not horrific. Still, for a piece of metal and porcelain, the price seems steep. Especially compared to what spark plugs cost when I began riding in 1980. And that is relatively speaking, taking inflation into consideration.

So, anyone have the insight knowledge to explain why many current sparkies are so costly? Are they that much better, or do the manufacturers just make more money?

Does that price include a VAT?

[Wayne Orwig]

I thought that the EPA required the emission (including plugs) last 10 years or 100,000 miles. And those high durability (iridium, etc.) expensive plugs are to do that. You can get cheap versions that work just as well, but do not last very long, if you want.

Is that not correct?

My car has 160,000 miles and 14 years on the original iridiums. No idea why I would touch them.

[faffi]

Does that price include a VAT?

Yes, all 25% of it.

[faffi]

I thought that the EPA required the emission (including plugs) last 10 years or 100,000 miles. And those high durability (iridium, etc.) expensive plugs are to do that. You can get cheap versions that work just as well, but do not last very long, if you want.

Is that not correct?

My car has 160,000 miles and 14 years on the original iridiums. No idea why I would touch them.

If the new spark plugs save 2% fuel on average, in my case, they will more than pay for themselves. And my car is frugal, averaging 40 mpg.

[turboguzzi]

well, most expesnive one is NGK, 22 euro at big distribution, so twice at a Norwegian stealership makes sense?

https://www.autoparti.it/skoda/octavia-combi-5e5/128420/10251/candela-daccensione?supplier%5B%5D=15

[faffi]

I guess there is a solid markup here, since people are used to high prices. If we talk motorcycles, there is currently a 2023 V100 Mandello S for sale with 38kkm / 24kmi on the clock. Asking price is the eqv. of USD 20,000. A brand new Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT will set you back 61,000, an Indian Pursuit Elite 112 is 67,000. A gallon of whole milk is around 9 dollars, a gallon of diesel 10 bucks.

[kingoffleece]

Turbo plugs have a shorter specified interval for change than non turbo engines.

[SIR REAL ED]

Yes, all 25% of it.

Most of the irridium plugs i have looked up here are in the $9-12 range.

For about 6 months after Framatome bought the company I used to work for, there were many interesting conversations about the costs of consumer items, insurance, licenses, registrations, etc. between the Merkins & the Yurapeons.

Excessive dealer markups are the norm over here also for many things.  Especially name brands that convey status.

[Perazzimx14]

Why would they need to be replaced at such low mileage?

200,000 volt ignition system?

What is the recommended spark plug gap?

Enquiring minds want to know!!

12,000 miles is the manufactures recommended change interval and having pulled these plugs at 12,000 miles to inspect the manufacturer is not wrong. I don't know why these plugs do not last longer than they do, that is a question for BMW and/or NGK.

LMAR8AI-10 has a factory gap of 1mm.

[SIR REAL ED]

12,000 miles is the manufactures recommended change interval and having pulled these plugs at 12,000 miles to inspect the manufacturer is not wrong. I don't know why these plugs do not last longer than they do, that is a question for BMW and/or NGK.

LMAR8AI-10 has a factory gap of 1mm.

Very strange.  I understand the logic that a spark plug in a high compression engine might have a harder time (higher electrical load)  igniting a mixture, but hard to believe it would result in any visible wear on the plug itself.

Gap measurement would be an interesting data point.