I would recommend going OEM Bosch. Coils are there to bump the voltage up high enough to generate a spark across the spark plug, the timing is managed by the engine computer. Reaching the breakdown voltage faster will just cause the ECU to retract timing to where it's expected, so I'm not sure what a "high performance" ignition coil is. Either it works or it doesn't, and Bosch is generally a good trusted brand for reliability

 

Actually, I clicked on one of the upgraded ones to read the description.
"This causes the coils to produce 4x more spark energy than stock coils. It also generates an ultra-fast multi-spark discharge of 10 sparks up to the highest RPM. The spark amperage is increased by 100% which accelerates the ignition and combustion processes. "
I see a few red flags here, "4x more spark energy" and "amperage is increased by 100%" sounds made up. Not that it wouldn't be possible, but in order to produce 4x more spark energy with 100% more amperage, you would need the spark duration to be 2x as long, which seems odd. I'm guessing that would wear out the spark plugs faster, though I'm not sure if it would be enough to matter. The multi-spark discharge of 10 sparks part I won't pretend to be an expert on, but I would wager that the only spark that matters is the one that initiates combustion. I'm interested to hear what other people have to say on the subject

 

For what it's worth: I daily drive my car. I have 230K currently. I changed to Delphi at 180K. I have not had a single issue with the Delphi coils. I wanted to stay with OEM. And I think I had found the Delphi coils to be less expensive. That's why I went with Delphi.

I have experience with just my car. But from that, plus reading this forum, if you go with OEM, you usually can't go wrong. For racing and taking your car to the track, maybe it's a different story.

 

Thanks for your feedback man. Great. I got some info that the Dinan ones are also very good and reliable so I might try those just for shits and giggles. Anyone have any experience with these before I pull the trigger?

Thanks!

 

“High performance” coils and spark plugs are kind of a sham. Any increase in performance is negligible over OEM. If you’re really getting into the weeds doing a fully spec’d out build and milking every possible power adder you can then go for it but the Delphi ones are going to be more than fine.

 

Current recommended coils are Eldor - R3516S00100

The recommendations change over the years. It was Bosch, then Delphi, then Bremi. Or something like that.

Eldor are good choice

 

Oh, one thing I just noticed in this thread. There's been a mix of coil type, the screw vs. no-screw coils are not compatible with each other (without wire harness replacement and modification)

 

Good point. OP should use Realoem.com and visual confirmation of what he has in the car now to ensure he buys the correct coils.

 

The Eldor are for the clip in application.

 

I know the "2002" varies but technically, what I was told by a "specialist?" is that if your car year model is 2002, it should be pre 09/2002 production or else it would have been a 2003 model (after September)

 

My 2002 with a manufacturing date of 09/2001 has the old type (with screws). I think it was really close to the changeover. The easy way to find out if you don't want to rely on realOEM is to pull off the beauty cover and take a peek, the older valve cover has a strip of shielding that goes all the way along beneath the coils, and the coils will have two screws holding them down. None of that means you have the newer ones

 

Posted some big ass videos on changing the coils and everything else I could on my E46. Thing is, did it for friends back home so it's in Portuguese (I am originally from Brazil)