2 spark or not 2 spark? that is the question!

Dog Tyred · Post by **Dog Tyred** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:47 pm

Bit of silly question this

(and I know I could read my owners manual

) but when was the twin spark engine introduced?

I have a late 2002 BCR and was wondering if I had a twin spark motor or not. How do you tell?

If so, what difference did it make over the non-twin spark motor?

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:53 pm

Think the 2 spark engine was introduced in 2003.
2 spark plugs burn off the fuel more effectively so giving lower emisions and smoother running/slightly more power.
If you've got it you'll notice an extra HT lead at the underside of the cylinder head and differently shaped rocker covers/HT lead covers.
Bailey.

madman · Post by **madman** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:07 pm

Single spark has a black plastic cover in the centre of the rocker cover from front to back, twin spark cover only runs from the middle to the back. We have one of each and the twin spark seems to be around 5% more economical.

Boxered · Post by **Boxered** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:27 pm

Greg, as yours is the Mamola replika, it will be a single spark model.

Steve

NA1959 · Post by **NA1959** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:17 pm

Acording to a recent enquiry I made at my local dealer, twin sparks were bulit from Nov/Dec 2003 onwards, but what do they know!

Initially they were not too sure and looked it up!

sandbar · Post by **sandbar** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:20 pm

Just to be confusing, BMW did not introduce the twin spark across the range at the same time.

If I remember rightly, the GS was the first to get it, followed by the RT and the R. The confusion and delay was compounded by the really very serious problem that BMW were dealing with concerning the new gearbox introduced for the start of the 2003 model year (in August 2002).

They started the twin spark engines a few months later.

As far as the BCR goes, the first smallish production run were all single sparks and some of those were made (manufactured - not registered) up until Dec 2002.

Once BMW had realised that the BCR had sales potential, the second (and much larger) production run of the blue/white Mamola ones with the twin spark engine started in the spring of 2003.

sandbar