I understand an enhanced ignition is one of those rare items that improves both performance as well as gas mileage!
Thus I'd like to install a premium ignition on my 3.
I'm not handy and will have my mechanic do this, but I wanted to ask you:
- what parts do I need to purchase? (coils, wires, what else? distributor?)
- where would you recommend getting them?
- Recommended brands?
I don't have a whole lot of money to spend here, but I would like to know what the range of options is.

Part of my motivation for this is that there have been intermittent ignition problems on cylinder 2. I'm not sure about the source of the problem (or why it's only cylinder 2) but I figure that it provides a good excuse to upgrade the ignition system.

 

If you have a limited budget, you don't want to do this. It will afford you very little improvement, cost roughly $1000 to do, and take years to recoup the $$$$.
BTW: No distributer in modern cars. The system is often known as coil on plug, or one coil per spark plug. The ECU/PCM (onboard computer or engine management system) tells them when to fire.

 

thank you very much for your good advice!

 

No problem.
But like anything, you need to weigh the checks and balances... unless you are just a total gearhead and don't care, or have to care about the money.
Like my 3, yours is now 10 yrs old. How much would you spend on a 10 yr old car? Just not practical in this day and age.

 

Spend your money on decent diagnostics to fix your cylinder 2 issue.