Used MINI Glow Plugs

All used MINI Glow Plugs listed on Breakeryard.com are tested, original (OEM) manufacturer parts and come with a 14 day money back guarantee. Breakeryard.com list cheap new OES or aftermarket car parts at discounted prices and used OEM car parts up to 80% cheaper than main dealer prices for MINI from premium breaker yards from across the UK.

About Glow Plugs

The MINI glow plug is used in a diesel engine instead of a spark plug. The primary function of a glow plug is to produce heat in order to help with the startup process in the engine. Unlike a petrol engine, the fuel that is injected into a diesel engine does not need a spark to ignite it. But when starting a diesel engine in cold conditions, some extra help is required, which is where the MINI glow plug comes into action.

Usually either platinum, iridium, or ceramic with an internal heating coil, a glow plug is a rod shaped heating element which can withstand extremes of high temperature. One end of the glow plug has a point which heats up, emitting a glowing light, when fed electricity. Glow plugs are normally installed in the cylinder head and are wired up to the car's battery.

The cylinders in the engine are heated up by the glow plugs before the engine is actually started, once the ignition has been turned to 'On' by the driver. In modern vehicles the glow plugs are usually automatically switched off by the glow plug relay when the desired heat has been reached to start the engine. Older vehicles require the driver to start the engine once given the go ahead by the indicator light on the dashboard, at which point the glow plugs switch off. If the engine is not started after a certain period of time, the glow plugs will be switched off automatically. If the engine is started prematurely this can cause damage to the glow plugs. 

It is important to ensure the glow plugs on your vehicle are in excellent condition and working well. Signs that the glow plugs may need changing on your car are an engine that struggles to start or won't start at all. It is always a good idea to consult with your mechanic when engine problems strike, to make sure the correct fault has been identified. When you need to change the glow plugs, a good quality MINI glow plug will guarantee a part that fits well, performs properly and has a long service life.

MINI trivia

• The Morris Minor Mini was the first British car to sell over one million units. It reached that landmark number back in 1961.
• Minis are still made in the same production site as the original line. The same site is still used in Oxford, although their car panels are now made in Swindon, and most of the engines made for Mini cars are manufactured by BMW in Hams Hall.
• The Mini has been voted second place in the most influential cars of all time. It was narrowly beaten by the Ford Model T.
• MINI export their cars to 110 different countries. The most popular markets are the US, Germany, and China. The UK is only the second biggest market for MINI.
• In 1959 you could buy yourself a brand new Mini for just £497. That's about £2,342 in today's money. At the time, Minis were owned by members of The Beatles and (much to everyone's surprise) Enzo Ferrari.