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Thank you. This is very helpful. I bought a Britpart conversion kit which states very clearly that the ballast resistor must be used but I thought that if the plugs are rated 12 v, it would not be needed. As you can see I was concerned I might fry them. Your reply is reassuring. Thanks a lot. Faber

MYSTERY How long can I have the glow plugs energised before starting? I presume the plugs are 12 volts. I don't want to burn them out. Sorry about silly questions but I am not really clued up and appreciate your help. Faber

Thank you. Faber

Sorry. The ballast resistor.

I have a Series 3 May 1980 diesel. Can anyone tell me what the resistance should be cold? I make it 0.6 ohms which strikes me as being way out. Thanks Faber

Thanks Are you saying it is OK to bypass the ballast resistor and ignore Britpart instructions? Sorry. I am a bit dim.

I am confused. From earlier posts I understood that the new parallel kit would not be wired to the ballast resistor as per older pigtail ones but to the thick brown/red input wire, effectively by passing the resistor with 12 v going to the plugs. The instructions on my Britpart kit (see...

Thanks for this. I am away for a bit and will let you know how things go. Faber

1980 Series 3 diesel After deciding to fit a parallel glow plug setup I tried to remove the old glow plugs. Two came out easily (1 and 2) but the other pair (3 and 4) seem to be welded in place. I thought they were going to snap. Both were caked in carbon. A friend suggested scraping the seat in...

Needing to replace the rear axle seal on my Series 3 1980 I found amongst 30 odd different seals 4 of the above. I am not going to use them but would like to know what they are for since no searches on line come up with anything. Just curious. FABER

Understood and thanks Faber

Thanks. If that is the case I shall probably buy the plugs separately and make up the wiring. Faber

Thanks. All this is very interesting. I have had numerous issues with glow plugs and their wires shorting behind the fascia, leading to replacing wiring, and not bothering with the warning light. I sometimes think the beast has a will of its own...you solve one problem and another pops up! Faber

Very useful. Thanks Faber

I have just realised that the new plugs do not need to go to a separate earth. Faber

I have a Series 3 1980 diesel, want to change to a parallel set-up and should be grateful for any advice you can give. A diagram is included to help me and hopefully you. I intend leaving the ballast resistor and bracket in place so I just connect the wire to the plugs to the terminal 1 (present...

Thanks for all your advice. I tried today to retrieve any bits i) by inserting a thin magnet tipped probe and ii) turning the engine over withe the plug out, and I retrieved nothing. A later compression test showed that the pot was OK ( at least at the moment ) and it starts well. It is 43...

Thanks very much for your help. Faber

Yes. Yesterday it was difficult to start but after a 15 sec crank it did and I went for about an hour before returning and checking the glow plugs. It was then that I found no 4 had a broken end, and replaced it with a new one. I was thinking of removing it, bringing the piston to tdc and...

Thanks. It looks as if I have made a cock up! Faber