depends on the car.
coils:
in a VW/Audi, a coil lasts 20,000kms. My Camry has 160,000 and is still on original coils. I know a camry with well over 200,000kms and still original coils. coils are only changed when they need to be. you'll get an engine light indicating a misfire in a cylinder # indicating that a plug, coil, or wire to it is bad.
In a VW/Audi a coil lasts 20,000 Kms. Where did you get this piece of information from? 20,000 kms is one year or less than one year of driving. I had a VW before, i don't remember changing it every year. As a matter of fact, I use to be a big VW fanatic. 20,000 is not possible. VW owners would be outraged. I know of lot of friends with VW and Audi's and I don't hear them complaining about their coil packs or changing it every year.
My condolences on the VW purchase...
VW owners should be outraged, that they got suckered into buying and i quote "quality german engineering" that has been $hit since I remember them (in the 80's)
My apologies on the sarcasm (20,000kms). I meant they go very often, sometimes within a year of changing them to a couple years.
Every Piece of $hit VW/Audi I know of has coil problems. Let me give you a list of the pieces of crap i'm referring to that I've SEEN myself needing coil(s). most are of my one friend who loves VW's and had a slew of them (I dont get why):
81 jetta
83 rabbit
88 jetta
92 corrado
83 scirocco
94 jetta
02 jetta
98 passat
04 jetta
and finally, to prove that even audi is a piece of crap...
my co-worker's 05 audi a4, 70,000kms, 2 coils went.
Now sure maybe they'll last a little over 20,000k, but you get what I'm saying.
My apologies to whoever bought a VW, not for my comments on coils, but I feel sorry for you for having bought one.:thumbsup: If that's what quality german engineering is about, I'll take my chances with a KIA.
/RANT about VW junk