Thin-Walled, Spark Plug Socket Comparison

[bosstones]

Figured I'd post this in case anyone present or future cared.

Background:
I recently changed out all 6 spark plugs and ignition coils on my N55. I expected little clearance, but it was a very tight fit despite having used the well reviewed Beru thin-walled spark plug socket. In fact, it was tight enough that I thought the socket was stuck between the channel wall and spark plug. Let me tell you...it's an awesome feeling at 2am!

I ended up getting the job done but not without a tiny bit of rubbing on the channel walls. That annoyed the crap out of me so I measured the socket thickness and compared it to my regular, 14mm Craftsman socket. There was not a lot of difference in overall diameter (<1mm).

A game of millimeters is sometimes a real thing but I then wondered how the other thin-walled spark plug sockets available from FCP measured up (literally). Note: I only reference FCP because that's who I have been ordering 99% of my parts from in recent times.

Anyways, figured I'd share the result, including links for each. Overall:

1. CTA socket, $25
   • Barely narrower (~0.5mm) than my regular Craftsman 14mm socket
   • Built-in wobble extension!
   Beru socket, $30
   • A little narrower than CTA
   • Overall, only about 1mm better than the Craftsman
   BMW socket, $50
   • Narrowest of all at ~18mm
   • Most expensive of the 3 options listed here

There was a useful thread that I stumbled into over on the F30 forums as well.