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I'm after a new coil for my '68 Mk2 Cooper but given the choices available I want to make sure I get the right one - looking at Minispares part number GCL216, a non-ballast type for pre-83 cars - I know it sounds like a daft question but is the one I should be ordering?

Ask me what colour socks Ringo was wearing when he bought his Hooper hatchback Cooper and I could probably tell you, but after thirty five years of Mini ownership I still don't know what the difference between a ballast / non ballast coil is!

Personally, I'd tell all that to The Distributor Doctor. The man is brilliant at his job and his parts are all top-notch.

Just avoid the newer "Green Box Lucas" junk made from Chinesium.
Use Peters suggestion, https://www.distributordoctor.com/ignition-coils.html
or you can try these guys and look for the Lucas "HA12" equivalent, that use a built in resistor.
https://ca.gsparkplug.com/remax-es2-ign ... -ha12.html

AC Dodd has some very good information regarding coils.
Check out his YouTube videos

https://youtu.be/Vnvz_IlhZgo

Craig

They came from factory with a non-ballast coil (3 ohm)

Thanks for the replies gents, very helpful

Unless you want a new one Nidge, look out for a used HA12, which would be correct.

I did have a favorite Coil for many years, but I found the past few years, these have turned to crud, so while I have a few alternatives on test and so far, been good, there's none I'm willing to suggest yet.

In reply to your question there about what the difference is between Ballasted and Non-ballasted systems, all the early Minis used Non-ballasted.

The 'Ballast' that's mentioned is in fact a Resistor. The Coils that are used with these systems are generally rated at the 9 volt mark and they use the 'Ballast' (Resistor) to drop the feed to them to 9 volts (or what the rated coil voltage is). These set ups also generally use a different Starter Solenoid too (or an additional relay) that by-passes the Ballast when Starting. The theory being that in a Non-ballasted set up, the Voltage to the Coil drops to around 9 or 10 volts when running the Starter Motor, so using a Coil rated for that still gives full spark when cranking.

Have been using these for a while now & can't fault them. Only issue I ever had was when Adam managed to drill a hole in one . . . . . Don't ask

https://www.gsparkplug.com/remax-es5-ig ... lb101.html


They also do a screw in HA12 type version;

https://www.gsparkplug.com/remax-es2-ig ... -ha12.html

Thanks Andrew, Spider and Mark, great responses - I'll have a look at all the options

Good 'ere innit...?!!

Another vote for Remax. I was swung by the "made in UK" part, hopefully a sign of better quality than the usual chinesuim type, time will tell .

When I first went over to using Remax coils I read a article where there were one of their coils dissected along with a Chinese Lucas one. The differences were astonishing.

Just refound the article.

https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ ... inside.pdf

mk1 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2023 1:25 pm When I first went over to using Remax coils I read a article where there were one of their coils dissected along with a Chinese Lucas one. The differences were astonishing.

Just refound the article.

https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ ... inside.pdf

Interesting article Mark, duly noted, thanks for that

mk1 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2023 1:25 pm When I first went over to using Remax coils I read a article where there were one of their coils dissected along with a Chinese Lucas one. The differences were astonishing.

Just refound the article.

https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ ... inside.pdf

been looking for a good supplier of English made coils for some time

Having spent the last few years beating the drum for Remax coils. I think it is only fair to give an update.

I have been using these on all my cars for about 4 years now. In that time they have been good. However, I have had TWO recently purchased coils fail on me in the last couple of months.

The first one was fitted to one of Adams Austin 7's. After running fine, the car just refused to start, after trying all sorts to get it running, we discovered that the coil was no longer giving any HT output. We changed it & all was right again. We put this down to bad luck & didn't think any more of it.

UNTIL!

Yesterday I went to a local car show in my Moke. It was running great & we were really enjoying our day. That was until we set off for home. Without any warning the car stopped working. It was like someone had turned off a switch, all was perfect one minute & NOTHING the next. Quickly checked fuel pump & fuel supply, all good. Checked the supply to the distributor. OK, It runs an Ignitor, so checking the "points" was impossible, so I bought a distributor from the Autojumble, set it up, swapped it, no change, still nothing. Checked cap, leads HT caps, everything. Eventually, in desperation we tried swapping the coli for one off another car and it sprung back into life. Bought a new coil off the autojumble & drove home.

I was happy to put the first failure down to bad luck, but to have had 2 REMAX Coils fail in exactly the same way within 2 months of each other can't be a coincidence. There HAS to be some sort of manufacturing issue.

I'm going to send this latest failed unit back & see what they say, and will report back.

In the meantime, my coil of choice is now the Non oil filled Minispares offering. We will see how they do longer term.

M

Running a ballasted system would probably make coils last a lot longer.

Best of luck Mark!

I've been using a Remax coil on the Cooper and ADO16 for three years and no issues to report however the mileages aren't exactly worthy of verifying the durability of any component so who knows. Hopefully just a blip. Are they genuinely UK manufactured though ?. I'm sure I read something somewhere saying they weren't but the internet is full of sh1te so who knows.

Emailed them on Monday (very nice constructive email) no reply, not even an acknowledgement.

Total arses.

M

I haven't bought a REMAX coil but I've bought quite a few other REMAX parts. I haven't been amazed at the quality, I even had to align the points. I was using Facet points, rotors and caps (made in Italy) but most of the mini ones have been discontinued.