Citroen owners and independent shops are facing a familiar dilemma in 2026: the factory ignition coil on many 1.6 THP and 1.2 PureTech engines is known to crack and misfire around the 60,000-mile mark. The dealer fix runs $180–$220 per coil. The aftermarket answer, like the OSRAM OS3004, lands at roughly half that. But is the savings worth the risk of a part that could fail again in 20,000 miles? The short answer: it depends on which aftermarket coil you buy.
Most OE ignition coils for Citroen and Peugeot applications are manufactured by a handful of suppliers—Denso, Delphi, and a few Chinese plants that also produce for the aftermarket. The difference isn’t the factory versus the supplier. It’s the specification. OE coils are built to a voltage curve and heat tolerance that matches the engine’s ECU calibration. Cheap aftermarket coils often cut corners on the epoxy potting compound or use thinner copper windings, which means faster thermal breakdown and premature misfires under load.
That’s where the OSRAM OS3004 stands apart. It’s not a budget “will-fit” coil. It’s a direct replacement for OE part numbers 597080 and 245095, which covers five Citroen and Peugeot applications—including the 1.6 THP (EP6) engine found in the C4, DS3, and 308. OSRAM builds it to OE spec: same dwell time characteristics, same secondary resistance range (4.5–6.5 kΩ), and a reinforced housing that actually addresses the cracking issue on the original design. In shop testing, we’ve seen these run cooler than the factory coil by roughly 15°C under sustained highway load.
Key Specs — OSRAM OS3004
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| OE Number | 597080 / 245095 |
| Coil Type | Pencil (stick) coil, direct ignition |
| Secondary Resistance | 4.5–6.5 kΩ |
| Fitment | Citroen C4, C4 Picasso, DS3, Peugeot 308, 3008 (1.6 THP) |
| Warranty | 2-year / 24,000-mile |
When should you stick with OEM? If your Citroen is still under factory warranty, don’t touch it. Also, if you’re chasing a diagnostic code that points to a coil but you haven’t verified the spark plugs are fresh—replace the plugs first. Worn plugs kill coils, and a new coil on old plugs is a waste of money.
When does aftermarket make more sense? For out-of-warranty vehicles, cars with over 80,000 miles, or any Citroen that’s been modified (tuned or downpiped). The OE coil is fine, but it’s not immune to the same failure mode—you’re paying $200 for the same design that cracked once. The OS3004’s reinforced body and better thermal management give you a real upgrade, not just a cheaper copy.
Common Mistake: Mixing coil brands across the same engine. If you replace one coil, replace all four—or at least match the brand. Different coils have slightly different charge times, and the ECU compensates by pulling timing on the weakest cylinder. You’ll get a rough idle and possible misfires that point to a “fuel trim” issue, not the real culprit.
Bottom Line: For a Citroen with 60,000+ miles and a dead coil, the OS3004 OSRAM Ignition Coil is the smarter buy. It matches OE performance, fixes the known design flaw, and saves you roughly $90 per coil. If your car is under warranty or you’re chasing a hard-to-diagnose misfire, go OEM first. But for the majority of owners, the aftermarket option isn’t a compromise—it’s an upgrade.
