Need Help/ Car running ruff

[blizake500]

The other day I was driving my 1988 325i and it started to have a rough idle and when I pushed the gas it feels like I have no power. It sputters and barley wants to move. Today I replaced spark plug wires, plugs, rotor, rotor button, fuel filter. It's now worse than it was before. I drove it back home from my brothers and got out of the car and smelled a burning smoke smell. I popped the hood and there's smoke coming out near the middle of the firewall. I put the car in drive and hold down the gas and there's a popping sound coming from the catylitic converter. Is it possible for the catalytic converter to make my car run so bad?

Also, my car gets horrible gas mileage and the exhaust smells horrible.

[UlrichFennec]

Check for a dog sleeping in your engine.

Bad joke aside, if the cat is plugged enough, the car will run like ass and smell like ass. I've had it happen before. I'm in an emissions free county, so I just chopped the cat off and did a new exhaust.

Even if it's not the cat, (although if the cat is making noise, that should be a concern) check the throttle position sensor, the crank position sensor and the idle control valve for any issues. Vacuum leaks are also common as balls on these cars, so inspect your vacuum lines and your bitch tube (crankcase ventilation tube that goes from the block to the intake manifold.)

EDIT: Also, as a rule of thumb, you mess with the cat or anything, check the o2 sensor. You're supposed to replace them around every 60-75k, but I don't know your motor as well as you do lol. Check service records if you got em.

[blizake500]

Check for a dog sleeping in your engine.

Bad joke aside, if the cat is plugged enough, the car will run like ass and smell like ass. I've had it happen before. I'm in an emissions free county, so I just chopped the cat off and did a new exhaust.

Even if it's not the cat, (although if the cat is making noise, that should be a concern) check the throttle position sensor, the crank position sensor and the idle control valve for any issues. Vacuum leaks are also common as balls on these cars, so inspect your vacuum lines and your bitch tube (crankcase ventilation tube that goes from the block to the intake manifold.)

EDIT: Also, as a rule of thumb, you mess with the cat or anything, check the o2 sensor. You're supposed to replace them around every 60-75k, but I don't know your motor as well as you do lol. Check service records if you got em.

The problem was the rotor button! I had 2 of the spark plug wires on wrong. Thanks for the help