Evaporative Emissions/factory manual questions

[np75]

I have an '87 325e that I am trying to get to get ready to smog in CA. The evaporative emission system does not seem to be working properly. The Bentley book does not go into very much detail on this subject. I have a factory manual for a Toyota that gives detailed diagrams and shows tables of what is expected to happen under different operating conditions, I need something like that. I was wondering if anyone has a factory manual and could post up that section, and also where you got your factory manual from. I just had a look at Pelican and Bavauto, neither of them have it. I had a look at EBAY, no luck there except for some electronic version on CD, which all seem to be this http://www.bmwservicemanual.com/. They claim this is the same software that the dealers use, and that it's good for every BMW from 1982-2007. Any one know if its any good?

[jlevie]

The evaporative control system on an E30 is pretty primitive. It consists of a charcoal cannister and solenoid valve in the engine bay, an overflow tank in the passenger rear fender and a few hoses. The valve opens periodically at higher engine rpm, but there aren't any pressure sensors. Basically an open loop system. The most common problem is one or more failed hoses, though the valve can be bad.

[np75]

I think perhaps the info you gave is for the 325i, the 325e does not have any electronic controls at least not in the engine bay. I traced the system from the throttle body to where it enters a steel line under the bottom of the car, and the stuff I found agrees with the Bentley book (hose, check valve, hose, carbon canister, hose, steel line). The Toyota manual is for a similar vintage vehicle and has a schematic for a similar non-electronic vapor system. There were three check valves in the cannister, and a vacuum regulating/check valve in the fuel cap. I did some research and found that you might find other valves between the tank and the carbon canister on other vehicles. I like to have a thorough understanding of how a system works when I troubleshoot something. I guess I just need to get a factory manual.