CA Smog after 12 years no op

[Pawlin]

I was recently gifted a '84 318i from a close family friend who moved and couldn't take the car with him. He's the original owner purchasing the car in 1983, always garage kept, and keeping up with maintenance himself. The car is in almost mint condition with around 180k miles and has been no-op for the last 12 years, last time getting smog was in 2002. After changing the oil, air filter, plugs, and driving it around for a week with the car running great, I took it to get smogged and failed miserably.

Looking at the numbers, all three numbers were high so I'm sure I definitely need a new cat. Cat was last replaced in 2007 with a magnaflow and was not driven much which makes me scratch my head a bit. The worst measurement is NO at 15, almost double that of 25 which points to an air leak - do I need to get a smoke test for this?

Other than a new cat and checking for air leaks, I plan on seafoam in the intake and possibly a new O2 sensor. The original owner said he never really had much of an issue with smog, what things should I check for if the car hasn't been regularly driven for so long?



This was a helpful bit of info I found on another thread:
High NO, means too lean, high NO at 15 only means air leak.
High CO means too rich, could be bad cat or sticky injectors or wrong injectors.
High HC, means you are not burning correctly and usually means timing issue, bad ignion wires, cap/rotor, or spark plugs.
High everything or everything is close to the max means you need a new cat.

[reelizmpro]

Old or new gas? Did you get the cat nice and hot ? Magnaflow cats aren't exactly long lasting. I think you're on the right track. Inspect the rubber intake boot for cracks or any obvious intake leaks.

[2mAn]

didnt pass smog?? time for a S52 swap

[Cephas]

Move out of CA?

[3vilE30]

Free retest? Drive it around a bit longer get the cat REALLY HOT, drive it hard and see what that does. Don't shut it off when you get to the shop keep it running.

[dasmanschaft012]

did you drain and refil the gas tank?
if not, you need to get rid of the bad gas. also run thru a full tank of 91 with some whatever brand fuel system cleaner.
get an OEM cat off someone(I have an extra;))
New fuel filter
valve adjustment
clean out the MAF, ICV, basically the whole intake.

With a car sitting that long, you have to basically refresh EVERYTHING.
after all that and driving a bit, when you're done with the tank of 91, refil with 87, drive for at least an hour at freeway speeds, never turn off the car and go immediately to smog.

[Pawlin]

did you drain and refil the gas tank?
if not, you need to get rid of the bad gas. also run thru a full tank of 91 with some whatever brand fuel system cleaner.
get an OEM cat off someone(I have an extra;))
New fuel filter
valve adjustment
clean out the MAF, ICV, basically the whole intake.

With a car sitting that long, you have to basically refresh EVERYTHING.
after all that and driving a bit, when you're done with the tank of 91, refil with 87, drive for at least an hour at freeway speeds, never turn off the car and go immediately to smog.

Yes, I've been driving it around with 91 and valvoline injector cleaner. Almost through a whole tank now. I can get a magnaflow replaced for about 200, are they really that bad? And how much for your extra oem ;)
I shall do new fuel filter, seafoam, O2 sensor, clean Intake/MAF/ICV, and possibly valve adjustment.

The only thing I'm uncertain about is how to check for vacuum leaks. Do I need to take it to a shop for a smoke test or is there something I can do myself?

[dasmanschaft012]

If you have an air compressor you can do a basic one. Other wise a shop has to do it

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=274418

[Wh33lhop]

there are some homebrew methods to test for intake leaks, most are semi effective. the smoke machine is the best way to check though.

[marshallnoise]

there are some homebrew methods to test for intake leaks, most are semi effective. the smoke machine is the best way to check though.

I have seen cigars working too. May consider that.

[Pawlin]

So I addressed a bunch of things:
-new cat
-new O2 sensor
-new fuel filter
-new coolant
-cleaned intake manifold (glass bead blasting)
-cleaned intake control valve (ICV)
-cleaned MAF
-Replaced/repaired a couple old or cracked vacuum hoses

I was ready to go retest smog but now my idle is high at 1.5k instead of 900 previously. The idle never or rarely ever goes back down to 900 and quivers a bit. I tested the throttle position sensor which was good (closed circuit with throttle closed) and idle goes way up if the ICV is disconnected which means it's at least doing something right. My ICV only has two terminals which I measure 10 ohms which I'm unsure is correct since I can only find resistance specifications for later model E30 ICV's with 3 terminals. I couldn't find any vacuum leaks either when dousing all the lines in carb cleaner. I'm suspecting something up with my ICV, Idle control module, or maybe MAF after cleaning.

[marshallnoise]

Vacuum leak still.

[2mAn]

Vacuum leak still.

x2

After sitting for that long, rubber is dry. Check for cracks

And post some more pics of the damn car. It looks clean

[Pawlin]

x2

After sitting for that long, rubber is dry. Check for cracks

And post some more pics of the damn car. It looks clean

Thanks, I'll look into a smoke test and maybe just replace all the lines.

More pics! When I first got it, bone stock and babied after 32 years with original owner.



After bumper tuck and removing fogs.

[Pawlin]

If you have an air compressor you can do a basic one. Other wise a shop has to do it

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=274418

there are some homebrew methods to test for intake leaks, most are semi effective. the smoke machine is the best way to check though.

Vacuum leak still.

x2

After sitting for that long, rubber is dry. Check for cracks

And post some more pics of the damn car. It looks clean

Yup vacuum leak. Having your stoner roommates blow any type of smoke into your lines is basically a waste of time. I ended up going to a one man shop and using his smoke machine. There was quite a bit of pressure needed to find all of them - one by the brake booster connection and another at the intake manifold gasket. I now have a healthy vacuum reading of 22 inHg!

I haven't driven it for it to get fully warm yet but my idle has gone from a consistent 1.5k to a constant quivering 1.2-1.3k. It sounds like whenever the idle falls to 1.2 someone blips the throttle to push it back up to 1.3. I'm guessing this is my ICV. Maybe I should just delete the ICV and adjust my idle with the throttle blade adjustment screw.