First off, i wanna say whazzap to all, this forum seems to have a lot of good info, without the b.s.
My name is Kris, im new to this forum but not forums, and i just picked up my first E30 (and first BMW). I've always wanted one, and the opportunity arose recently to pick up an 84 318I as a DD and i pulled the trigger. Great little car, cant wait to get to the "fun" mods.
When i bought it there were not really any signs of problems, just normal things associated with a 28 year old car. Its very clean, interior is good, body is straight. Not a late model 325 like i had hoped for, but i had a helluva time finding one for the right money. So i opted for the 4 banger.
Before you flame and bash ive searched across most of the BMW forums and read dozens of threads and have tried almost everything i can think of, and im almost out of ideas so im in need of a little help. So spare the wise cracks and "use search button" comments.
Here we go...So a couple of days after driving it about 150 miles, the tank was a little below quarter tank and the car started surging from 3100rpm up till a tad over 4200. All gears, worse and worse from 1st being slight to 4th and 5th being almost undrivable. It has to do with the amount of load on the engine im sure.
I immediately searched around and found a lot of "surging" issues, only a few threads had to do with driving but most were idle issues which i dont have. So after reading a bunch and speaking with Igor at Auto Haven here in sac, i started process of elimination. And thanks to Auto Heaven for the head start on the ideas!
This is what ive done so far, and i guess im looking for some more possibilities that you more seasoned e30 guys might now. I am a cert. motorcycle mechanic and have been wrenching everything i could get my hands on since i was a cub.
-new fuel filter
-new engine to chassis ground wire
-1 1/2 tanks now of fuel system cleaner (seafoam)
-replaced 2 fuel line hoses and fixed a couple other small leaky clamps
-replaced little 90 degree elbow below the ICV (was cracked and taped b4)
-looked for vacuum leaks (everything seems good cant find any)
-checked intake manifold for air leaks (none)
-checked TB and TB intake boot for air leaks (none)
-new fuel pressure regulator
-bypassed the little electronic doohicky for ignition advance to the dizzy (same problem still)
-inspected cap and rotor (good)
-fuel pump seems good (havent checked pressure with a gauge yet but im 99% sure its not the issue as i dont have these probs in high rpm when demand is highest)
-cleaned IACV
-cleaned AFM
-replaced spark plugs
Things i havent done yet that i can think of(i guess im looking for conformation/disapproval and new ideas as well) and also cost a bit more than the previous listed and also more simple things:
-replace cap/rotor or even entire distributor
-coolant temp sensor (or any other sensors yet)
-ECU (read one guy had very similar problem and new ECU fixed it due to loose solder connections)
-fuel pump
-checked timing
-tested fuel pressure
-timing belt maybe?
-replaced sensor thats in front of air box (the little guy on between the air box and the back of the plastic headlight panel)
Thats all i can think of ATM, hope you guys can provide some input. Thanks for takin some time and hope to be able to help out in return. I will definitely see a few folks on dec 1st. (those in the sacramento area). HELP HELP HELP so i can spend my hard earned $$$ on more fun stuff!!!
Peace. :finger:
My name is Kris, im new to this forum but not forums, and i just picked up my first E30 (and first BMW). I've always wanted one, and the opportunity arose recently to pick up an 84 318I as a DD and i pulled the trigger. Great little car, cant wait to get to the "fun" mods.
When i bought it there were not really any signs of problems, just normal things associated with a 28 year old car. Its very clean, interior is good, body is straight. Not a late model 325 like i had hoped for, but i had a helluva time finding one for the right money. So i opted for the 4 banger.
Before you flame and bash ive searched across most of the BMW forums and read dozens of threads and have tried almost everything i can think of, and im almost out of ideas so im in need of a little help. So spare the wise cracks and "use search button" comments.
Here we go...So a couple of days after driving it about 150 miles, the tank was a little below quarter tank and the car started surging from 3100rpm up till a tad over 4200. All gears, worse and worse from 1st being slight to 4th and 5th being almost undrivable. It has to do with the amount of load on the engine im sure.
I immediately searched around and found a lot of "surging" issues, only a few threads had to do with driving but most were idle issues which i dont have. So after reading a bunch and speaking with Igor at Auto Haven here in sac, i started process of elimination. And thanks to Auto Heaven for the head start on the ideas!
This is what ive done so far, and i guess im looking for some more possibilities that you more seasoned e30 guys might now. I am a cert. motorcycle mechanic and have been wrenching everything i could get my hands on since i was a cub.
-new fuel filter
-new engine to chassis ground wire
-1 1/2 tanks now of fuel system cleaner (seafoam)
-replaced 2 fuel line hoses and fixed a couple other small leaky clamps
-replaced little 90 degree elbow below the ICV (was cracked and taped b4)
-looked for vacuum leaks (everything seems good cant find any)
-checked intake manifold for air leaks (none)
-checked TB and TB intake boot for air leaks (none)
-new fuel pressure regulator
-bypassed the little electronic doohicky for ignition advance to the dizzy (same problem still)
-inspected cap and rotor (good)
-fuel pump seems good (havent checked pressure with a gauge yet but im 99% sure its not the issue as i dont have these probs in high rpm when demand is highest)
-cleaned IACV
-cleaned AFM
-replaced spark plugs
Things i havent done yet that i can think of(i guess im looking for conformation/disapproval and new ideas as well) and also cost a bit more than the previous listed and also more simple things:
-replace cap/rotor or even entire distributor
-coolant temp sensor (or any other sensors yet)
-ECU (read one guy had very similar problem and new ECU fixed it due to loose solder connections)
-fuel pump
-checked timing
-tested fuel pressure
-timing belt maybe?
-replaced sensor thats in front of air box (the little guy on between the air box and the back of the plastic headlight panel)
Thats all i can think of ATM, hope you guys can provide some input. Thanks for takin some time and hope to be able to help out in return. I will definitely see a few folks on dec 1st. (those in the sacramento area). HELP HELP HELP so i can spend my hard earned $$$ on more fun stuff!!!
Peace. :finger:
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