320i convertible automatic...hesitancy under acceleration

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paolobianchi
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Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:38 pm

My BMW is the 320, and it does sound rather tappetty.

124k miles

Just had new heat shields, cambelt and filters and oil etc....

when i rev the engine...it sort of coughs, and misses, then picks up the power....

it can do this for ages, making it impossible to drive because it kangaroos....

the hesitancy/cough is always at the lower end of the throttle range, just as the revs begin to rise...

once revving, it seems to 'clear it's throat'...

i am going to take a video and put it on you tube to explain it better
RustyRuss
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Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:50 pm

How is the ignition system? New leads, distributor cap, rotor arm etc can go a long way if the current ones are past their best.
Russell A Macfarlane
Central Scotland
1987 Lachs Silver BMW E30 320i 4 Door Manual
capri_rob
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Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:28 pm

Check all the hoses to the intake manifold for air leaks - particularly the bellows from the airbox to the throttle body - these are a common fail point and a split can lead to the symptoms you mention.

Tappety noises are something else.
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e30topless said : Proper BMW's have 4 headlights, last of the run was the E30 and E34/E32 anything after that is just complete shite
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paolobianchi
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Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:39 pm

Russ, Rob...

many thanks for your tips...I will look at this tomorrow hopefully.

It has new heat shields, spark plugs, distributor, rotor arm, air filter, oil filter, ht leads

I ave not looked for split hoses, so will do that....

here is a vid of what is happening...it might explain it better than i can

it starts at about 1 minute in...kangarooing

RustyRuss
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Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:00 pm

Thinking about it mate thats what my 525i E34 did when i first bought it and it was a split hose to the inlet manifold as Rob said above, had slipped my mind until he had said that.
Russell A Macfarlane
Central Scotland
1987 Lachs Silver BMW E30 320i 4 Door Manual
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