After my old 316i died due to a lack of oil resulting from a cracked sump. I had to have another E30 and I stumbled across one for sale not too far from me, a 316i auto in the same atlantis blue as my old one. I purchased this vehicle two days ago and it has been running well until last night, when it started playing up.
Let me explain what I mean by playing up, I have found that between about 1700-2500 rpm when I accelerate it hesitates massively to the point where it feels like a total loss of power and when you think it is going to almost cut out it surges back into life again.
Another thing I noticed is if I don't put my foot all the way down then it jus continues on with a lack of power or acceleration all the while sputtering like it is going to cut out at any time, but then the moment I put my foot all the way down it will hesitate for a good couple of seconds and then surge into power and continue to accelerate fine.
When I try to hold the speed and stop accelerating it goes back into hesitating, hunting and sputtering. I would like to know what you guys think may be the culprit for this, I still have my old 316i here and therefore could scavenge parts off of that as it was working well before it died.
316i M40 engine hesitation and surging?
Moderator: martauto
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49359
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Swap over the distributor cap, rotor and spark plug leads, and check the condition of the spark plugs. I'm not convinced that this will cure the problem, but since you have the parts available, it'll eliminate or confirm ignition problems.
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E30_Jatt
- E30 Zone Regular
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:00 pm
I shall try swapping those bits over and see how it goes, as your saying your not convinced that will solve the problem, do you have a hunch on what else it could be?Brianmoooore wrote:Swap over the distributor cap, rotor and spark plug leads, and check the condition of the spark plugs. I'm not convinced that this will cure the problem, but since you have the parts available, it'll eliminate or confirm ignition problems.
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E30_Jatt
- E30 Zone Regular
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:00 pm
Well I was going to attempt this job this weekend, but over the last couple of days I haven't noticed the problem crop up again.
The only thing I can think of that may have caused this problem is that when it first started occurring the fuel was very low and maybe some rubbish at the bottom of the fuel tank was picked up and clogged the fuel filter. The car itself has only ever been driven a maximum of 2k miles per year as it was an old boy who owned it, so I'm assuming it was bad fuel or debris at the bottom of the tank.
I am looking to service it this weekend, I would also like to change the gearbox oil as it doesn't seem to be the cherry red colour as I have read online. Any suggestions on best way to change (always had a manual in the past this the first auto) the auto's gearbox oil.
The only thing I can think of that may have caused this problem is that when it first started occurring the fuel was very low and maybe some rubbish at the bottom of the fuel tank was picked up and clogged the fuel filter. The car itself has only ever been driven a maximum of 2k miles per year as it was an old boy who owned it, so I'm assuming it was bad fuel or debris at the bottom of the tank.
I am looking to service it this weekend, I would also like to change the gearbox oil as it doesn't seem to be the cherry red colour as I have read online. Any suggestions on best way to change (always had a manual in the past this the first auto) the auto's gearbox oil.