E30 Zone

Just wondering how fast/slow should a 320i be? Mines just so laggy.
I was going to just leave it as Im planning to swap it out sometime this year but considering putting some effort in for the time being to atleast have a bit of fun.
Will new distributor cap and refurbed injectors really give it a new lease of life? I understand its hard to explain what it should feel like over text but try haha
My 316i felt a lot quicker? I can put my foot to the floor in 2nd gear and watch it only slowly creep up the revs..

A 320i is considerably faster than a 316i, providing it doesn't have a cat. fitted.
The main criticism levelled at the 320i is that it drinks as much as a 325i, in return for less performance than a 318iS.

I might just do the injectors and dizzy cap then and see what happens.
Anything else to look at?

are the valves properly set?

Not sure how to check?

Get those injectors serviced! (Injectortune on the zone), It's the most cost-effective service you'll ever do. Any other service items can only help (dizzy cap, rotor arm, plugs etc).

That should reign in a few horses

Also check the ignition timing isn't too far retarded - conventional dizzy on the chromey 320i, so undo the base clamp and turn the dizzy clockwise a few degrees to advance it, to the point where it just doesn't 'pink' (pre-detonate rattle) when going up hills or accelerating in a high gear; that will be the optimum ignition timing setting.

pauljsc wrote:Not sure how to check?

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... M20_engine

digest the above mate, valve setting is straightforward to do. There are also a handful of good videos on youtube to assist you on a step by step basis.

A 316i has better low-down torque and subsequently feels perkier at lower speeds. What little power a 320i has is higher up the rev range. Sounds nice getting there though!

The only gear that really pulls is 1st.. even if I flick to 2nd at 5k+ its got barely anything. Used to rag my 316i haha made me love e30's
I really got this 320 for the body but I'd like to enjoy it for the time being. I'll take the advice above and see where it gets me.

My 320i was the same when I got it... A thorough service, new HT leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm etc. and it bounced back to life. I've since been slowly changing everything barring the engine itself.. and it's never driven any better.. with the exception of a slight lumpy idle which I'm working on now.