new to e30 engine trouble need desperate help

[wayneE30]

hi i just brought my first 1988 bmw 316 e30 auto yes its an auto well im having engine trouble it dont start too well in the morning kinda like the choke aint workin and when she is warm she cuts out when you accelerate harshley i have to keep thrashing the engine to get moving the things she has had done are: its had two oil leaks one from rear crank, new ignition module, rotar arm, dizzy cap,new plugs, air filter,fuel filter,jets cleaned out,redexed it carb and fuel,then the krypton tune, when the rac cleaned the jets he said the plug leads didnt look right and thought they should have a heat guard on. any help would be great

[Ant]

OK, firstly welcome to the zone

Secondly I've moved this post to the tech help section for better coverage dude

I'm guess your carb has a failed cold start mech(auotchoke) from what you've described, convert to manual or replace the carb with a good used or weber alternative.

[wayneE30]

cheers mate u think the carb how much do u think it would cost me for a new one???

[wayneE30]

does anybody else know how much a carb would cost???????/

[Jos]

ECP do a weber replacment for the Pierburg 2BE, fortunatley you have an auto so it's cheaper.

Ԛ£136.70 + vat for a new carb, probably need gaskets too though.

Part Number 341110030 on ECP

[wayneE30]

if i got it second hand would it be much cheaper??

[LOOPYLEE1965]

i may be wrong but i had a similar problem with my old 316 auto and the vaccum pipe to the advance and retard was split so sucking in air replaced the pipe and it solved the problem hope it is only this it cost pennies (welcome by the way dude)

[Jos]

Probably, but then you don't know what you are getting and carbs are quite sensitive little things..

Chances are if its 2nd hand it's being replaced, therefore you have to ask why it is being replaced...

[wayneE30]

first off thanks everybody for welcoming me to the zone appreciate it guys i will have to look at the vaccum pips and see if any are split this is my first beemer so forgive me if i seem a little dumb but is there a way i can find out the true engine size because on the log book it says its a 1766cc but the guy i got it off said it was a 1600cc and at the moment it drives like a 1.1

[LOOPYLEE1965]

mine was badged as a 316 m8 but was deffo a 1800cc auto

[wayneE30]

is that the same one u have now???

[LOOPYLEE1965]

is that the same one u have now???

no mate that was my 1st e30 this one is a 325i

[wayneE30]

ahh youve got the big boys toy my insurance wouldnt touch me wiv 1 of them

[wayneE30]

so whats a decent 316 auto go for i want to sell her so i can either get a touring or a manual 316

[Templ8e30]

The 316 carb was an 1800cc but changed to 1600cc when upgraded to injection if I remember correctly

Cheers,

Iain T

[wayneE30]

ok so ive had a look today at the carb and all the pipes ant there was a little metal bar that had come loose so i reconnected it back to what i would call a brass flap as you might be able to tell im not a mechanic but i do like to give it ago also when i tried to clip the little bar back in the carb moved is it supposed to move it lookd like it has a thick rubber gasket i am so please help me some pictures would help as a kind of reference cheers guys

[Paul325i]

The electric chokes normally mess up on the pierbergs, mine did on my old 316, only real solution is to find a breaker and try to build a good carb out of it as nobody sells the repair kits for them anymore.

It's a 1766cc engine in the M10 316, 90bhp. Very strong little engine that will take a beating.

The later 316i's are M40 engines which are pretty crap compared to the M10 strength wise but they're more efficient and the injection is pretty much faultless.

[wayneE30]

ok ive taken her for a spin and she seems to be running ok she's ticking over at a steady 900 rpms fingers crossed that its fixed. she still took a while to get started its got to be the automatic choke. i have no idea how to replace this. does any body know how to do this or have any diagrams or pictures because i have no idea where the choke is on the carb

[wayneE30]

also i forgot to ask how can i tell if it has abs??

[E30BeemerLad]

sorry can't help with the running probs as i've never had my head under the bonnet of a 316.

Re the ABS query - on my 325 if you look under the bonnet behind the passenger side headlamps there is a gold coloured metal box where some brake pipes run into.

May be worth seeing if you can get hold of a haynes manual for the E30, will be loads of top tips and useful diagrams so you also get to learn the name of components etc.

Welcome to the zone by the way - it's highly addictive, full of top people and a surefire way to keep your e30 running tip top and enjoy the experience

[e30_Turbo]

also i forgot to ask how can i tell if it has abs??

Welcome to the nuthouse
The ABS pump is located behind the passenger side headlights, I assume they're all in the same place, but my last 318 didn't have it.
Should say ABS on it. You can just slam on the brakes at a fair speed and see if it locks up, if you have ABS you'll feel the pedal beat your foot to crap, really is quite noticeable. Scared me first time it kicked in.
HTH,Mark

[e30_Turbo]

sorry can't help with the running probs as i've never had my head under the bonnet of a 316.

Re the ABS query - on my 325 if you look under the bonnet behind the passenger side headlamps there is a gold coloured metal box where some brake pipes run into.

May be worth seeing if you can get hold of a haynes manual for the E30, will be loads of top tips and useful diagrams so you also get to learn the name of components etc.

Welcome to the zone by the way - it's highly addictive, full of top people and a surefire way to keep your e30 running tip top and enjoy the experience

one minute....damn.....glad to see our ABS pumps are in the same place
Haynes is crap BTW, get the bentley one or the ETK & TIS discs for your PC, much better info, drawings and part numbers too!
HTH, Mark.

[E30BeemerLad]

Fozzy - do I remember you saying you were going to Retro cars Show at the Pod on 3rd July?

[e30_Turbo]

Fozzy - do I remember you saying you were going to Retro cars Show at the Pod on 3rd July?

Not me my friend, I'm gonna be finishing bits off about then so will have no wheels to get there anyway . Will be at the pod soon, need to see what this pile of parts is gonna produce

[wayneE30]

thanks all fozzy just wondering what the full name of the etk&tis discs sounds like a good idea

[E30BeemerLad]

that's going to be one fast E30 me thinks

[e30_Turbo]

thanks all fozzy just wondering what the full name of the etk&tis discs sounds like a good idea

I'm not 100% on that, I have some but just upgraded to XP so need some newer ones, I think someone on the zone can help, will have a look mate and let you know what I find.

that's going to be one fast E30 me thinks Thumbup

Me hopes so too......got a need for speed
Looking forward to the faces people pull when Ant & I pull 13's at the pod in a pair of e30's

[E30BeemerLad]

getting bored/used to the performance of mine now. Mind you, it would probably improve with a good going over on the induction side of things/ cleaning up the inlet & tb, replace some iffy looking plumbing. would doubt it is making the claimed 192 now

[e30_Turbo]

getting bored/used to the performance of mine now. Mind you, it would probably improve with a good going over on the induction side of things/ cleaning up the inlet & tb, replace some iffy looking plumbing. would doubt it is making the claimed 192 now

Get it on the rollers then, they should be able give you pointers on where the power is being lost....or fit a unichip and MAF and see what that brings....not that expenisive if you shop around for the parts, try quarry or any breakers with e36 2.3 ltr engines, I'm not sure if any of the others can be used.

[wayneE30]

ive just been out as not got abs for sure got up to about 35/40 slammed on the brakes and skidded down the road

[e30_Turbo]

ive just been out as not got abs for sure got up to about 35/40 slammed on the brakes and skidded down the road

It's not quite a scientific way, but you sure find out for sure

[wayneE30]

yeah your right mate it might not be scientific but its great fun. well im going out to start her for the first time today will post and let u all know how she goes

[wayneE30]

well what can i say she is not fixed same problems as before i guess that when the engine is warmed up the problems go it drives better i can feel her pull well it just when im sat in traffic pulling off from low revs she cuts out help still needed i dont know if i should just change the carb??

[Gwynleym10]

Welcome to the zone...

This could be two different problems...
The cutting out when its warm... whats the temperature guage look like?

As the RAC man said, you may need new HT leads and you def need a heat guard, M10's are part of the manifold gasket, so you will either have to replace that (about Ԛ£12 and you have to take the exhuast manifold off..fun..) or you could make something up, with some insulating material.
When its dark, look for arching (sparks) coming from the leads (when it running) don't touch them! if it arc's, you need new leads.

[wayneE30]

alright mate the temp guage is at about 3 quaters the way up i hope your not going to say head gasket