316i poor running

[chappers7]

hi there picked up a 316i touring at the weekend and it seems to be down on power i know its only a 1600 but its developed a flat spot, when taking it over around 4k it will go flat and even downshifting wont change it(as if its missfiring but its not) , is this easily resolved, any ideas?? thanks

[Sanchez]

Is it an auto, as you mention 'downshifting'.

[redcar]

Camshaft wear?

Most of the time does it struggle to go past 4-5k RPM?

[chappers7]

no its a manual, seems to be ok most of the time past 4k just sometimes it struggles and feels flat, camshaft ware sound expensive

[Grrrmachine]

M40s don't like being revved over 4000, and 5000 is really the upper limit of these engines.

The wiki states "If the engine sound can be described as "sounding like a skeleton wanking in a dustbin" then your cam is very likely worn.

To confirm, remove the rocker cover and baffle plate so that you have access to the cam shaft, and run your finger nail over the cam lobes. If you can feel scatches, grooves or other imperfections, the cam is in bad condition.

The only solution is to replace. "

[redcar]

M40s don't like being revved over 4000, and 5000 is really the upper limit of these engines.

The wiki states "If the engine sound can be described as "sounding like a skeleton wanking in a dustbin" then your cam is very likely worn.

To confirm, remove the rocker cover and baffle plate so that you have access to the cam shaft, and run your finger nail over the cam lobes. If you can feel scatches, grooves or other imperfections, the cam is in bad condition.

The only solution is to replace. "

There's no reason this engine shouldn't pull all the way to 6200rpm

Does it stop pulling when it gets to about 5000rpm?

[chappers7]

just taken it out for a drive and 1st and second it was fine to over 5k then once in third just over 4k the problem then arose again, if i then back off to around 2k it sorts itself out again??