320 m20 engine esitates on power

[gcmog]

Hi can anybody help with a problem i have with my 1988 320i.Intermittant lack of power , holding itself back & slight misfire. I have fitted new plugs & leads , new coil ,new intake hoses , removed & had the injectors checked, new inlet manifold gaskets & fuel hoses. I have had the fuel pump out of the tank & all seems ok. Getting a bit fed up now, can anybody help .

[Quaser]

timing?

does it happen when its cold/hot - could be the blue or brown temp sensors

could also be crankshaft sensor

[Speedtouch]

Have you checked the distributor cap and rotor arm?

Also worth changing the fuel filter, if it hasn't been done in yonks, as a clogged one will be restricting the fuel flow.

How many miles has it done? Could be worth carrying out a compression test to ensure all six pots are reading roughly equal pressures.

[Grrrmachine]

Is this all the way through the rev range, or just at lower revs?

[mcbonio]

Sounds like an ignition issue, check dizzy cap and rotor arm.

[Grrrmachine]

Also, if your "new" leads were aftermarket ones consider switching back to the originals. General consensus is that non-BMW leads aren't good enough in the long term,

[gcmog]

Hi all, thanks for your replies .The rotor arm & dizzy are good , but it does feel more like fuel starvation , it is at its worst below 2000rpm but still feels like it is holding back all the way the rev range. I put a new in-line filter in it a couple of months ago.I removed the fuel pump out of the tank again today & checked ,seems ok & pumps what looks like ample fuel & holds pressure in the system.I have re-checked the timing & thats ok.The poor old girl is trying my patience slowly , because the fault isn't always there , or disappears if you stop & re-start some times.She has done 189000 now , but has been a reliable motor for the past 14 years.It has also developed a little hicup on tick over.All suggestions will be well appreciated.cheers

[Speedtouch]

I would suggest a compression test as the next step - all six cylinders should be giving roughly equal readings of 170 psi or more.

[gcmog]

yeh , thanks for the suggestion , i'll get it sorted this week & let you know the outcome. cheers.