New Car New Problem!!!

[k130]

Hi

I just got myself a new '83 323i, gorgeous car -wish I'd got one years ago.

anyway theres a problem pulling away in 1st and 2nd gears; between 2000 and 4000 RPM the engine seems to falter and you get a sensation similar to a learner driver about to stall.

This passes if I downshift (2nd) or dip the clutch and give it more gas (1st). (ok it sounds like I just cant drive so far but...)

When the engine is warmed up -5 minutes or so the problem dissappears completely and the car pulls smoothly and effortlessley as I would expect it to...

any suggestions?

[johnono]

dude, shes a 22 year old car, donԚ´t blame her that it takes her a while to get up in the morning

p.s Welcome Dude

[johnl320]

If it was mine mate i would start with the coolant temp sensor, just renew it and see what happens , I had a similar fault years ago on a '83 325 and it was that. let me know what happens, i hope this helps
john

[Brianmoooore]

Engine coolant temp sensor. I bought my M40 318 runaround for peanuts because it had this fault.

[oneblueleg]

If it was mine mate i would start with the coolant temp sensor, just renew it and see what happens , I had a similar fault years ago on a '83 325 and it was that. let me know what happens, i hope this helps
john

how expensive/easy is it to change

[Davenotouring]

I'd say a maximum of 20 from the dealers I would hope.

It sits on top of the thermostat housing, you can undo it, change over the plug and screw the new one in I think.

Might need to bleed the coolant, but that's easy enough.

There are two sensors there, I forget which one is the ECU temp sensor........someone will tell you!

[Simon]

Blue one is for the ECU, the brown one is for the temp guage.

[Widge]

My '88 325i some times takes a bit of cranking to get to start when it's warm, could this be the same problem???

[k130]

Thanks everybody, looks like a unanimous response there! I wasnt expecting it, nice one.

GSF recon theres four possible types for the 323i so ill have to take it out and take a photo of it before I can replace it...

My job for this weekend is the Cam belt (and all the others ill have to remove to get there.

Thanks again

[Simon13]

might aswell do the waterpump while your there if it whirring, better safe than sorry!

[hogweed]

Blue one is for the ECU, the brown one is for the temp guage.

Hah! Unless you're looking the Haynes Book of Jokes, in which case it's the other way round...

GSF recon theres four possible types for the 323i so ill have to take it out and take a photo of it before I can replace it...

Last time I looked, there were two, but they had different numbers of terminals on them (1 vs 2) or something...

[k130]

how do i post a picture of all the sensors on my engine??
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[dinwoodie]

I have a similar problem and BMW reckon it's the Crankshaft Sensor.

[k130]

...So anyway I booked it in to the local garage to get it looked at and in the month before it was due to go in (busy garage) the problem went away completely.

It was so embarassing turning up on the day with a perfect motor that I had them change the hoses and coolant instead!

I recon that the 6month lay up before I got it was the cause of it all.

Still sh*t happens...