Hi all!
I have no idea what is up with my beemer, it's a 1990s BMW E30 320i m20. It's got 170k on the clock.
I was driving home from work yesterday, same as every day and my car started struggling up the hill and kind of lunging it's self, I the realised it had gained a misfire. It all came on suddenly and I have no idea why.
Today I checked all the air intake, pipes ect. I also tested and replaced the spark plugs. I am thinking it could potentially be that one of the injectors has gone as there's an unusual noise coming from that area.
Have any of you had this problem with yours? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I need some advice; my beemer is misfiring!
Moderator: martauto
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BenHar
- E30 Zone Addict
- Posts: 3081
- Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Reigate, Surrey
Sounds like fuel starvation.
Check the pump, pipes and wiring.
Ben
Check the pump, pipes and wiring.
Ben
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steve_k
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 8044
- Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: in the vale of mansfield
also check the fuel pipes are on the correct way round.BenHar wrote:Sounds like fuel starvation.
Check the pump, pipes and wiring.
Ben
if it's got t*ts or wheels it's bound to be trouble...............prove me wrong.
getting oral sex off an ugly person is like rock climbing.....don't look down ;)
getting oral sex off an ugly person is like rock climbing.....don't look down ;)
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TonikhaDavies
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:00 pm
- Location: Devon
The pipes must be fine as without touching it, just started doing it randomly. I think maybe an injector is busted
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aimlessrock
- E30 Zone Squatter
- Posts: 1821
- Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: Manchester
when were the injectors last overhauled ?
E30 320i Convertible (1989)
190 Mercedes (1988)
"there is nothing more expensive than a cheap E30"
190 Mercedes (1988)
"there is nothing more expensive than a cheap E30"
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TonikhaDavies
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:00 pm
- Location: Devon
I'm not entirely sure, I've had it for less than a year..
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aimlessrock
- E30 Zone Squatter
- Posts: 1821
- Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: Manchester
whip them out and send them off to injectortune (one of the traders) - cant guarantee that this will solve the issue but at least you will have a rebuilt and properly balanced set of injectors.
check the wikki for removal guide.
check the wikki for removal guide.
E30 320i Convertible (1989)
190 Mercedes (1988)
"there is nothing more expensive than a cheap E30"
190 Mercedes (1988)
"there is nothing more expensive than a cheap E30"
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arrisbmw
- E30 Zone Regular
- Posts: 466
- Joined: Sat May 06, 2017 11:00 pm
you say the plugs are o.k. check and clean the distributor cap and rotor arm. run the engine in the dark and make sure you can,t see any sparks coming from the ignition leads, plugs or ignition system, meaning something is a miss here.
it could be as simple as a blocked fuel filter, when was that last changed. its is a service item.
there is a plug electric connector under the inlet manifold, that can corrode causing injector issues. as this wiring fires in injectors . there are other post on here about said electrical connector . thats worth checking first, before you get your injectors cleaned and reconned.
does it only happen going up hill. ?
quick test for the injectors , get a long screw driver put the metal end on each injector in turn , ear to screwdriver handle end, and you should be able to hear them clicking, with a similar sound with regular ticks. they should all sound the same.
it could be as simple as a blocked fuel filter, when was that last changed. its is a service item.
there is a plug electric connector under the inlet manifold, that can corrode causing injector issues. as this wiring fires in injectors . there are other post on here about said electrical connector . thats worth checking first, before you get your injectors cleaned and reconned.
does it only happen going up hill. ?
quick test for the injectors , get a long screw driver put the metal end on each injector in turn , ear to screwdriver handle end, and you should be able to hear them clicking, with a similar sound with regular ticks. they should all sound the same.
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TurtleDesignTech
- E30 Zone Regular
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 11:00 pm
- Location: Hampshire
I agree with Arris, check distributor and ignition system before blowing cash.
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49359
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
A misfire on one cylinder on a M20 is barely noticeable. Even with half of your cylinders out, you still have as many working as several cars on the market today, and from what you describe there's a possibility that this is exactly what you now have, for the reason arrisbmw mentions in the middle of his last post.
The injectors on a M20 are fired in two batches of three , (1,3,5 and 2,4,6), so if the wire to one bank is broken, you will have a three cylinder engine. To check, disconnect the negative LT wire from the coil, turn the key to start for several seconds, and then remove the spark plugs to see if they are wet with fuel.
If the three of one batch are wet, and the three of the other batch are dry, then the plug and socket under the inlet manifold is the problem.
To be more exact, the problem is the wiring at the back of the bottom half of the plug and socket, where water gets trapped inside the rubber boot, and rots through the wires.
The injectors on a M20 are fired in two batches of three , (1,3,5 and 2,4,6), so if the wire to one bank is broken, you will have a three cylinder engine. To check, disconnect the negative LT wire from the coil, turn the key to start for several seconds, and then remove the spark plugs to see if they are wet with fuel.
If the three of one batch are wet, and the three of the other batch are dry, then the plug and socket under the inlet manifold is the problem.
To be more exact, the problem is the wiring at the back of the bottom half of the plug and socket, where water gets trapped inside the rubber boot, and rots through the wires.