325i misfire

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

andrew1300
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2020 4:58 pm

Post Sat Apr 30, 2022 2:43 pm

Hi all.
My beloved 325 has started to idle unevenly with revs fluctuating between 500rpm to 1100rpm..Starts off with a little hunt & gradually gets worse. Today i noticed a misfire at around 3500rpm & then it clears if i keep the foot down..
Idle control valve working,air flow meter properly on,checked plug leads ( which were replaced 3yrs ago along with spark plugs )
Feels like it starts on 5cyls at first & then i can feel it smooth out within 5-10 seconds.
Any idea's ??
Thanks
User avatar
martauto
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 6207
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: leeds

Post Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:12 pm

Hi mate, check out the "Wiki" , it`s very good for things like this. :D

Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
User avatar
BenHar
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3081
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Reigate, Surrey

Post Sat Apr 30, 2022 7:45 pm

Check for air leaks on the intake side.

You can do this with lighter gas. Spray it around with engine running and if there is a leak the tickover will increase when you spray near it.

Ben
User avatar
martauto
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 6207
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: leeds

Post Sun May 01, 2022 2:18 pm

BenHar wrote:
Sat Apr 30, 2022 7:45 pm
Check for air leaks on the intake side.

You can do this with lighter gas. Spray it around with engine running and if there is a leak the tickover will increase when you spray near it.

Ben
Is it true Ben that Body Spray works as well ??

Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
User avatar
BenHar
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3081
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Reigate, Surrey

Post Sun May 01, 2022 8:09 pm

martauto wrote:
Sun May 01, 2022 2:18 pm
BenHar wrote:
Sat Apr 30, 2022 7:45 pm
Check for air leaks on the intake side.

You can do this with lighter gas. Spray it around with engine running and if there is a leak the tickover will increase when you spray near it.

Ben
Is it true Ben that Body Spray works as well ??

Mart.
Anything flammable should work.

Ben
User avatar
paultv
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1545
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:00 pm
Location: Auf dem Schnee: Germany

Post Sun May 01, 2022 8:29 pm

Isolate the missing cylinder on start up...remove one ht lead at a time and find which one makes no difference.

If revs are rising above normal on tick over then there's more air getting in somewhere...so find the leak...could be sticky ICV.....or an AFM issue...clean everthing but also search for an air ingress.

Regarding the hi rpm missing, plug lead failure ( resistor in cable burning out ) grubby distributor cap terminals or AFM track damage/wear.

Good Luck

Paul :-)
4th May 1990 325i Convertible.

BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever:

https://bmwe30cabriolet-wdm.blogspot.com/
andrew1300
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2020 4:58 pm

Post Mon May 02, 2022 12:29 am

Thanks guys for the tips..
I’ll start with the plug leads first & go from there. Thanks