Car is acting funny

[AutoXfreak]

Hey all

I have a rather anoying issue with my 86 325(e). About a month ago I was driving along and exited the freway and as I started to slow to the stop light My car started Hickuping! I would give it some gas and the motor seemed to wasnt to stall instead of rev. After I noticed this started happening about a month ago It has done it to me about a dzen more times. I have noticed black smoke out of the tail pipe and unfortunetly it is an intermitent problem. I have a feeling it is over fueling but I cant figure out why, I unpluged the Idle control vale and the fifth injector. Have you guys heard of this problem or have had the same issue? Any thing would help!

P.S. Though I dont think it has to do with any thing; I had just turned 170,000 MI. +- 1-2 MI

 

[dandigiacomo]

I'm no auto mechanic, but I remembering something similar to whats happening to your car (dark exhaust and all) happen to my grandfathers chevy truck. (Yeah, I know its not a BMW, but its alright for an American truck...) Anyhow... As it turns out it just wasnt getting enough air. The fuel / air ration was too rich and the motor was drinking strait gas.... it was like it was trying to stall and/or flood. But I seriously doubt your car would be doing this if its been recently tuned. Unless somone was screwing with the carburetor or something? Hope you get this figured out!

 

[Rukus]

I say how old is your catylytic converter? my 318i had a similar problem. a plugged up cat that caused my car to buck and hesitate after long trips on highway.

If i were you, i would replace the whole pipe from the headers to the rear of the car with a nice brand new 2 1/2" exahust pipe.

 

[AutoXfreak]

Rukus,

You have a good point, how did you track the problem to the Cat? I have done a full tune up, and infact I just finished putting new plugs in. I had Platnum plugs in there and I know that the M20's dont like that. So Ill check ou the cat!

 

[dandigiacomo]

Yeah, good call rukas. I know a few people who say the Cat can cause some problems once its all choked up. Get a new one, or just replace the whole exhust system

 

[hyperollah]

check this book out. it has lots of tech and problem solving advice:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=34211&item=2459848964

this book is mainly for the e30 1984-1991 325 models. also try to join a bmw club in your area. they have meets where you can ask questions to experienced e30 owners.

 

[AutoXfreak]

Yeah I belong to the RMC BMW CCA. I already have a bently manuel and my dad and I are firly mechnicly savy, we already ran dionostics to try and track it down but like I said above it is an internitent problem, making it difficult to diagnose. Thanks though hyperollah, I might go grab me that book!

 

[Rukus]

You know what? i don't really remember how i came to that conclusion. But removing the cat made my car run mint.

I do remember when i took the cat off, that i didn't know if it was going to fix the prob or not.

If i remember, i will let you know.


I have platinum tipped NGK plugs in my car, and it seems to run alright.

what plugs do you reccomend for the m10? its prob not too picky of an engine.

 

[AutoXfreak]

You might be cool with the platnum plugs, The M20 motor has a notoiously low output ignition system so the "performance plugs" tend to foul up a little qucker and will cause a rough idle.

Let me know if you think about what made you take the cat off, maby it will keep me from having to remove mine or even replace it! (damn emissin controls!)

 

[Rukus]

well i think it was, i was talking to my brother about it, after i had done my best in checking the ignition, (replacing plugs, rotor, distributor cap, checking for fuel flow, timing, intake and etc. Something jsut wasn't right that, my car would act that way, and then let it cool off for a hlaf hour and it would be fine. Seemed like something wasn't getting in (fuel) or something wasn't geting out.... and the cooling down part didn't make sense.... what would ge hot enough to not operate nad make my car act like that??? so we thought maybe it might be the cat... heating up and getting plugged... cuz of expansion... Now that i have thought of it, i think we had oth somehow heard that an old catylytic converter might be prone to plug up.. and it makes sense. After years and year of collecting various emissions... its gotta be prone to plug up right? i thought so... i wasn't eally sure if it WAS the problem or not.. i jsut went out on a whime and it worked.

 

[AutoXfreak]

Thanks for sharing that! I might have to take the cat out and inspect it. What did the crapy cat looklike inside? Did you notice anything wrong on the inside of your cat? Let me know!

Side note: I love having such a fantastic forum to ask good qustions that actualy get answered! You guys rule!!!

 

[Rukus]

I didn't even look at the cat. i wasn't about to wait arounbd until it cooled off just to see a plugged up cat that just got cut off with a torch, lol.