I'm Still struggling with my beemer, have been for some time!

 

See what you think of this.

 

I set the timing on No1 to 25deg BTDC at 2900 rpm as per book, easy off and it idles reaaly bad, timing is now about 10deg after TDC. Anyway i disconnet the advance vacuum and it about right now. About 28deg at 2900 and 13deg at 900rpm

 

However there is more, much more.

 

While it is idling really badly I try unplugging a spark lead to see if a cylinder is out, take No1 off and makes absolutely no difference, take No2 lead off, still no difference in engine note what so ever. Both 1 and 2 out!!!

 

So i pull No 3, now it judders like a bitch, put it back on, pull number 4, judders again. I now pull No3 too, so all four off and it stalls.

 

Took No1 plug out to check for a spark and there is.

 

Here's what seems to me to be the really weird bit, I unplug 3 and 4, and connect 1 and 2 and start the car, it runs the same as before. i plug in 3 and then 4 and makes no difference.

 

What is going on? Stuffed coil perhaps?

 

All of the leads are connected correctly in the right order etc, got a nasty shock or two in the process of jiggling them. Hurts doesn't it. :-(

 

This is really spooky. Or is there something I'm missing!

Any help will be gratefully recieved.

 

Cheers,

Jezz.

Hi, by the sound of it yours must be a pre 87 bmw , what year and model is it? as I know a bit about bmw's and it would help me try to give you a answer.

thanks Syko.

Originally posted by syko:

Hi, by the sound of it yours must be a pre 87 bmw , what year and model is it? as I know a bit about bmw's and it would help me try to give you a answer.

thanks Syko.

 

Hi Syco,

 

It's an '88 316, the carbed version with the old M10 engine, so is the same as the earlier ones, it has the dodgy electrical carb on it, if you know what I'm, talking about.

 

Cheers,

Jezz.

 

yep Jez I know the one, best thing for them is the webber conversion about £200 for carb, and it transform the car unbelievable. . but it also sounds as you might have an air leak which would give similar symptons to what you discribe, if you can't find one then its most likely to be the carb. So get yer purse art!! cos its a good bet you will need it.

hope thats any help!

 

 

 

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Yup sussed it, was an air leak, fucking huge one!!

 

Can you give any suggestion why it would have a compression of 13bar, instead of 10-11, cam timing is correct & I have a thicker head gasket in there.

 

The probelm is that it overheats, there is a guy near me selling the weber carb for £85, 2 months old, if it hangs around much longer I'll perhaps see if i can haggle him down to £70.

 

Jezz.

 

 

Hello Jez,

check the viscous fan as they tend to pack up on the bmw's does it only overheat in traffic???

as for the copression, is the fauge u r testing it with a good quality tester or a halfords special, no offence its just a question of acuracy.

failing that it could have had an exessive skimmed cyl head.