Messages

1

Engine + Driveline / '94 engine into a '91?

« on: February 03, 2009, 02:08:04 PM »

It is my understanding that the '94 318is also has the M42.  Are there any major differences?

2

How-To's / Engine failure due to pan gasket shift/bolt loss (e30 only)

« on: January 30, 2009, 01:32:11 PM »

From what I have seen there are 2 common oil failures on 318's.

The first is the pan gasket shifting as describved above.


The second is the timing chain (and/or rollers) self destructing and damaging the oil pump housing, which is what happenned to BMWman91 and myself. I suspect it has to do with putting a new tensioner in with a severly worn chain. When i get more info I will post a guide to this issue as well.

You can include me as well.  My Timing chain just broke.  I will be pulling the head this W/E, but from what i am reading the motor is basically toast...Any advice?

3

Engine + Driveline / Update 2

« on: January 25, 2009, 02:47:18 PM »

Thanks for all of your feedback to date...it is appreciated


Pulled the valve cover.  The timing chain broke and one of the cam sprockets has a broken tooth.  Not sure of the condition of the head until I pull it.

The question now is what to do.  The previous owner supposedly had a lot or work done to the top end, including the timing chain.  I never expected that I would have a problem with the timing chain because of this….

What is the likelihood that the valves are not bent?  I anticipate none?    So I guess I’ll pull the head and oil pan and assess the damage.  I might have a line on a used engine with a good head (it had a knocking bottom end but ran ok before it was pulled ).  The downside is the the whole engine has been outside with the valve cover off, so I’m not sure of the head’s condition.

The other option is to pull my head and have it rebuilt, but I have no idea what that might cost.  The other is to part the car, but that is the least attractive option.  I would really like to get this back on the road….

4

Engine + Driveline / engine suddenly dies-no warning HELP!

« on: January 24, 2009, 06:24:26 AM »

I agree that it does not look good, but I still have this nagging feeling that I might be overlooking something.  When I move the crank, I cannot hear any noise; squealing, scraping.  Even when the car first died, there was no discernible noise…strange
I have to pull the belts to ensure that one of the accessories are not prohibiting movement.  Although I’d imagine that it would just “slip” as I was turning the crank…
BTW, since I’ve got the car I’ve been running a high end synthetic oil (BMW LL04) and the PO told me the same.  He also “claimed” to had reworked the entire top end including new timing chain, rollers, profile gasket etc.  I even had the car on the lift before I purchased and talked with the mechanic about when he had done.   The bottom end was never done.  The mechanic told me that “it did not need”, but could not give me any details as to how he arrived at that conclusion…
How can I tell if the starter pinion is jammed in the flywheel  ring gear?  Could this keep the motor from spinning freely?
Thanks…

5

Engine + Driveline / Update

« on: January 23, 2009, 02:32:48 PM »

Here's an update on what i have been able to do so far....
-pulled the plugs- all dry and look good.
-battery charged.  when i try to crank, i hear a "thunk", like the starter is trying, but is meeting resistance.
-same thing happens with the plugs pulled
-put a wrench on the crank pulley and tried to move crankshaft (with the plugs out).  At first could not get any movement...strange.  then with a little more pressure.  I did get it to move ~ 5-10 degrees in both the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction.  

Shouldn't I be able rotate the engine completely around?  I have not pulled belts yet, but i can see all the accessories (alternator, p/s pump & A/C comp) turning, but i guess it is possible that one of them may be partially siezed...

Any thoughts?  Thanks.

6

Engine + Driveline / engine suddenly dies-no warning HELP!

« on: January 14, 2009, 07:35:51 PM »

I have all the dash lights, but have not been able to see if the crank turns yet.  When I tried to jump it, it sounds like it is trying to turnover, but no dice....strange

7

Engine + Driveline / engine suddenly dies-no warning HELP!

« on: January 14, 2009, 01:51:31 PM »

I am driving to work early around 6:00am and the engine suddenly dies.  I coast over to the shoulder and try to start it; will not crank.  Had it towed home, charged the battery (thinking it may be the voltage regulator) and I cannot get it to even crank over.
 
It is almost as if the engine is seized (though I have no reason to expect this) or something is keeping from turning over
UP until this point, the car has been running well.  

Any ideas where to start?  Thx

8

Engine management / Correct AFM Part #

« on: November 26, 2008, 01:55:38 PM »

I've pulled this number off the unit in my car.  Are there any equivalent #'s
BOSCH Part# 0 280 202 203

Is 0 280 202 134 the same?  it appears it might be?

9

Engine + Driveline / similar problem and It is getting worse

« on: November 26, 2008, 05:59:05 AM »

Not sure if the problem I'm experiencing is the same as those here, but here it goes; I started noticing a slight "stumble" while driving at highway speeds, where power was lost momentarily.  Some days were worse than others.  It normally would stay idling, but a couple times it would stall, but it is not always steady .  Today, it got really bad.  The stumble or hesitation was almost occurring all the time and I am now seeing the check engine flicker on then go out multiple times, along with a loss of power.  This is a new problem in the last month or so, but it has gotten really worse.  The plugs are newish (~10K), O2 new, new Cat.

I plan on checking the plugs and wires, and coils (although my recollection is that they are pretty hard to test conclusively).  I plan on checking the plugs and wires, and coils (although my recollection is that they are pretty hard to test conclusively).  The problem was so bad the Am that the car is barely drivable…

Any ideas?  Thanks!

10

Engine management / Low speed miss

« on: November 24, 2008, 03:21:06 PM »

While driving the car at cruising speed, but not accelerating, I will get a slight hesitation or “miss”.  The car will then resume back to normal.  Just today, it stalled a couple of times as I was coming to a stop.  Under acceleration or WOT, there is no hesitation.

What do you suggest as a starting a place?  I did check the vacuum lines a few ago while looking into an emissions failure (turned out to be the cat) and they were ok, but they could be bad now....

11

Electrical / Tach Guage and Gas Gauge not working

« on: November 13, 2008, 10:12:46 AM »

Check the reverse switch wire that runs above the front guibo. There's a plastic clip that holds it up. My clip had broken allowing the wire to hang down. It eventually contacted the guibo and wore thru the insulation. Every now and then it would ground out and blow the fuse. The only thing I'd have working would be the speedo.

I'll have to check that out.  

I did determine that it was a blown fuse. I replaced it and a few days later it blew again.  i put a 10Afuse in  in (was 7.5A), and it has not blown ....yet


Thanks for the great feedback!

12

Electrical / Instrument cluster lights HELP

« on: November 04, 2008, 03:40:43 PM »

These threads might help you out....likely the SI board batteries

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6318

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6813

13

Electrical / Tachometer / MPG malfunction

« on: November 04, 2008, 03:34:10 PM »

Have u tried the si board batts yet?  The si board batts will affect your Tach/MPG/Service interval lights.  Speedo get signal from sensor in diff, and fuel... well from the sensor in the tank, duh.  So, yes some gauges will work with a bad set of batts.

While driving to work this AM, stopped the car to get gas. When i restarted...no fuel gauge, tach or temp. Just like that! Do they normally fail like that? I was low on fuel and the fuel light was on for most of  the drive ~1/2 hr. Might this have drained that SI batts? Before I tear this thing apart, does anyone know if I have the old or new board?
It is a VDO cluster and noticed another unusual occurrence. When i start the car up. both the tach and economy gauge momentarily move then die. With this, i am hesitant to think it is a fuse. Also, not all of my idiot lights light up when i turn on the ignition as they have in the past; only the anti-lock & battery illuminate, and the brake lining light illuminates only when the starter is cranking.

Unfortunately, I've not paid much attention in the past to which come on, but i think it is all of them when I turn the ignition on...

Perhaps this is just a coincidence, but losing all the gauges except for the speedo at once??  Strange

14

Electrical / Tach Guage and Gas Gauge not working

« on: November 04, 2008, 03:31:29 PM »

Bump

15

Electrical / Tach Guage and Gas Gauge not working

« on: November 04, 2008, 10:36:53 AM »

Thanks for the feedback.  

Some add'l info....

It is a VDO cluster and noticed another unusual occurrence. When i start the car up. both the tach and economy gauge momentarily move then die. With this, i am hesitant to think it is a fuse. Also, not all of my idiot lights light up when i turn on the ignition as they have in the past; only the anti-lock & battery illuminate, and the brake lining light illuminates only when the starter is cranking.

Unfortunately, I've not paid much attention in the past to which come on, but i think it is all of them when i turn the ignition on...

thx-