Messages

1

General Topics / Re: Fuel Line help?

« on: June 01, 2015, 03:30:05 PM »

Rather than starting a new thread, I'm facing this same question about how to replace the leaking rubber fuel hose than runs from the hard line over the gas tank to the fuel filter on a 1991 318is. Is there any new wisdom in the eight years since this old thread?

The options for accessing the hose clamp and hose removal listed here seem to be: 1) try to access the clamp through the driver's side access hole (unlikely to work); 2) drop the tank; 3) open the driver's side access plate and cut and flare the high pressure hard line and run a longer rubber hose to the filter; or 4) cut an additional access hole in the rear seat base sheet metal over the clamp.

Looking for the best (least worse) other option?     

2

Engine + Driveline / Re: M42 help needed (1991 318is)

« on: May 09, 2014, 07:53:31 PM »

Well, it's working now with no cel. This morning after the same symptoms, I noticed one strange thing that I had seen a few days earlier. Driving up a steep grade at speed and the flashing cel stopped, ease off throttle and started flashing, road levels out and flashing. Made me wonder if something was going on in the gas tank.

All of this started after I had let the tank get down to the low warning light and then filled up. Symptoms started two days later at around 3/4 tank and by now I was down to about 3/8. So this morning I added a bottle of HEET and put some gas in the car (premium again but from a different station). Hadn't filled it since this mess started since I thought I might have to pull the fuel pump. Drove it for about 10 minutes with no change in the cel issue, did a hard acceleration and the flashing cel disappeared...and hasn't come back at idle or at speed. Drove it for a while and everything was fine. Let it sit for about five hours and drove it again and no flashing cel at idle or speed. We'll see if this holds over the weekend.

So condensation in the tank combined with old O2 sensor, plugs, a couple vacuum hoses that had developed cracked ends, and viola a puzzle?? 
   

3

Engine + Driveline / Re: M42 help needed (1991 318is)

« on: May 08, 2014, 11:43:20 AM »

Found a few cracked vacuum hoses I had missed (the one under the ICV, and one of the hoses from the crankcase to the throttle body) and replaced them. Smoothed out the idle a bit but still rough. Replaced the O2 sensor this morning with OEM Bosch unit and now idle is steady both cold and warm. I still get the blinking CEL whenever I hit the throttle, with no stored codes. Car runs fine...so I am confused to say the least.  Time for smoke test, piece of tape over the light? It does look like I have an oil leak from around the oil filter housing. Would this be enough to cause the problem?   

4

Engine + Driveline / Re: M42 help needed (1991 318is)

« on: May 06, 2014, 08:42:05 AM »

Ok tried this again this morning. Disconnected battery to start with clean slate.

Reconnected battery and fired up.No cel for the first minute or so at idle, then starts to stumble

Disconnecting one at a time while running:

-02 sensor: idle smooths out, no cel at idle but if I give it throttle cel begins at 1500 rpm

-TPS: engine dies

-ICV: runs worse and almost dies

-O2 sensor and TPS: dies

-AFM resistor cord: no real difference, maybe runs a bit rougher when removed

So removing the 02 sensor out smooths idle but I still have cel under throttle. Even when slowly increasing throttle the cel starts at around1500 rmp and up. let off the throttle the cel disappears.

Reread codes and had the ICV show up from when I disconnected it. Cleared codes restarted engine with 02 sensor disconnected. Same symptoms with no cel or stumble at idle and cel when I give it throttle. Rechecked codes and none stored.

5

Engine + Driveline / Re: M42 help needed (1991 318is)

« on: May 05, 2014, 06:05:19 PM »

Removed and cleaned the CPS which was pretty badly gunked up though ohmed correctly. Cleaned the Cam sensor. Fired it up. Starts out smooth idle, after a minute or so gets rougher. CEL when I hit the throttle. Stumble at Idle and flash CEL. Basically same as before.

Turn it off and unplug the following one at a time, and restart to see if any difference at idle. Unplugged the O2 sensor no change still rough idle no better no worse. Unplug the ICV idle a bit rougher, unplug TPS no change at idle (expected), unplug coolant temp sensor CTS big change barely run.

Noticed a puddle underneath my muffler. Water/condensation with a sweet smell. Head gasket? Profile gasket? No milkshake on the dipstick or milkshake under the oil cap.

Still no stored codes. 

6

Engine + Driveline / Re: M42 help needed (1991 318is)

« on: May 04, 2014, 05:45:47 PM »

Thanks for the reply. Looks like the O2 sensor was replaced two owners back somewhere between 2008-2010. Probably 30k ago?

Just replaced the intake boot. I replaced the rest of the vacuum hoses when I got the car. ICV is humming on ignition, though need a mechanics stethoscope to hear it. Couldn't tell by touch or sound otherwise.

Checked the resistance on the crank sensor pigtail: read 540 for pins 1-2; meter didn't register anything for pins 1-3 or 2-3. Didn't pull the sensor to check the head though. 
 
Also checked the resistance on the cam sensor; read 1330 for pins 1-2; again meter didn't register anything for 1-3 or 2-3   

7

Engine + Driveline / M42 help needed (1991 318is)

« on: May 04, 2014, 01:39:52 PM »

Posted this on a few other forums, figure it's time to come to the source. 1991 318is with 240k I picked up last fall. Up until now running fine with some very slight stumble on idle but fine under throttle.  Last week driving home noticed a noticed a blinking cel a couple times. Checked codes with code reader nothing. Yesterday took a longer highway drive and cel starts blinking every time I'm on throttle. Rapid blinking. Pulled over to see if there was anything visibly wrong, and noticed that it didn't matter if I was in gear or not. Bump the throttle and I get the blinking cel. Got home checked codes again with code reader and also with stomp test. No stored codes.

This morning tried it again and now the idle is worse. Car runs, stumbles as if it's about to die and flashes a cel, catches and runs, and repeats. Still no stored codes. Unplugged and replugged connectors, swapped out the three relays (main, fuel pump, etc) with new ones, even replaced the old fuel filter since it needed it anyway. No difference, still blinking cel on throttle, idles stumbles about to die and catches, and no stored codes.

Open to suggestions of where to start to track this down.         

8

Engine + Driveline / M42/E30 Skid Plate

« on: January 07, 2014, 10:53:04 PM »

M42 on the 318is has a low hanging pan even at stock height. I put the Red46 plate on the 1991 318is beater, and have a Raceskids plate on the Spec e30 that has been fine in off track excursions and saved the pan a few times when driving to the track before I began trailering the car.

The Severe Duty plate is the stronger of the three options since instead of bolting to the radiator support it welds to the frame rails. More expensive but great for a rally car and nasty street conditions.

9

Interior / Billiard ball shift knob for E30's

« on: December 01, 2013, 05:33:58 PM »

Nice job! How tight is the fit? Set screws to hold it on the shaft? Would beat the plastic tab on the Febi knob.

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Engine + Driveline / So here's the scam.....

« on: November 26, 2013, 11:53:34 PM »

Car sat for three years. You've replaced fuel pump, injectors, checked lines etc. What about the gas itself. Full tank when the car sat? Added any Stabil before you let it sit? Have you drained the tank or added a bottle or three of gasline dryer?

Other: valve bent, crack in main intake boot, timing off somehow (new to m42s so not sure what to look at here)...

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Engine + Driveline / So here's the scam.....

« on: November 26, 2013, 05:12:07 PM »

Sorry for my last, just looked at the first page on the thread on the injector saga.

12

Engine + Driveline / So here's the scam.....

« on: November 26, 2013, 05:06:50 PM »

Dave asked above if you had replaced/checked the injectors? Could be I missed it but have you pulled these to see if one or more is clogged?

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General Topics / New guy from Wisconsin

« on: November 24, 2013, 10:03:57 AM »

Thanks! Best guess is the suspension was changed around 168k by a PO from Chicago in 2006 I haven't been able to track down. Intrax springs (126/250) with Kyb shocks. Rides well but wouldn't have been my choice of a combination. Lowers the car about 1.5" f/r and a softer ride than the H&R sports Bilstein sports combo I had for a while on a 325i. The wild card on ride quality though is the old Fusion HRI 185/60/14 tires that came on the car. Need better tires and proper sizing to get a better feel.

Some pics showing ride height from the last PO:

14

General Topics / New guy from Wisconsin

« on: November 24, 2013, 07:57:33 AM »

Picked up a 1991 318is slicktop for a winter DD. One owner in Chicago until 167k and then four other owners and 235k on a broken odometer. Last owner stored more than drove it for the past three years. Brilliantrot with grey cloth. Needs a bit of love but a solid car. I've tracked down three of the POs for history on the car. Lowered on intrax springs.  So far I've replaced fluids, filters, hoses, belts, blower resistor, new lower oil pan, missing upper pan bolts replaced and all locktited, replaced rusted wheel studs/lug nuts, added a Sump Armor skid plate, disintegrating hood insulation removed. Timing chain is quiet. Forum has been a big help!!

15

General Topics / Skid Plates

« on: November 24, 2013, 07:33:18 AM »

Red46 sump armor
http://www.red46.net/store/p6/Sump_Armor_-_BMW_e30.html
$160 shipped, now on sale @ $140.

Just installed one on my 1991 318is beater. I have the race skids plate on the Spec E30.