New here, got problems with my 318is!

[Marcp]

Hello, been given this link from E30zone, I have just bought a 90' 318is, and I adore it so far, apart from its running issues it has.

It is TERRIBLE on fuel!   Its currantly doing about 18mpg.... it stinks of fuel on idle, and runs pretty poor for the first 5 mins or so after startup, hot or cold.

It drives fairly decent, I do have a video I made which I will upload soon.

I have changed the plugs, blue temp sensor and thermostat.   The car runs spot on the temp guage, but I have no idea where else to look, im used to mechanical fuel injection!

Any ideas on what next?

Thanks, Marc.

[Jami318is]

Hello, been given this link from E30zone, I have just bought a 90' 318is, and I adore it so far, apart from its running issues it has.

It is TERRIBLE on fuel!   Its currantly doing about 18mpg.... it stinks of fuel on idle, and runs pretty poor for the first 5 mins or so after startup, hot or cold.

It drives fairly decent, I do have a video I made which I will upload soon.

I have changed the plugs, blue temp sensor and thermostat.   The car runs spot on the temp guage, but I have no idea where else to look, im used to mechanical fuel injection!

Any ideas on what next?

Thanks, Marc.

OMG Marc if you find ANYTHING at all that solves this problem PLEASE let me know. I have been dealing with this same problem for about 6 months now.

As long as I let it warm up out of the blue zone it will idle fairly well but runs very rich. I dropped from about 28 to 18 or less.

Now it wont idle at all. It tries then drops to almost stalling point then jumps up and so on until it stalls. Last night the check engine light kept coming on and off so I ran the code today and it comes up Speedometer A Signal
which has nothing to do with this. Oh and it wanted to idle around 22,000 last night until it sat for a while....

I miss my baby!
Have a better day!
Jami

[haledj]

it wanted to idle around 22,000 last night until it sat for a while

GOOOO!  :eek::eek:  thats alot  

I would check for vacuum leaks, try a working AFM, IAC, coils and wires.

any of these things are known to make these engines do crazy stuff.

good luck

[Jami318is]

GOOOO!  :eek::eek:  thats alot  

I would check for vacuum leaks, try a working AFM, IAC, coils and wires.

any of these things are known to make these engines do crazy stuff.

good luck

Tell me about it! My exhaust broke right before the muffler (about a 3 foot piece) so I am running a header and short pipe and cat with about 3 more ft. of pipe so it is hard to hide the noise at 22,000 ! LOL

It's funny about this because I had to put new o-rings on the injectors and new hoses and clamps through out to stop a running problem and fuel leak. Then it began to run rough and I discovered a small vacuum house from the fuel pressure regulator to the throttle body was split so I fixed it and it began to run worse.  

Been a head ache ever since. I finally got it running decent but still had the running to rich problem and then this mess.
The last time I reset the computer and cleaned the plugs it ran like a modified then smoothed out and did ok but over time it has returned to running richer and richer and an occasional idle boost to 1100 until I let it sit.

It is hard trying to do this out in the drive way in this stupid cold weather but it is January...:eek: lol
Hey say there was a vacuum leak at the upper intake gasket could this cause it? I had the upper off about 6 times but it was with a brand new gasket.....

Also could a head gasket problem cause this? I was told it could. I love this car...Well ok most of the time and right now this is NOT one of those times...rofl
Thank You for your time!
~Jami~

[sand_m4n]

haha welcome to the club! I have replaced many things on my 318i and it still wants to get 18mpgs when it used to get more . i have replaced the alternator, spark plug wires, spark plugs, fuel injectors, air boot, air intake housing, new complete  cat back exhaust, new flex plate, new guibo, new timing chain, new belts, new knock sensors, new manual transmission, new rear bumper, new seats, new depo head lights, new hoses, new brake pads, new brake rotors, new brake lines, new H&r shocks, New sport bushings, new engine mounts, ETC.  the only thing left i really have to replace is a crankshaft seal leak (which is really bad.) at the moment like i said earlier, i only get 18 mpgs as opposed to the 20-40 i used to get, the only thing i can think of is the leak?  my advise to you is to take it to a garage that knows what they are doing and wont rip you off (not a bmw dealership) ! if it was up to the bmw (dealership) i would still be paying for the damn knock sensor which they wanted to charge me $1200.00 lmfao. My point is, if you have these engines running right they can acheive incredible Mpgs/speeds but if you have these engines running wrong they can cost you great deals of money in repairs & gas!! Take my advice repair every thing you can now!  :cool:

[Wise Old Dog]

Knock Sensors?
O2 is worth a look at. They don't last forever.

[Jami318is]

Knock Sensors?
O2 is worth a look at. They don't last forever.

Thanks for the welcome! I kind of thought an 02 sensor would show up in the codes but so far nothing more then the spedo one! Is there a way to check and see if it is causing the problem before pulling it out? I mean if you unplug it and it does not make a difference would this say it is the problem?

Seems so strange how so many 318 owners are having the same trouble but no one seems to fins an answer...I know of some that have replaced everything you could think of and still no change... I miss my baby!

I tried another test drive tonight and at first would not idle then would then would not then would and so on. Seems to have lost a lot of power but that may just be fouled plugs again since it is running so rich....

Have a great day!
Jami

[magnum2066]

The buddy I sold my car to just had his head gaskets replaced recently and the developing problem didn't arise until the weather got below freezing.  I know the exhaust leaks but who wants to be under a car on a cold ground when its -20F out?  This has stumped me too because the entire engine was rebuilt the same time the gaskets were done.  :/

[Marcp]

Im thinking throttle position sensor now?

Mine doesnt have a cat or o2 sensor, so I can rule those out.

Either throttle positon or AFM..... it has to be?

Argh.... I love this car so much, its a riot on wet days and really capable on dry ones, and not to slow either, but when its doing this it drives me up the wall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marcp]

Oh yeah, the other thing the car does is idle at about 1500rpm for the first few mins on startup... hot or cold!!

[bmwman91]

I am putting my bet on the O2 sensor being part of it.  Bad plug wires and/or coil packs can cause issues as well, although you would be seeing a lot of mis-fires.

If someone messed with the air meter's adjustment screw, then that is probably the problem right there.  There is not really any way to fix that outside of taking it in to the dealer, or a properly equipped shop.  A better bet is to find another one at a junk yard.

[tjts1]

If you don't have an O2 sensor the engine management system is completely different all of the US m42s on here. My first guess is to test your coolant temp sensor, MAF and I'm willing to bet you have more than a few vacuum leaks under your intake.
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2742
Don't start by throwing money at the problem. Search this forum. Theres tons of useful info archived here. I also found these links extremely helpful.
http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/index.html
http://zoso.no-ip.org/cars-318i.html
http://bmw.e30tuner.com/index.php
http://ee1394.com/bmw/docs/factory/repair/en/index1.htm
Good luck

[kowalski]

Im thinking throttle position sensor now?
 
Mine doesnt have a cat or o2 sensor, so I can rule those out.
 
Either throttle positon or AFM..... it has to be?
 
Argh.... I love this car so much, its a riot on wet days and really capable on dry ones, and not to slow either, but when its doing this it drives me up the wall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

more info on your settup, pics?

[Marcp]

Im from the UK, I guess its early enough not to need a cat in the UK, it only became compulsary in 1993.

Checked the TPS today, works fine.

Arrrgh!!

[Marcp]

Today I changed the AFM, and sealed all the breather pipes and the pipes going into the idle control.   I also cleaned the idle control out with petrol.

Idle seems a bit better, but still VERY rich!   Its still only doing 20ish to the gallon, cant live with that.