Help with new project - 316i

Hello everyone

Time to introduce myself as a new member.

I have just bought myself an E30 316i as a commuter / runaround so that I dont have to pile the miles on my '93 Toyota MR2 GTi-16.

This looks like a great forum - I have already found it useful.

I bought the 316 without planning - saw an advert and decided to take a risk.

Shes a 91 plate 4 door 316i in a darkish red metalic finish. Electric Sunroof, central locking, mirrors etc. 127K

I have just changed the following service parts:

Air filter, fuel filter, Distributor cap.

It runs fine at speed but the idling is as lumpy as hell and It smells rich. Can anyone advise as to what I should do next?

Im also geting a tappety noise. I have read that camshafts/followers are a common item of wear but can I adjust the tappets manually?

I would be grateful for any help!

Cheers. Rob

Try cleaning out the cold start valve with carb cleaner or white spirit.

The fuel pressure regulator valve can get a bit tired - shows up as high fuel consumption & sooty plugs. Don't fiddle with settings - needs setting up on an exhaust gas analyser.

The M40 starts to get tappety from 100k onwards but it'll go for another 30k before it gets too bad. Just live with it as a new cam + bits is around £200 plus fitting.

The fuel pressure regulator on my 635 was a bit lazy - I thought 15 mpg was normal for one of those!!!

Now it's around 20mpg which is a 30% improvement. Car feels more lively too. It was around £35 for the FPR.

As a guide, my 316 Touring (which is heavier & has lower gearing AFAIK) does around 28mpg town, 33mpg motorway @75mph & 36mpg+ on more give & take roads.

hey first post i have a 316i 89 & its the exact same symptoms!

now where did i put my haynes manual?

 

 

Hey E30forlife - just found a really useful website - www.bimmerdiy.com/e30

Cheers Andy - thats the next port of call before I tear my hair out and get a loan to source unecessary replacement parts! I really expected the distributor being broken into 3 parts may have been the cause!

Right - another update :D

Last night was very frustrating.

I read an article on bimmerdiy that said you could check for ecu
error codes on all E30's by putting ignition onto 2nd position
and then depress and release throttle pedal 3 times.
Supposedly this makes th 'check engine light' flash in
sequences to report problems.

Well I have no check engine light. There is a small square just
above the service light strip which I assume is the light i should
be looking for.

Well I doubted the bulb was installed so I stripped out the
cluster and sure enough - no bulb (or holder). I also noticed I
had no loom going to the yellow pin socket behind the service
lights.

I am getting confused - should I:

1/ Have the engine check light or is this part of a different
system, and

2/ Should I have the loom going to the yellow socket.

Any help would really be appreciated. i cant find any help on
whether I should be able to do this diagnostic check.

Cheers

Once again - thank you Andy, I will do that.

I dont know if these forums are always this quiet but there
doesnt seem much activity. Any reason for this or are folks just
quiet on here! :D

Also - is ths forum connected to E30 Zone?

One day I will stop asking questions!

Thanks