Stupid #@%^ing fuel injectors

camaroman · 12:43 PM

Okay....who has experience with bad fuel injectors on these cars? Mine's an '89 325i w/ the M20 (2.5 L6) engine. Has automatic trans. I think my injectors are leaky. Here's what the car does:

Starts hard quite often, though usually not first thing in the morning after sitting overnight. Every other time during the day though, it starts hard. Most of the time I have to hold the gas pedal to the floor and let it crank over about 5 or 6 times before she'll finally fire up. Sometimes more than that. If I shut it off and go to start it again right away, it will fire up by the 2nd or 3rd crank every time. Sitting for 10 min or more seems to allow it to flood or something though.

Gas mileage sucks. I mean, it's a small car with a small motor. I shouldn't be getting gas mileage like I'm driving an old V8 Camaro or something. 18mpg's on average, without beating on the car at all.

When I changed the plugs today, I noticed that three cylinders let raw fuel vapor out when I removed the plugs from the holes. That was after the car had been sitting for just over half an hour.

It also idles rough (sort of stumbles, really), and the horsepower just isn't where it ought to be. Don't recommend ignition checks; IT'S ALL BRAND NEW--cap, rotor, plugs, coil, and wires. So it's gotta be a fuel system thing.

So what do you guys think? Anybody had this trouble? Sound like worn fuel injectors to you or no?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-19-2004, 12:50 PM

Check the resistance of the fuel injectors first. Should be between 14.5 and 17.5 Ohms

camaroman · 10-19-2004, 01:08 PM

resistance? ok, will do, thanks

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-19-2004, 02:36 PM

Yes, set your volt meter to Ohms, then measure the resistance of each injector, (the two prongs on the top) If they do not meet the specs, they are bad and must be replaced.

camaroman · 10-19-2004, 06:08 PM

ok...I'll do it when it stops raining....the weather here in NY right now is pretty lousy.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-20-2004, 07:32 AM

Not great in L.A. either..

camaroman · 10-20-2004, 10:41 AM

I have to change the struts out too, come to think of it. Got the last set from Midas a year ago and one blew out already. The service charge for the warranty will be more than a new set of good Monroe's, so I'm just gonna do those myself. You ever done them before, man?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-20-2004, 10:43 AM

yup, and I would never put Monroes in there. Take a look at my articles... http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E30-Front_Suspen/E30-Front_Suspen.htm

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E30-Rear_Suspen/E30-Rear_Suspen.htm

camaroman · 10-20-2004, 12:29 PM

Good article. Why not Monroe's?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-20-2004, 12:30 PM

Cheap shocks in my opinion. If you are going to change the shocks, pout the right ones in. Either Boge, Bilstein or Koni.

jase007 · jase007's Garage

I agree with Jared.

I have installed and used on my iX

First: Bilsteins HD
Second: Boge Turbo Gas
Third: Koni Yellow Sports - single adjustable

Had H&R Sport springs with the second and third set of shocks. Wasn't correct until I got to the third setup with a larger adjustable (IE) rear sway bar.

Jason

camaroman · 10-21-2004, 01:26 PM

okay I will check the local Foreign Autopart for one of those 3 brands....I don't have the cash for the Bilstein's off this site right now

......the car has nickel-and-dimed me to death in the last 3 months and I'm not making much while I'm back in college. I have to get SOMETHING in there SOON, though....the pass side unit it completely blown out and I don't like subjecting my suspension to all the abuse of central New York roads (our local governments love to watch pot holes multiply) without a shock absorber. Thanks for the input guys. I will try troubleshooting the fuel injectors tomorrow....