320i issues

RachelLeighCook · 12-18-2002, 02:00 PM

my 1978 320i is having trouble starting in the mornings...it is making a weird knocking sound (I use supreme, so it's not the octane), sputters, and dies. I repeat this process three or four times before I can get on the road, after which it is fine. I don't think the engine is getting gas, so I want to replace the fuel filter. If someone can give me instructions, I would be grateful.

My mechanic, however, who I called (too busy to bring to) suggests it is something called the "gulp valve" which I have never heard of. Any suggestions?

The car is fine starting the rest of the day. Maybe it's the cold start valve.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 12-18-2002, 02:02 PM

Rachel

How does the car run when it has warmed up?

(fan of your movies, BTW, lol)

Jeff at WallWerks · 12-18-2002, 02:05 PM

Hi Rachel:

You are probably right on there. It sounds like the cold start valve. While you are at it, change the fuel pump if it is convenient. Also, are you getting any funny gas smell in your car?

My 320 had some deteriorated hoses that come over the top
of the tank. You can get to them by taking the seat out!!

Just for good measure, dump a can or two of injector cleaner through the tank. (cant hurt anything!)

good luck

jeff

Jared at Pelican Parts · 12-18-2002, 02:08 PM

It most liekly is the cold start valve, however if the car runs fine while warmed up it could also be the warm-up regulator as well.

RachelLeighCook · 12-18-2002, 07:55 PM

the car runs wonderfully when it is warm, but methinks it's a little bit louder than it used to be...not as smooth. i just dumped some redline fuel injector cleaner into it and have now sworn off of 87 at the pumps. i'll post back after i get my filter replaced tomorrow. thanks for all the help.

Jeff at WallWerks · 12-18-2002, 08:04 PM

Here is one other thing that might make all of you gag:

On an older motor, I have had fantastic luck with Z Max fuel
and oil treatment. I was watching Speedvision about two years ago on an all day car binge and I saw their infomercial about 6 times. (i know i dont have a life) At the time I had a 74 914-4
with stock fi that always gave me trouble at emission time. It would not pass by just a hair, but it was enough to take it in to my mechanic, get it leaned out run though emissions and bring it back. (big pain)

Honest to God, I poured this stuff in, and my 914 idled perfect and passed emissions by a considerable amount.

I just put some in my Toyota Rav 4 that has 160k on it and it is getting consistently 2mpg better than it did before. I had put it in my 83 320i with the same results. All three cars had a little bit better midrange throttle response.

Real thing, or snake oil. Curious to hear what anyone else knows.

A freind of mine that is an engineeer for the strategic defense initiative (a real rocket scientist) said that they use a derivative of what is in ZMAX in rocket fuel these days.

take care all,

jeff

RachelLeighCook · 12-19-2002, 09:55 AM

I just bought a fuel filter from my local store (screw Kragen) and something tells me it's too small. I could be wrong, of course, but can someone tell me if a Wix 33276 filter is the right size? I realize I should have said something there, but they were kind of hitting on me so I wanted to leave. They didn't take me seriously as someone that knows cars.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 12-19-2002, 10:12 AM

Yeah, I can imagine that being a movie star and all can be hard when you go into Kragen to buy parts, and then you get Cletus hitting on you. I'll check on that filter for you.

One thing you can do in the meantime is this, when the car is cold, turn the car to the on postition, but do not start it, pull the hose off the aux. air regulator and look inside. is the valve open or closed?

dylan · 12-22-2002, 08:34 AM

jared will a cold start off of a 81 interchange with the 78? if so then i would be happy to ship one out to you rachel i have a 81 320i junk car so if it will work there is no problem with me shipping it out
(one part at a time maybe i can give it away like that)

Jared at Pelican Parts · 12-23-2002, 09:24 AM

As far as I know the valve will not interchange from a a 78 to an 81.

dylan · 12-23-2002, 10:40 AM

oh well atleast i tried doing one good deed for the day right?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 12-23-2002, 11:30 AM

Thats what it's all about, dylan.

dylan · 12-23-2002, 01:07 PM

haha yeah i guess so, what it boils down to is I still need to get rid of the 320's and buy me another 325i i cant even give them away what in the world is wrong with these people jared?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 12-23-2002, 01:16 PM

Unfortunatley not many people want the 320i. I cant say i blame them. It isnt a performance car. It's a totally reliable commuter vehicle. I got over 400K on mine, before it ended up embedded in the side of Mullholland Highway.

I gotta admit, though, sometimes I miss that car. It could be really fun on mountain roads.

dylan · 12-23-2002, 01:19 PM

i got mine with 200k and now its got like 300k and i changed the oil one time within the period i had the car it still starts today but it smokes alot

Jared at Pelican Parts · 12-23-2002, 01:23 PM

I had that problem too. Usually it's bad valve stem seals. Try running a can of STP oil treatment. That should take care of it for the meantime. There is also this stuff called Bardhal's that works pretty good. It's essentially like putting heavy gear oil in your engine, but it will stop the smoking for a while.

dylan · 12-23-2002, 03:14 PM

thats cool jared but i dont drive it right now i have to replace the sway bar on it and the bushing going through the arm but i cant find that bushing so im in a rut right now

dylan · 12-23-2002, 03:16 PM

jared i do remember one thing that pleased the crowd with my 320i. The fact that i could pump the gas in first gear so much that it would either bottom out or pop the tires up and i wonder why the sway bar is broken

pianodan · pianodan's Garage

Rachel,

My curiosity begs the question... Why do you use "only" premium fuel in this car? Unless it's chipped, or some other mod to alter fuel and timing curves, anything over 87 octane is a waste of money.

I've been around e30's for many a year (I'm 51), and I don't know of ANYONE getting better mileage or legitimate better performance on an engine that the manual recommends 87 fuel in, by changing to higher octane fuel.

Since I am my own mechanic, I tend to believe it only if I can duplicate the results myself.

Dan.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

True, as long as the engine is not a high compression engine 87 octane should be fine. The middle grade is the worst, because no one buys that stuff, and it ends up sitting around in the tanks for much, much longer...

-Wayne