Weird engine problem
 

HEy guys... im glad to be on the forum ( even happier to have found it :P )
I have this nice little 316I ( 2000 model - e46)
Love it to death, but its started being weird on me...
hat happens is that a while ago, the indicator looking like an engine ( " exhaus gases indicator" ) lit up. I called Bavaria, and they said it was nothing big, and nothing to worry about. Then the car started slowing its acceleration , and now lately, it needs to "warm up" or it wont accelerate from start at all...
Example is in the morning, when i start it, it needs 2-3 minutes running empty, before i can actually do anything. If i hit the accelerator it chokes... if i try to put it in gear and thus strain the engine, it chokes...if im too hard on the acellerator after getting into gear.. it chokes.... its like the engine either gets no fuel.. or way too much fuel when i hit the accelerator... anyone have any idea ? .. now i have schedueled an appointment at the garage, but id like to know what i can expect....

best regards
Rubukas

Does the problem go away after it is warm or does it just get a little better?

weird problem
 

It More or less goes away, but i notice a significant overall lower power and acceleration in the car....
but as i said.. if i , lets say drive for 1 hour ( or however long) , stop the car 10 minutes, and restarts, i still have to wait a minute or 2 before the car is driveable again...

It seems you have an idea what it could be ? :)

Nothing specific comes to mind. There are lots of possibilities.

Can you pull the OBD error codes?

weird problem
 

.. no.. i have no such possibilities.. im a lightyear away from being technical of nature, so i HAVE to have it done in the garage anyway, but i just wanted to have a slight idea so they dont pull a " the whatyamacallits is gone" ... :P

The problem is too general to say any one thing. Lots of things, small and large, could cause your issue.

When they give you a diagnosis and cost let us know and maybe we can help.

My first guess would be that the heating element on your oxygen sensor is not working. Could be the sensor, or it could be the fuse or relay that powers that heater. If the car has over 100k miles on it, I would replace the sensor myself before taking it to the garage. It needs one soon anyway, and you will save $100 doing it yourself. It might even fix the problem and avoid the trip to the shop altogether!

My second guess is that the cold start system is hyperactive and is coming on like it is 20 below zero even on a warm start. If so, it is flooding the engine.

Need more data to speculate any more.