'83 320i Lunging/lurching problem

bemor1 · 03-14-2006, 10:03 AM

Hi, I'm new to the forum.....just bought a 1983 320i with about 70k miles on it. Have noticed when maintaining the same speed, neither accelerating nor slowing down, it some times gets jerky, with a lunging or lurching type of motion, especially at slower speeds. Any experience with this or ideas/advice what it could be or how to fix it? Thanks....

GIBSON · GIBSON's Garage

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like it could be a fuel problem, fuel pump, the CIS fuel distributor can clog and not allow proper fuel to be released, injectors can also clog causing stumbling.
If your fuel filter is new, I'd try a can of Techron through the car and drive it hard. See if that makes any difference. If not, it's probably something in the fuel system, any one of the components I mentioned could be the problem.

bemor1 · 03-14-2006, 05:10 PM

Thanks, I'll give that a try. Also, it's leaking oil. Should I add some No Leak Engine Oil Treatment?

GIBSON · GIBSON's Garage

I would not add anything to stop the leaks. Try to decide if the leak is just frustrating but not a big problem, i.e. is it leaking oil onto the clutch surface-that's a problem. If it's just a drip that is not affecting anything else, you might just wait till there is more
to do and fix it then....

bemor1 · 03-16-2006, 06:31 PM

All right, thanks, I will take a look and determine how serious a leak it is. Thanks for your help. We got some Techron for it too. Will be giving that a try....

GIBSON · GIBSON's Garage

I think the Techron is a good idea, use it in one or two tankfuls and then consider changing the oil. What gets removed from the fuel system can actually end up in the oil and you probably should consider an oil and filter change- and a fuel filter as well if it's not been changed recently.