BMW E46 dizzler woes

[ashmicro]

Hi all

 

One of my neighbours has a 1994 BMW 320 diseasel 150 BHP. It's running like a pig, and won't rev above 2000 rpm. However, upon my disconnecting the airflow meter, it revs all the way to 4-odd thou. Am I right in thinking that the airflow meter is all that's amiss and giving the ECU duff data, or should I check owt else?

 

Thanks in advance folks.

[Pete-M]

it revs all the way to 4-odd thou.

 

That looks so wrong. I hate diesels.

 

However, if you can't find someone with a diagnostic gubbin, I'd say you could be right about the AFM.

[Cavcraft]

There's a common problem with swirl flaps on these, could it be an early sign of this? From a tinternet search it would seem that when they go they take the engine out with them so hopefully it's not this.

[Lord Sterling]

Is it a 1994 model? Shouldnt it be a E36 instead of 46?

[overheadvalve]

Did they do a 320 in the E36? I thought they did a 1.8 and a 2.5

Maybe it's a 2004 model?

[cort16]

My mates 320d eat it's swirl flaps. He said he didn't have any warning it was just fine then it really wasn't and he had to get a new engine. You can buy kits to blank them off as I think it was just BMW wanking around trying to be clever and they don't do that much.

[ashmicro]

Thanks for the replies. Sorry, I'm an idiot, it's a 2004. I ran the code reader over it just now, and nowt found. We're gonna take off the AFM tomorrow and have a look at it, and then get shot of the piss-flaps. You can get ally billet blanking plugs for them, apparently.

 

Cheers again, all.

 

Edit: sorry Cort, didn't notice you'd just said that!

[cort16]

I think those plates are a must for these or you'd be bricking it waiting for it to happen. Nice one BMW.

[ashmicro]

OK, airflow meter replaced, the car will rev cleanly. But it won't boost. Fucksticks.

[cort16]

One of the pipes hasn't popped off or split has it?

[ashmicro]

Gonna take a look tomorrow for duff pipes, Cort. Hopefully that's all it is.

 

EDIT. Just checked, the car boosts fine with the new MAF disconnected, and with it connected, it seems to be down on boost. Does anyone know do these things have "adaptive learning" or a drive cycle for the car to learn the new part? It's a right pain in the arse.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Gonna take a look tomorrow for duff pipes, Cort. Hopefully that's all it is.

 

EDIT. Just checked, the car boosts fine with the new MAF disconnected, and with it connected, it seems to be down on boost. Does anyone know do these things have "adaptive learning" or a drive cycle for the car to learn the new part? It's a right pain in the arse.

 

The ECU still has the 'shagged MAF' code stored. Until the fault code is cleared by a man with a laptop, it won't recognise the new MAF.

[ashmicro]

^^ Thanks for that, Rev. The trouble is finding someone who can clear the code. Do you know if the car (2004) is too new for the disconnect the battery trick?

 

Cheers

[cort16]

I don't think that works anymore. The obdII connector on these is below the steering wheel on the right hand side. Most garages have a decent obdII diagnostics machine now that should be able to clear the codes. A mobile auto electrician may even have the gear these days.

[ashmicro]

Thanks guys. I'm going to get the car later and try a couple of local places.

[ashmicro]

Job jobbed, going like a diesel powered Saturn 5. Just for future info, the new MAF was fucked too, and then number 2 injector died. So, another MAF, and a secondhand injector, swirl flaps removed, fault codes cleared. VROOM! Props to Davy Jess from Railway Auto Spares, Ballynahinch, who gave us a load of bits, and trusted us to come back and pay him.

[cort16]

A+. How did you deal with the flaps if you don't mind me asking you a personal question?

[ashmicro]

No probs. We took of the fannymould, flipped it upside down, removed the actuator rod and removed each of the spiral flaps in turn. Then, under advice from Davy @ Railway Breakers, simply removed the flaps from their individual shafts, and put the flap units back in, sans flap, Since the units were going back in, we didn't need the ally plug-plates. The remaining flap rods cant be drawn into the engine as they are secured outside the manifold as we put the actuator rod back in place to stop then falling out and causing an air leak. Simples. Not. So the actuator rod still moves, and the flap unites move, but all that's in the manifold tracts is the little rods.

 

May I take this opportunity to say that the engine is a shit design, with loads of unnecessarily sharp edges. One example is how the disptick tube is attached to the manifold. Its a right angled bracket, with the bolt underneath it, where you can hardly see it. There's no reason why that bracket cant be rotated 180 degrees, and the bolt on top, and thus visible.

[CIH]

Re: sharp edges

 

Also see the undersides of any thing by Lotus or Ferrari.