BMW E36 1994 325i Overfueling problem??

[norulz]

My fellow BMW Fanatics. So I bought myself a 1994 325i E36 for a weekend/track car. I'm noticing a distinct strong petrol smell on warm up and white smoke on revving...actually it does this even when warmed up...

Question is this particular model doesnt have an O2 sensor or should it, I checked the manifolds and under the car, and can find no signs of the car having or ever having one. I wouldnt think so if the car ran leaded at some point in its life...

So question 2 is how does the car measure and adjust the fuel richness setting? MAF? or is this looking like an engine overhaul? The car has 280,000 Kms.

Secondly does anyone know if a set of E90/E46 springs will fit on the car? Currently mine is dropped a tad tooo low (front tires touch if a turn sharp) or anyone got a set of standard E36 325/328 springs they would like to sell?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[andrewbuch]

as far as i know fuel mixtures done by the AFM/MAF ?

Springs, there is a place in town (cant remember the name now, will check the slip) I had all 4 of mine replace on the 316i for R1900. Didnt think the price as too bad.

Cheers

Andrew

 

[norulz]

Thanks Andrew yeah I think it is the MAF I will need to do some tests on it.

Let me know on the springs, appreciate it.

 

[Julz]

Dont out rule the water temp sensor.if its defective it will over fuel cos it will signal that the engine is cold.let us knw how it goes

 

[norulz]

Hmmm never thought about that, thanks Julz. Will check that out also. Does the temp gauge not use the same sensor tho? Cos the temp reads fine...

 

[STREETRACER]

no bud your car didnt have O2 sensors! O2 sensors only adjust fuel on cruise to get a 14.6-1 air fuel ratio! on idle and under full throttle they do nothing! your car works on MAF and throttle position sensor.. also agree on the water temp switch as mine gave me heaps of shit! makes my car idle funny and over fuel alot also get that fuel smoke!

Best is clean your MAF with carb cleaner and if it doesnt help get a diagnostics done!
Never overhaul a 325i engine as you can do a 328i swop for less!!! go have a look at the thread where we did a 328i swop in my brothers car with same mods! there is a masive difference! cant even compare the two!
Pm me if there is any thing els.. ill share as fas as my knolege goes!

 

[Raybimmer]

Streetracer good advice :clapetrol smell ? check injectors at fuel rail and rubber feed and return pipes at fuel rail . Air flow meter is hot film on vanos motor ( hot wire on non vanos ) .If MAF packs in the check engine light should come on , car will still run but not well . Use digital meter to check plug on MAF with ignition on , terminal 1 is ground and terminal 3 should read battery voltage . Good luck

 

[norulz]

Gents thanks a mil for the info.

Streetracer I will definetly be in touch I bought the 325i as I couldnt find a decent 328i but shyte am suprised that its cheaper to do an engine swop than an overhaul...I bought this car for the track so a 328i swop is definetly on the books...:thumbsup: Btw what am I looking at in terms of overhaul vs swop...??

I will definetly check out the temp sensor will post my findings.

 

[STREETRACER]

The engine swop cost us R13k now but they took the old engine as service exchange when we bought the engine!
Boetie budler gets the cheapest engines and it run very very good! no vanos rattle no funny sounds just a very smooth power delivery!

I realy can tell you what overhaul will be! but i read some okes pay between R18k and R25k.. i know it cost R2500 just to get your vanos put back with the vanos tool!

Engine swop has no run in time or any other shit! just plug and play! you welcome to ask for any info regaurding the swop! as its still a fresh memory!

 

[norulz]

Shyte!! Streetracer you right about the Vanos settings and here I was hopping to do the overhaul myself...damn this car is becoming a money pit already...:banghead:

I got a quote from BMW for a tappet cover gasket today it was a ridiculous R1200!!!

Ok so I had a look around the engine and radiator I can see only one sensor, thats the 3 pin sensor on the side of the radiator, I'm assuming this is the sensor I should be checking?? I do have a spare radiator so I'll swop the sensor out from that one and check if it sorts out the problem...

Thanks again for the assistance. :thumbsup:

 

[osiris]

hey man,

Do you have a photo of the springs on that car as I have a 325i convertable and I really wanna drop it so if you wanna do a straight swap with the springs let me know, but I really wanna see a photo first.

Thanks man.

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I mean do you have a photo of the car I would like to see how low its actually sitting. hehe thanks

 

[norulz]

hey man,

Do you have a photo of the springs on that car as I have a 325i convertable and I really wanna drop it so if you wanna do a straight swap with the springs let me know, but I really wanna see a photo first.

Thanks man.

---

I mean do you have a photo of the car I would like to see how low its actually sitting. hehe thanks

---

Dude I think this car has a 60mm drop but the shocks havent been changed to be honest the offer is tempting but I wouldnt want to put a fellow enthusiast thru the kak im going thru with this ride...this is my weekend ride so I can afford to screw around with it hehe...but have a look anyway...I've got a set of E46 M3 rims that I'll be putting on soon so these 16's will have to go!!!

Personally I think your ride will look cool with a 40 drop...and you wouldnt have to change the shocks...:thumbsup:

 

[Julz]

Hi,the tappet cover gasket for the e36 325 is supposed to be round 500 bucks from the agents.dont pay that rediculous price

 

[norulz]

Thanks Julz I phoned a few other agents and yes I got it for R524.00 :thumbsup:

I think the guy a phoned at Sandton auto must have been smoking crack with his R1200 price..:cursin:

 

[osiris]

Hrmmmm, yea that does look a bit tooooooo low.

I did a 35mm drop on my 325i hard top and the front wheels were almost in the arches, so I dont think thats a 60mm drop, but I could be wrong, the 16inch rims could be making the car sit a bit lower than it would on a 17 or 18 inch rim.

I also droped the car without changing the shocks and it was a nightmare, hit everything, even if there was a dip in the road id bottom out on it, changing the shocks made a massive difference though.

 

[norulz]

Yeah I'm quite sure its 60mm (I'll know when I take them out this weekend) I managed to get a set of 2nd hand standard springs for R200.00 but I also bought a set of 40mm springs for when I want to drop it. Did you change the shocks when you did the 35mm drop?

I hear that 35mm is hardly worth the effort but I think the cabrio uses the lower springs from the MSport in any case???

 

[osiris]

when I did the 35mm drop I had the M kit on the car and I could barely fit my fist under the front bumper lip, it was very low to the ground.

The Cabrio is already quite low especially at the back, but the front definately needs to go down.

I changed the shocks after I did the drop on the hard top as it was impossible to carry on driving with the original shocks and a droped suspension, was extreamly bouncy and uncomfortable and it was shocking at high speed it would feel the car is going to loose control.