Please help 2002 330i stepronic

Henry330i

Active member
Hey all I'm new here, got my car a 330i steptronic in April this year its done 153000km. Full S/H at BM one owner and a well loved car. great nic.

I get around 12.5 l/100km mixed driving but it feels a bit lazy, when driving on the high-way at about 120-130kph and want to speed-up without kick down.
Its just doesn't go the revs will climb a bit but doesn't speed-up.

I had a Scuby Legacy 2.5 auto non turbo that pulled better at these speeds.
It almost feels like its a manual with a slipping clutch.

Are there any boffins out here in Centurion or PTA other than BMW that I can go to with a diagnostic kit to check.

Please help.
 

Sankekur

///Member
LZ (zaleonardz@DentDoctor) on the forum should be able to help you out with this, though he is in boksburg, but that is not to far away.

If I were to wager a guess I would say the MAF might be at fault
 

CamZo

///Member
I am not a boffin but I have these questions?

HOw is your acceleration?

is there any sudden loss of power?

* note to other forum members this is the first time I am attempting to diagnose a problem lol so lets see if I really learnt something from this forum*

Was gonna say your maf is going or one of your coilpacks?
 

Sankekur

///Member
If one or more of the coilpacks are at fault you will feel the car vibrate when it is idling, the exhaust note would be uneven and power delivery will jerky, with the car running smooth under vacuum.
 

zaleonardz

Well-known member
Should be able to assist you with a base diagnostics without an issue.

Im always as the shop bud, if you have a moment, just let me know and pop past. :)
 

Henry330i

Active member
Goes well off the line and on kick down. And there is no loss of power when cruising. Its just feels like there's something missing, not responsive enough
when I want to accelerate gently. Like I said almost like a manual with someone riding the clutch.

Sankekur said:
If one or more of the coilpacks are at fault you will feel the car vibrate when it is idling, the exhaust note would be uneven and power delivery will jerky, with the car running smooth under vacuum.

runs very smooth at idle, and there's no surging when driving.

zaleonardz@DentDoctor said:
Should be able to assist you with a base diagnostics without an issue.

Im always as the shop bud, if you have a moment, just let me know and pop past. :)

Thanks are you there on Saturdays
 

Henry330i

Active member
Hey all thanks for the info. I found an ex BMW techy with is own shop now. He is here in Pretoria East, Dely Rd
R200 for full diagnostics. Let hope for the best maybe just a reset.

I'll keep you posted
 

Henry330i

Active member
Hi so I had the diagnostics done today nothing wrong. So guess what...Its my imagination. I test drove a E39 530i auto today feels the same. I'll just have to get use to this auto box I suppose. Don't hate me for saying this but maybe I just expected to much from the legendary 330i. I'm sure a manual feels more lively.:fencelook:
 

msm

Well-known member
Henry said:
I get around 12.5 l/100km mixed driving but it feels a bit lazy, when driving on the high-way at about 120-130kph and want to speed-up without kick down.
Its just doesn't go the revs will climb a bit but doesn't speed-up.

The 5th gear on the auto is a bit tall. It should be sitting at around 2500 RPM at 120 and these engines come alive at around 3500. This is probably what causes the car to feel a bit flat/lazy.

BTW, do you still have your cats in the car. I pulled out mine and it made a definite improvement in responsiveness at lower to mid RPM's. If all the codes were clear, my guess is that the cats are causing the problem as the car should still cleanly accelerate from 120 in top gear.
 

Henry330i

Active member
msm said:
Henry said:
I get around 12.5 l/100km mixed driving but it feels a bit lazy, when driving on the high-way at about 120-130kph and want to speed-up without kick down.
Its just doesn't go the revs will climb a bit but doesn't speed-up.

The 5th gear on the auto is a bit tall. It should be sitting at around 2500 RPM at 120 and these engines come alive at around 3500. This is probably what causes the car to feel a bit flat/lazy.

BTW, do you still have your cats in the car. I pulled out mine and it made a definite improvement in responsiveness at lower to mid RPM's. If all the codes were clear, my guess is that the cats are causing the problem as the car should still cleanly accelerate from 120 in top gear.

Yip still stock. Got a 2 year warranty don't think they will like it if I take it out but its a good idea. Ahh man now you got me thinking should I or shouldn't I. Thanks for that.:rollsmile:
 
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