Is it my MAF sensor?

[croyde]

I have a 1998 E36 323i, owned by me since back then and the car is serviced when due and repaired when needed. Only 96,000 on the clock.

Over the past week or so the car feels very sluggish, almost as if Snow/Ice mode is enabled although this car is too old for all that high tech stuff. The throttle appears to react really slowly to my inputs.

First thought it was the clutch but that was replaced about 10,000 miles ago and double checked it wasn't slipping.

Anyone else experienced the same and was it just the MAF sensor that needed cleaning/replacing?

Further reading also mentions Vanos and clogged Cats. Hope it isn't, as it sounds expensive.

Cheers.

ETA Been using it today and it now feels fine??

Edited by croyde on Saturday 6th June 14:53

[Schermerhorn]

You can buy a MAF sensor cleaner for about £15.

Wynn's do one and its called an EGR valve cleaner. It is basically the same thing. The E36 series cars do have MAF problems.


Cleaning guide can be found on Youtube.

[Funk]

Check your intake boot after the MAF. Mine had a hole in it I could've put my fist through and was the cause of a rough, lumpy idle and dodgy acceleration.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Paul S4]

Has your car got an aftermarket air filter that uses oil to filter the air...I understand that if these are 'over oiled', the oil gets onto the MAF film and causes problems. It certainly affects Alfa 156 intake systems.

[croyde]

Everything standard on the car. Serviced by a BMW specialist so oem air filter.

Like I said, weirdly it was fine today.

[croyde]

Just to add. The car has been fine until yesterday.

2 hours to travel 14 miles across grid locked London in 30 degree heat and it was as powerful as a golf kart, in fact not nearly as fast as one off the line.

Parked at work until midnight and it was fine on the commute home. 35 mins to cover the same distance.

[mark.c]

Complete guess of course without seeing the car or plugging it in, but, in my experience sluggish behaviour as you describe can be down to fuel delivery (fuel filter blocking, bad fuel) or timing off (camshaft, crank sensor going bad, vanos timing). You could try cleaning the MAF but Ive found when they go wrong it's either a more gradual reduction in power or rough running or a sudden loss of power like hiting a rev limiter early.
Best advice to avoid scatter gun approach would be to get it plugged in.