e36 323 - gutless at low revs

[NiceCupOfTea]

Hi all,

I've had an issue with my e36 323 cab on and off since earlier in the summer. It idles fine, no hiccupping/running issues, no lights on, no stumbling or rough running, but sometimes as you accelerate it just picks up really slowly until he reach 3000ish revs where it starts pulling as normal.

It doesn't do it all the time, it generally seems OK when the engine is cold, but even when warm it doesn't do it all the time, did a journey the other day an hour each way, motorway and local roads, not problem. Sat in a bit of traffic last night and it wasn't pulling again.

It's not overheating, recent oil service.

Ideas? Battery isn't in the best of shape but can't see how that would cause this issue. Did wonder if the viscous fan could be causing an issue. ignition/coil pack? But then wouldn't I get an engine light? Same with MAF...

[bmwmike]

I had the later m52tub25 engine so may not apply as yours is single vanos I think. Mine was gutless at low revs when the one of the cam sensors had failed. It did not cause a code initially. Iirc was the exhaust one. Inlet cam sensor failed later and caused it to need a lot of cranking to start. So the symptoms are different for inlet vs ex.

[BGarside]

When my 328 was gutless low down it turned out to be the cam sensor, but the car would pull fairly jerkily at low revs and the idle speed bounced up and down.

I've heard that VANOS seal failure can result in poor power below 3k revs. Recently bought an upgraded seal kit for my car and will be getting it fitted soon.

[Vincefox]

I run an s50b32 e36 engine. I find if i replace the vanos solenoid seals every 18 months or so and replace/clean the vanos filter it helps mine maintain power. I've tried a lot of alternative/aftermarket seals and the best result seems to be to fir OE ones and replace them when they square off due to heat cycling. I even keep a spare set in the workshop all the time now.

Good luck.

[SebringMan]

With my E36 323i putting in V-Power cured the low end hesitation. I was very surprised and tried to convince myself it was nothing. But the difference was quite apparent.

[Pica-Pica]

SebringMan said:

With my E36 323i putting in V-Power cured the low end hesitation. I was very surprised and tried to convince myself it was nothing. But the difference was quite apparent.

I sold my E36 in Feb, 140k miles never any low rev issues - but, yes, it much preferred V power.

[SebringMan]

Pica-Pica said:

I sold my E36 in Feb, 140k miles never any low rev issues - but, yes, it much preferred V power.

It was odd to be fair. I don't rev many cars loads when bringing up the clutch. In Ford V6s etc. it's been fine. In this however, even with bringing the revs up to 1100 it was not the quick thing to move until 1500rpm. It had a flat spot. V-Power surprisingly cured that low end flat spot.

I was surprised as let's be honest the 323i is not the most stressed of engines!