Loss of power in 316 - Help!

[Eddh]

I have a BMW 316 as the DD a few weeks ago while on the way back from work sitting in 5th gear on the duel carriageway I accelerated and was met with... barely anything. They haven't got much power to start with but it struggled to get to 70.

After testing it a bit once I had got home it seems to pull fine in 1st and 2nd all the way through the rev range and then when you go into 3rd and higher it just seems to lose puff after about 3k RPM and really struggles.

I haven't driven it in the last 2 weeks and picked up a MAF sensor 2nd hand off another 316i Compact as I thought this was the problem. It hasn't solved it.

The exhaust is blowing before the cat and I have a new exhaust to go on (going to put it on this evening) I just wondered if anyone had any idea of what the problem could be?

Thanks in advance,

Edd

[jamesson]

This sounds normal for such a lowly powered car.

[Eddh]

Great reply thanks.

[TheEnd]

A blowing exhaust can take power down a bit, the pulsing gasses can draw in outside air, which if it hits the lambda sensor, it'll make the car think it's running lean, and it'll keep on adding more fuel trying to take the excess oxygen out, not realising the air is entering past the cylinders.

At higher revs, it's unlikely the air would manage to get to a lambda sensor, but it can still record the apparent lean condition at idle, and apply a correction to the entire rev range.

Try a diagnostic if you are near someone, maybe the car knows what is wrong.

[jamesson]

Eddh said:

Great reply thanks.

Well, it does sound normal for a 316. I'm not having a go, but they do struggle when the speed gets up a bit.

[Eddh]

Sorted it now, new exhaust complete with new O2 sensor and running fine. I can start using it again for work now instead of commuting in the bloody race car!