e30 wont acceletate over 60kph HELP!!!!

I'm working on a friends E30 318i and it gets to 57kph (LETS CALL IT 60) and will not accelerate any further, once the speed drops below 60 it will then be able to accelerate again. Car freely revs in Netural and has no hesitation getting to 60 but once it reaches that speed it feels as if there is a fuel cut.

We have replaced Spark Plugs, Fuel Filter, Leads are new. The only thing we have left is the Dizzy cap and I will give that a shot next chance I get to look at the car. Is there anything that I have over looked?

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Thanks Dave.

Checked the Dizzy cap it had a small amount of black build up. Removed that, still no better... Time to replace the Dizzy cap and rotor?

I presume this is the M40 motor? If you drive it in second or third gear (assuming it is a manual) does it rev up to about 5,500 RPM without a problem? What RPM does it achieve before baulking at 60Km/h in top gear?
Check that the camshaft timing is 100% correct..use a Haynes or Bentley manual to see how this is done...if it is indeed a M40 I can give you step by step advice on this.
A badly worn camshaft can also cause this.
The Air Flow Meter could be bad....try and swap it out with some other 318i owner.
Fuel pump or fuel regulator could be bad...Haynes tells you how to check these items.

Originally Posted by Billwill

I presume this is the M40 motor? If you drive it in second or third gear (assuming it is a manual) does it rev up to about 5,500 RPM without a problem? What RPM does it achieve before baulking at 60Km/h in top gear?
Check that the camshaft timing is 100% correct..use a Haynes or Bentley manual to see how this is done...if it is indeed a M40 I can give you step by step advice on this.
A badly worn camshaft can also cause this.
The Air Flow Meter could be bad....try and swap it out with some other 318i owner.
Fuel pump or fuel regulator could be bad...Haynes tells you how to check these items.

Umm I'm unsure on the engine code but its an 1985 E30 BMW 1.8L 4cyl.

And its an Auto. Changes through all gears nicely.

Originally Posted by Daveos

Umm I'm unsure on the engine code but its an 1985 E30 BMW 1.8L 4cyl.

And its an Auto. Changes through all gears nicely.

Nope...it probably is the M10 motor if it is the 1985 model.....Sorry, cant help you with an M10 Sure your Torque Convertor is not slipping once you get to a certain speed?

60 kph is approx 35 MPH? have you verified fuel pressure with a gauge at that speed?