320i cold start issue .

Hi all

i have a 88 320i Baur Cabriolet which has a cold start problem .

Its a Euro model and it seems that it does not have a cold-start unit nor the idle- valve as shown in the Bentley repair manual which i use for servicng.

I would Appriciate advise on sorting the cold start issue. and a source for the service manual specific to this Euro model.


Thanks
Adler

I might be wrong, but were the Baur units not very rare and better build quality ?
As far as I can remember the final assembly was done by hand in SA

So Good to know there are knowledgable folks on the forum.
you are very correct; this is the rare model:
regards
adler:

If it is K-Jetronic the cold start module is bolted to the block near the starter motor. L-Jetronic cold start is controlled by the EMU. I hope no 'expert' has robbed too much off the engine. Cold start injector (if it has one) is controlled by the starter switch and a temp/timer module near the other temp senders.

Thanks, i dont see the cold start injecter nor the idle control unit on the engine but it does have a cold start sensor right next to the temperature sender unit.

The Jetronic engines have those with easy accsess to wconnector and the piping .
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K-Jetronic has very thin tubes going from a thing that looks a bit like a distributor to each cylinder. The electronic (later) cars have a common fuel rail an electric injectors.

K-Jetronic
This is going back to the dark ages
When that head in your fuel distributor warps, it can get REAL expensive !
A working system is probably worth more than the car
At least here in the Desert

It has 12V injectors feeding from a common fuel rail with the vane type air flow metering unit
now would this be a M20 engine?
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Originally Posted by Nick323

K-Jetronic
This is going back to the dark ages
When that head in your fuel distributor warps, it can get REAL expensive !
A working system is probably worth more than the car
At least here in the Desert

No it is not that K- unit , incidentally that has worked well in so many makes including R-R models from that period.Technology evolves with time !

Bless your soul, good man
Having proper fuel injection instead of a controlled leak is a blessing in your case

The operative word here is

worked well

Time tends to degenerate mechanical items
The K-jetronic was a huge step forward from things called Carburettors.
Tunability was worse though, for the aftermarket.
Then came the years where EFi progressed with better & efficient systems till the overly complicated emission-castrated units of today

Your problem should be easy to fault find.

The Bentley manual is pretty useless when it comes to Euro models. You need to search online for the Haynes E30 manual "BMW 3 & 5 Series" manual number 1948.

You should be able to find it online in PDF format....I have the manual and the PDF download.

Originally Posted by Billwill

The Bentley manual is pretty useless when it comes to Euro models. You need to search online for the Haynes E30 manual "BMW 3 & 5 Series" manual number 1948.

You should be able to find it online in PDF format....I have the manual and the PDF download.

Thanks
Yes Though Excellent the Bentley manual is not at all useful for this particular Euro M20 engine.:
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AS I guess you have no cold start injector then it starts to point to the temp sender for the EFI module.

I suspected that intially and replaced it with a new temp sender as well as the temo.senser next to it .Still the cold start issue.

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Guys.

M.Y. 1988.

it should have a Motronic ECU which doesn't have a cold start injector. It takes the temperature and overfuels the engine to warm it up. Most M20B20 if not all M20 also have tubes that feed coolant around the throttle body to heat the incoming air.

It is likely that it is just the idle control valve that is the problem, or it could be the coil being unhappy to operate when its cold.

Also, plus one to Bentley being useless for euro spec BMWs. In fact Haynes isn't much better, i dont know why people recommend them so much. i guess they are better than nothing mind you

[QUOTE=_Ethrty-Andy_;7370863]Guys.

M.Y. 1988.

It is likely that it is just the idle control valve that is the problem, or it could be the coil being unhappy to operate when its cold.

Thanks.
yes likely the ICV as there is no cold start unit . now the Idle control valve is what i am still looking for but again .there are no telltale wires or a connector ; in all the engine seem to have a (1) a connector at the air flow unit and (2) another one at the bottom of the throttle plate ; the TPS unit. Both cleaned and re-connected .
Both the temp senssors are new .
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[QUOTE=Adler;7371313]

Originally Posted by _Ethrty-Andy_

Guys.

M.Y. 1988.

It is likely that it is just the idle control valve that is the problem, or it could be the coil being unhappy to operate when its cold.

Thanks.
yes likely the ICV as there is no cold start unit . now the Idle control valve is what i am still looking for but again .there are no telltale wires or a connector ; in all the engine seem to have a (1) a connector at the air flow unit and (2) another one at the bottom of the throttle plate ; the TPS unit. Both cleaned and re-connected .
Both the temp senssors are new .
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Try the UK site here...they will be able to tell you where your ICV is as well as giving you other usefull information.

http://www.e30zone.net

Maybe someone can suggesta source for the correct euro manual which covers this 6 cyl model.
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I am happy with Haynes
Then I also downloaded the original BMW manual