1982 bmw 320i

Every since it started getting warmer outside (last week) my car does not want to start as good as before, when it starts up in the morning there is no really problems. But lets say I take a trip to the store, if I am not back at the car within like 5 minutes it does not want to start back up until it cools all most all the way down. Can someone please give me some advice I love my car


And I forgot to mention when it starts up it runs great, don't want to stall or anything

1982 bmw 320i 1.8 (4cyl) automatic


Thank you

Get your battery tested

Originally Posted by _Ethrty-Andy_

Get your battery tested

Battery is good just got last year, well I hope

I am thinking that it is the cold start valve, just want some input so I don't waste the money on something I don't need..

i replaced the battery in my E34 2 years ago, and had to put another one in last weekend. Some are just duds. worth getting it tested to rule it out though?

by the way, i think your car is an E21 not an E30? do you want me to move this thread to the appropriate section?

could be vapor lock, theres where my internet cookie is sitting

Originally Posted by _Ethrty-Andy_

by the way, i think your car is an E21 not an E30? do you want me to move this thread to the appropriate section?

Sure that would be great, thought mine was e21 but wasn't sure

I'm going to get the battery checked out on Monday, the only thing is is it turns over all the time it just doesn't seem like it gets enough gas. I have changed the spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor and fuel filter, and other stuff but that does not pertain to the engine. And when it starts it has no problems running, for a 30 year old car it runs strong....

Originally Posted by downhiller

could be vapor lock, theres where my internet cookie is sitting

I never thought about that, I don't hear nothing when I take the gas cap off.

I looked it up on the web and it sure seems like that's what it did, my car runs about half way hot on the temperature gauge so that could have been the problem. Not sure how I am going to solve that

Check/replace the themostat. If you have K-Jetronic (little plastic tubes to injectors) I guess the temp sender bolted to the block under the starter is defective.

Ok, I think I know what part, just want to be sure...

Originally Posted by downhiller

could be vapor lock, theres where my internet cookie is sitting

Is there any way of curing vapor lock?? It's getting frustrating, my car left me and my wife stranded at the mall the other day for an hour. And almost couldn't get my kids from school the other day, I really need to figure it out.....

It's dang-near impossible for a high pressure fuel injected car to get vapor lock if the fuel pump and pressure regulator are working as they should. The increased pressure in the fuel line raises the boiling point of the fuel beyond any temperature you'll normally see anywhere except maybe Death Valley. The fuel lines are pretty well insulated/isolated from the engine heat.

I'm not sure if the K-Jetronic is high pressure or low pressure. By the way, as Andy mentioned, you have an E21, not an E30. Since the K-Jetronic system is almost exclusively an E21 system, your thread may get better attention and responses in that forum. Andy asked if you wanted it moved, and you said yes, but I think he missed that. I'll warn you that the E21 forum is pretty dead, but the answers you get there will probably be more helpful, since we really aren't familiar with your car's peculiarities.

Originally Posted by hornhospital

It's dang-near impossible for a high pressure fuel injected car to get vapor lock if the fuel pump and pressure regulator are working as they should.

you never had to work on fords.

i had a 86 mazda that the fuel filter was mounted on the firewall, that if let sit after driving for 10-20 minutes, would vapor lock because the fuel in the filter would evaporate causing an air pocket. wrapped fuel lines and filter with exhaust wrap, problem went away

I've worked on MANY Fords, and never saw one do that...and I live in the stifling hot south.

The increased pressure in the fuel line raises the boiling point of the fuel beyond any temperature you'll normally see anywhere except maybe Death Valley.

I have ridden through death valley in summer & consider it cool compared to other places visited
But you are right, that at 3 bar pressure in a recirculating system you cannot get vapour lock unless a component such as a fuel filter does not allow the fuel to circulate

My question is, why do you believe it is vapour lock ?
or is it not an i but a Carburettor modell ?

When the temp is around the blue part it does not want to start, it turns over great, gets fuel, just don't want to start up.. And the guy I got the car from said he changed the head ( not to sure ), but it runs close to half way when it warms up.

Thank you guys for all the help, greatly appreciated ^_^

Originally Posted by hornhospital

I've worked on MANY Fords, and never saw one do that...and I live in the stifling hot south.

my dads work truck always had problems with vapor lock. it was a 96 f250. also had a few run through our shop same problems. i think the charcoal canister was helping it thou