1994 e35 318i stumbling after stored - United Bimmer Community

**goforit** · 09-23-2011, 05:12 PM

Hi My 318i is stumbling and back firing with little power. It has been stored for about two years without use. So far I've checked for vacuum leaks, cleaned the Idle control valve and added new gas. This has helped the idle somewhat. I also checked and cleaned the spark plugs; they a look good and all the same.

In the driveway it idles rough just until you give it gas. Then it smooths out. I do get back firing and missing when driving and also get backfires if its allowed to idle in the drive way for a while. No earth shattering backfires just relatively minior or quieter ones.

I also unhooked the throttle contro sensor and it makes no difference to the idle.

Where should I go and what should I do next?

Thanks!!

**Manolito** · 09-23-2011, 11:41 PM

How did you check for vacuum leaks? Try spraying some ether around the intake manifold. I would suspect the intake manifold gasket. In fact, I would probably replace that gasket for general principles because it is not expensive, and it is probably hard as a rock, and doing that chore will give you the opportunity to examine and clean several other suspects.

Big Evil · 09-26-2011, 12:39 PM

In addition, did you replace the fuel filter? Clean gas is good but if its running through a dirty/clogged filter... Also a pressure/volume test would be good to do as well as some injector clean.

**goforit** · 09-26-2011, 06:06 PM

I added injector cleaner to fuel.

Tested for manifold leaks by spraying WD-40 around manifold and listened for changes while running.