Driving advice needed! Faltering revs in 1st

[Robert Winfield]

Hi all,

Finally bought a 3.0 2000 z3 after thinking about them for years.

Absolutely love the car and the engine is great.

BUT

in first and reverse I'm really struggling to keep the revs up and have stalled more times in the last couple of days than in the previous ten years!

I appreciate that it might just be poor driving or having to get used to the car but it feels like there may be an issue with the throttle.

I was wondering if this was a common complaint about the car or whether there might be an issue I should investigate further?

Thanks all!

 

[DrWong]

Drive by wire, so maybe related to throttle position sensor

Welcome btw and nice choice of Z

 

[Lee]

I would start simple and look for some vacuum leaks in the intake boots, failing that a read of the engine ecu might show a crank sensor or even something simpler.

 

[t-tony]

Welcome from me near Lincoln.
Where are you located? I would be tempted to try another Z3 3.0 before doing much just to rule out "operator error"

Tony.

 

[Robert Winfield]

I would start simple and look for some vacuum leaks in the intake boots, failing that a read of the engine ecu might show a crank sensor or even something simpler.

Thanks Lee - that's really useful. Do you take your car to a specialist Z3 garage (if such a thing exists?) or will any BMW specialist do? I see your based near Basingstoke which isn't too far from me. Do you have any recommendations for garages around Basingstoke/Reading?

Cheers

 

[Robert Winfield]

Welcome from me near Lincoln.
Where are you located? I would be tempted to try another Z3 3.0 before doing much just to rule out "operator error"

Tony.

Thanks Tony - good suggestion. In Reverse I really struggle to keep the revs constant. They seem to see-saw up and down and constantly seem to be on the verge of stalling.

Cheers

 

[t-tony]

He'll have a good recommendation Robert. May involve bacon butties and coffee though.

Tony.

ps. There may be another 3.0 you could compare with if @pgunter is there too.

 

[t-tony]

Thanks Tony - good suggestion. In Reverse I really struggle to keep the revs constant. They seem to see-saw up and down and constantly seem to be on the verge of stalling.

Cheers

Does sound as though you may have inlet rubbers issues. Very common on these old cars, but relatively easy and reasonably cheap to repair.

Tony.

 

[Philpatton]

I would agree with Lee and Tony, although I'm no expert. My 2.2 Z3 seemed quite "eager" to stall when setting off, and if i tried to just pull away on the clutch with only a little power, I found the revs dropped right down and the car almost stalled. The same happened in reverse also, so I got used to increasing the revs to compensate. With t-tony help, I found a leak in the air intake ducts by visual inspection and we changed them at a Zedshed event. The car was transformed and now pulls like a new car, with lots more power and smooth as a babies bum!
If you do change the air intake ducts, I'd suggest using BMW parts. They are only a little more expensive, but they feel more robust....if that makes sense.
There is a guide on https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/te...ment/44-FUEL-Intake_Air_Ducts_Replacement.htm which I read about a dozen times before getting into it at the Zedshed, so thats a good place to start.
P

 

[Robert Winfield]

I would agree with Lee and Tony, although I'm no expert. My 2.2 Z3 seemed quite "eager" to stall when setting off, and if i tried to just pull away on the clutch with only a little power, I found the revs dropped right down and the car almost stalled. The same happened in reverse also, so I got used to increasing the revs to compensate. With t-tony help, I found a leak in the air intake ducts by visual inspection and we changed them at a Zedshed event. The car was transformed and now pulls like a new car, with lots more power and smooth as a babies bum!
If you do change the air intake ducts, I'd suggest using BMW parts. They are only a little more expensive, but they feel more robust....if that makes sense.
There is a guide on https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/te...ment/44-FUEL-Intake_Air_Ducts_Replacement.htm which I read about a dozen times before getting into it at the Zedshed, so thats a good place to start.
P

What an excellent forum! thanks for your help. Just to clarify, are the Inlet Rubbers that Tony was talking about and the Air intake ducts you mentioned the same thing?

Cheers

 

[Philpatton]

Yes.

 

[Lee]

Thanks Lee - that's really useful. Do you take your car to a specialist Z3 garage (if such a thing exists?) or will any BMW specialist do? I see your based near Basingstoke which isn't too far from me. Do you have any recommendations for garages around Basingstoke/Reading?

Cheers

Yeah that garage is normally mine. Zedshed is open most saturdays if you want an experienced pair of eyes to have a quick look, feel free to pop over one saturday.

 

[colb]

Sounds like a candidate foe a smoke test to pinpoint any leaks not easily spotted by visual check.

 

[Grumps]

I've had two stalling issues on my 2.8. First time was the rubber boot split behind the maf and second was the cam sensor. Both easy fixes.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

My one is only a 2.2 but it'll pull away without using the throttle, like the rest of them say get it looked at by someone that knows what they're doing, it'll make a huge difference.

 

[Bumpa]

My 2002 2.2 is extremely easy to stall also, particularly in reverse, and I know what you mean by the revs being difficult to keep steady. I have all new air inlet hoses from the MAF back to the throttle body and new cam sensors as well. I suspect that the fly-by-wire throttle pedal is the problem but am scared to touch it. What was wrong with a cable?

 

[Nodzed]

Thanks Lee - that's really useful. Do you take your car to a specialist Z3 garage (if such a thing exists?) or will any BMW specialist do? I see your based near Basingstoke which isn't too far from me. Do you have any recommendations for garages around Basingstoke/Reading?

Cheers

Nobody I'd recommend #lovethezedshedhq