bmwe21.net forums

Peter V. wrote:If the vacuumbox at the ignitionunit is leaking you will not have the right timing.
This is a part that can be renewed apart so a new distributor complete is not neccesary.

Try to suck at the vacuumbox and look if the inside of the ignition is moving. You will have the problem around the 2000-2500 rpm i pressume?

Never thought of that. I thought they worked or they didn´t. On idle, then i suck on the vacuum hose, RPM differs, so I assumed it was ok. I never heard of a slow leak in there, but it is a cheap thing to replace, and try.

Just bought all new OEM plug-harness, distributor cap and rotor, to eliminate some of the issues it could be.

Thanks for hints.

Keep us posted!

I will. I´m in Germany now, on my way to BMW dealership to buy vacuum box. Will be home tinkering with my car in two weeks time.

Slight problem. I knew the M20 had different distributors, but there is no less than 4 different versions. Buying a vacuum box could not be done without knowing the part number on the existing distributor. Anyone out there with an original early 1979 323i engine, that happens to know the part number our distributor have? I am in Germany now and can not check on my own car... Will be in Techno Classica this coming weekend though..

My E21 has got new sparkplugs, rotor, distributor cap and plug harness. All original from BMW. Did nothing to solve my problem. Only distributor left to change on ignition system before everything is replased.

Now moving my attention to the K-Jetronic. Reading up on what ever i can find about the system. However what i do find is that is that Lambda system is not fitted to all K-Jetronic systems. Question is: Does my 1979 323i have a Lambda to it´s K-Jetronic?

You're not exactly having a lot of luck with the car! Yup, there could be issues with the output from the K-Jet distributor or the injectors as well.

As for the Lambda/O2 sensors: these were only used, combined with EGR systems, on Australian, US and Sweden versions I believe.

Perhaps someone with a early 323i can chime in with a part no on the ignition distributor?

Digging into the K-jetronic i found that the Throttle Screw O-ring was totally worn out. However i also found a big hole in the throttle housing (man made), plugged with a large screw that came out in the air-stream through housing. Looking at other photos, Jeroen´s photos of his -81 323i baur has no such hole. Anyone seen anything like it, and what is it for?

Will buy O-ring tomorrow for the throttle screw, and see if the engine improves

http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/TorEn ... sort=6&o=1
http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/TorEn ... sort=6&o=0

Curious what you mean but the pics don't work.

I tried a different approach. Maybe it works now. I´m not very good with this picture stuff.

Go to the correct photbucket page with the right photo

If you look at the box 'Links to share this photo' and choose direct, it copies the photo's url for you

In this case that is http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o57 ... 140503.jpg

If you paste that in between IMG brackets like this

You'll end up with this



Back on topic, never seen a hole like this in the throttle body myself!

The hole on the right that is, the left one is for adjusting the idle rpm's, that's where you removed the screw with the bad o-ring.

As you said left hole is for idle adjustment and the o-ring there fell off the screw as i unscrewed it. The hole on the right (almost center) i have never seen in any manual or here on internet. It has the screw as below, with o-ring. Also this o-ring was bad. The screw below is also through that hole sticking about 1,5 cm into the airstream in the throttle housing. I think the screw that looks almost like the idle screw, only acts as a plug.

Must be some mod done after production, perhaps for LPG/LPI injection at some point during the car's life??

Anybody find the problem?