4cyl valve adjustment??

[Moosepuck]

Hello all,

I'm pretty new to the BMW world... My car (318ic, 4cyl, 5spd, 256,*** miles)... Won't climb above around 4500 RPM's... It sounds like it needs a valve adjustment, so I take the valve cover off and it looks like one of my bikes...I think it needs shims to adjust them... Am I correct? 1. I've never done that and 2. can I do it myself?? I also destroyed my differential last week and am on the look out for a replacement.... Other than all it's initial problems, I really like the way the car is designed...... Something tells me this car wasn't very well cared for during it's 250,000 mile break in...

So...any advise on the valve adjusting??? Or some other reason she won't rev up very high...

Oh yeah... BMWExtatic...you're my hero...

[Moosepuck]

oh yeah...it's a 1991...

[JoeMadoo]

Valve adjustment is very easy, you need a set of feeler gauges, and a little allen set, and i believe either a 10mm wrench. My 325es calls for .25mm clearence, i'm not sure what your bimmer needs. I would certainly get a bentley for your car.

Also here are some differentials:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...0+differential

[Moosepuck]

Thanks for the reply...I do have a couple of those diffs in my watch list... I'll probably end up with the 4.10 non LSD...

As far as the valve adjustment goes... Are you sure of that procedure for the 4 banger? I think the six is different (normal).... I've adjusted plenty before, but this one is quite a bit different than what I've been used to....it looks like the cams press directly on the back of the valve lifter....no rocker arms involved... I'll tackle this whenever I get my differential fixed...I really want to get to those extra RPM's!!!

[saltshaker185]

pretty sure its the same procedure... not completelyy certin though...

[Rfitz25]

I was gonna suggest ebay too.

Ive seen quite a few there.

I think Madoo said he did his own diff as well, might ask him for more details.

http://www.bmrparts.com/

Theres a few other used BMW parts web sites out there.

Turner has some but only for newer E46 etc..

Maybe a local shop can do a rebuild on it, or knows were to get one.

Good luck, I'm just getting my 325is over its 250K mi breakin period too. LOL

Each time I restore something it gets faster and faster, then I break something. I should bottom out on breakin the old parts soon. I hope

[Moosepuck]

I'm starting to think that I'm the only one with a 4-cylinder bimmer..... I'll do better next time, I promise!!

[saltshaker185]

give it a couple days... most people dont check this everyday... youll get a response i promise...

[325eXTATIC]

I wish I could help with the valve issue Jeremy. (By the way, this is my forum inept buddy that I made the Diff compatibility thread about!). I will PM Starmavin and Nukeduster, as those guys are freakin' stellar about this stuff, and see what they have to say.

Werd

Josh W.

[Starmavin]

If its the SOHC it's the same as a M20, if it's the DOHC there is no adjustment these have hydraulic lifters, these you just replace. The cams and timing chain have to come out to change them. (AKA VERY big job)

[Moosepuck]

Hmmmm.... Unless I was seeing double (mmmmmmbeer..) it's a DOHC... well, that sucks.... I guess I'll look at dropping in a 6 when I blow this one up.....

Anything else that could be obvious as to why my revs can't get it up!!

[325eXTATIC]

If I ever get my A$$ up there, we could make it a weekend project... just pull the whole front end off the car and dig right in! As long as you are providing the beer, I am ALL ABOUT IT!

Josh W.

[JoeMadoo]

I wished I lived over there, and was old enough to drink beer, I'd be there. If you need any help with the swap, let me know, I just did one a few months ago, its still pretty fresh in my brain.

[saltshaker185]

http://www.bmwe30.net/cgi-bin/datacg...167&Section=02

^^^^^^^
not sure if this is relevent to you or not, but i cam across that and thought that could be a reason your not getting the higher revs....

[JoeMadoo]

That link for the M10 engine with SOHC, this guys motor is an M40 with DOHC