I Just Broke Down On Side Of Road

[JRR]

my 1998 323is (5 speed) won't drive over 2800 rpms! and makes a terrible whine. i am using my wireless on side of road. i don't know if i can even drive it!

[NeverLeaned]

Sorry to hear that JRR.... and I wish I could give ya a quick fix to get ya home. Try to better identify the "whine" and I'll check back in a few mins.

Minus the noise, I would venture a guess that your car is not getting enough fuel or air as your RPMs go up. You will probably be able to rev the engine freely in those cases while in neutral.... if thats the case, rip out your airfilter and make sure nothing is clogging the passage.... the fuel side probably cannot be diagnosed on the side of the road, so make a call for a tow.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful

[JRR]

ok. i let the car sit for about 20 minutes and now it WILL rev past 2800 rpms BUT it sounds AWFUL. it sounds like it is "clanking" and if i go VERY slow i can get it up and sounding fine (AFTER it goes through it's clanking--and when i slow down it clanks all over again. i appreciate your help, it is very gracious of you. weird, that i am sitting on the side of the road typing!!

[JRR]

the clanking is underneath the car, not under the hood

[NeverLeaned]

are you in neutral or ingear? Stick/auto?

If your in neutral when you here the "clanky" just turn the car off and weight for a tow...... bent valve?

Stick... when attempting to put ingear or ingear.... clutch is smoked and your grinding the pressure plate. Auto.... bah

[JRR]

yes, clank is in neutral as well as in gear (5 speed man) but only when i rev. if i accelerate slowly it seems to do OK, although i do not want to take it on street and test at 50 mph+

[NeverLeaned]

Without hearing it... my guess would be either the clutch is smoked, a gear in the tranny lost a tooth, or a value is bent.

Im hopefully waay off, but I would suggest you get the car into a mechanic ASAP rather then relying on the forums to diagnose noises and vibrations we can't actually feel or hear.

[JRR]

clearly, it needs hands-on professional work but i just wanted to hear if anyone had same experiences. it is PM hear where i am at and i will have to wait 'til tomorrow. a couple of people have weighed in on the tranny guess, btw.

[JRR]

jeez, it was driving fine and then it STOPPED having power, like it was hitting a wall and then it was clearly straining. not good.

[Cruzin 323is]

ya man, u gotta get that towed.. don't try to drive it any more, b/c it will prolly cause more damage