I got a 1989 535i (automatic) with around 76,000kms on it(was sitting in a field for a decade) the issue is it severely lacks power and most of the time if I go past 20-25 percent throttle it’ll drop the rpms to idle and won’t recognize that I’m pressing the gas at all, other times when I floor it the car 100 percent car will rev up to 4k or 5k (hard to tell my instrument cluster rarely works) but the car won’t move any faster the engine will just rev and you’ll move at the same speed the car feels like it’s go an 80 hp engine, also sounds like it’s misfiring or something when idling engine does not run smooth at all, I’ve changed the fuel filter, spark plug wires, engine air filter, spark plugs and got a o2 sensor and temp sensor on the way, what can be the cause of this? Car can get up to even 120kms/h it just takes some time because it only accelerates at 25 percent throttle max anything after that it moves at the same pace just revs the engine.
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Also I’ve heard of the stomp test to see any error codes but my instrument cluster is faulty so that’s not an option
Hi Max, welcome to Bimmerforums.com! Your post was moved to this sub-forum, you will get excellent advice here.
04M3 TiAg 69k slick-top 3 pedal
99M3 Cosmos 61k S50B32 euro 6Spd
88M3 AW 43k miles Project FS
WTB: 3.5" Eurosport/Conforti CAI
if it was sitting in a field for a decade, what have you done so far as maintenance to get it running again, please list all items, easier for us to help you. Stomp test does only work on US spec E34.
Changed all the old fuel? Cleaned the fuel tank? Checked fuel pressure? Fuel pump, fuel filter, filter in the fuel injectors?
Here is my check list, more than 10 years old, but still a good guide, refers mainly to E32 , but same for your E34 535 as they use the same M30 engine, - Rough Idle & Shimmy – the Ultimate Guide!
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...power+ultimate
Did you change all the brittle vacuum hoses in engine bay? They are important, as they also control for example the fuel pressure regulator http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/hose_map.jpg
Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!
-Abel
- E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
- 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
- 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
- 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
- 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
- 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
- 2016 Mini Cooper S
I changed the oil and that’s about it for the liquids, tank looked pretty clean, no fuel inside when I got it, haven’t checked fuel pressure as I don’t have the tool, new fuel filter I installed but the have no touched the injectors or pump, did swap in a new hose not sure which one it was or what it’s called or the purpose, got some more info when I rev the car it chokes really hard and sounds like it wants to stall and at the same time black smoke comes out the exhaust, I’m guessing this is either a vacuum leak or some bad fuel component or am I completely wrong?
Hi Max, and welcome to the forum.
Please know that I am not trying to be unkind, but you need in-person help that has more experience than you do. While we at this forum are dedicated to helping, the owner has just got to have some degree of mechanical experience or information, or we don't have a place to start.
Not being able to identify the hose you replaced is a really bad sign; "when I rev the car it chokes really hard and sounds like it wants to stall and at the same time black smoke comes out the exhaust, I’m guessing this is either a vacuum leak or some bad fuel component or am I completely wrong? " makes it pretty certain that you need someone with BMW mechanical experience to lay hands on your car.
What appears to be a transmission issue complicates the matter greatly, but a good BMW tech could likely sort out the most crucial diagnoses in an hour or two. I'd recommend you start there.
Chris Powell
Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
BMWCCA 274412
German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471
Transmission-Fluid-Level-Checking-Procedure-and-Application-Chart https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...lication-Chart
http://www.europeantransmission.com/...MWtechinfo.htm
your E34 535 has a ZF 4HP22 automatic transmission.
The ATF filter number you can find here in the ETK http://bmwfans.info/
In case the ATF and ATF filter change does not help, I would overhaul and clean the transmission valve body, maybe some solenoids are stuck,details on my website below.
I suggest you get a Bentley Repair manual for the E34 for the DIYer http://www.bentleypublishers.com/bmw...ir-manual.html
Wiring diagrams are here https://shark.armchair.mb.ca/~dave/BMW/e34/
also read the E34 forum here to learn https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/f...988-1996-(E34)
we also have a special section DIY E34 , E34 Common Problems and DIY Fixes https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/f...-and-DIY-Fixes
Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!
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