BMW E36 Forum

I have a bmw 318is 1994. I have a problem that i just cant pinpoint. Can anyone please help?
When I start the car in a morning it runs apsolutely perfect. But as soon as the engine gets warm I get what seems like a major missfire. The missfiring when its warm doesnt happen all the time,it seems to happen when pulling off or at the start of each gear. There is almost a complete lack of power which will come back if i put clutch in and rev it a few times. The warmer the engine gets the worse it seems to happen. If I do a long journey on the motorway there isnt a sign of the problem. But when I come off the motorway,stop at the roundabout and try to pull off it is rather dangreous. The missfire doesnt seem to happen so much if i "creep" through the gears with not too many revs.
I have changed the mass air flow sensor,the coil pack,the lambda sensor,air filter,oil filter and oil. Also changed spark plugs and exhaust (hole in catalitic converter)
I have also had a diagnostics guy on it for 2 hours who couldnt come up with a fault but he drove it and felt what i was talking about.
I have had a compression test done when warm.
I have had my injectors checked. And whatever else you have done to them.
I am running out of money to do much more.
Please could anyone help me with what it could be.

Is the car completely original?
Any mods done to it?
What mileage is on it?
Is it doing it when the car is in neutral?
What kind of noise is it making when the ''misfire'' occurs?

As far as i know,all the parts are original except the catalitic converter. I bought that on ebay for £85.00. Everything else that i have replaced have all been Bosch parts.
When the car is in neutral the only problem I seem to have is that when it warms up,about the time you would expect the choke to turn off,the revs go from a steady 1000 revs to around 6/700 revs and it seems to "bounce" up to 1000 and drop again. When the car is really warm there is only a slight misfire in neutral.
When it "missfires" the engine seems to have a deep sound a little like I have no exhaust on it. A feeling of no compression is probarbly how i would describe it.There are 131,000 miles on the clock, I believe thats a little below average miles for year. Ive only owned it for 2 months. I am a bmw lover and i dont want to get rid of it.
No mods done. Not even a fancy spoiler on the boot. Body work is really tidy and mechanic said it is overall in v.good condition.
Thankyou for taking time to to even attempt to help me.

If you could throw a video up on youtube of it happening it would make it alot clearer, its very hard to diagnose a problem without actually seeing the symptons!
Have you tried cleaning the idle control valve yet (I.C.V.)?

Just remembered theres a walk-through guide here and just found it!
http://www.bmwe36blog.com/2007/06/23/cl ... valve-diy/

I will try and find a way to make the video you talked about. Im a bit of an internet virgin so I dont have much clue about what to do but sure one of the kids will know.
And thanks for pointing me in the right direction to solving my problem. I have been to the place you told me to look at and I will get my mechanic to do the valve clean and get him to check for any cracked hoses.
I really do appreciate you taking time out to offer some help.
Thanks Tony.

Ah its no bother. Just like to think if im ever stuck on something i dont know a hole load about, someone out there would help me out.
Let me know how you get on with the I.C.V cleaning and if it fixes it.
If it doesn't work then try upload the video to youtube.

Will do. Thanx.
Its just so annoying to have a nice car but with a minor problem that cant be found.
Will let you know how i get on.

looks like our cars are having the some problem, l've had my car for 10 month and just a month ago the problem started. l'm still looking for the some help,good luck.

How did you get on, is it still doing it?