Welcome to our BMW Forums

318is · 06-28-2009, 09:48 PM

So over the last few days I removed the valve cover and intake manifold off my 1991 318is, sandblasted, and then repainted them. To get the valve cover off I also had to remove the spark plugs. To get the intake manifold off I had to disconnect a lot of different tubes underneath it, along with the throttle body and everything leading up to the air filter. Now i've put everything back together, and when I turn the key my engine starts for a second, then there's a very noisy clanking/metal clunking/ticking, and then it shuts off.

The car has 175,000 km and ran perfectly before I did the work.

Any ideas?

318is · 06-28-2009, 10:35 PM

i was so into details with attaching every single little hose i totally forgot about the spark plug order...hopefully that's it.

does anyone know the order to put spark plugs in for a 91' 318is?

Shocka · 06-28-2009, 10:50 PM

1-3-4-2 same for pretty much all bimmer 4 bangers

318is · 06-28-2009, 11:03 PM

ok...so each plug has a number on the wire. does the 1-3-4-2 combo start with plug 1 at the windshield heading towards the front of the car...or the other way around?

Eugene · 06-29-2009, 01:05 AM

Plug #1 at the front of the car.

318is · 06-29-2009, 11:00 AM

ok i figured it out...you start with plug 1 closest to the radiator, then 2, 3, 4 heading towards the windshield. Now it'll start up, but when i rev it a bit the engine stays rev'd high for a few seconds and and the revs kind of 'stick' and don't come back down like usual...then after that the revs drop back down and the car stalls.

any ideas?

**Blackice** · 06-29-2009, 11:43 AM

Could be a air leak. Check all your hoses.

Here is the hose nightmare.

The blue and yellow dots show the path of the hoses.

profsr · 07-01-2009, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by 318is

ok i figured it out...you start with plug 1 closest to the radiator, then 2, 3, 4 heading towards the windshield. Now it'll start up, but when i rev it a bit the engine stays rev'd high for a few seconds and and the revs kind of 'stick' and don't come back down like usual...then after that the revs drop back down and the car stalls.

any ideas?

I think Shocka said 1-3-4-2 not 1-2-3-4 as you mention above ...

318is · 07-02-2009, 02:51 PM

I found out the the firing order of the cylinders is 1-3-4-2, but the actual order you plug it into the valve cover is 1-2-3-4. I called parkshore bmw yesterday and they confirmed.

Has anyone seen or done this before?
The mess under the intake - M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

I think i'm tackling it over the weekend.

Shocka · 07-02-2009, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by Blackice

Could be a air leak. Check all your hoses.

Here is the hose nightmare.

The blue and yellow dots show the path of the hoses.

Yes, ive seen it here.

**Blackice** · 07-03-2009, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by 318is

I found out the the firing order of the cylinders is 1-3-4-2, but the actual order you plug it into the valve cover is 1-2-3-4. I called parkshore bmw yesterday and they confirmed.

Has anyone seen or done this before?
The mess under the intake - M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

I think i'm tackling it over the weekend.

I see they have cleaned up the thread a bit, added some more photos, and more info, great thread !

I did this to both of my M 42's. It really cleans that whole mess up and so far no problems.

If you pick up a 3/8" barb connector you can cut and join the pipe from the head to the coolant pipe.( Hoses 18 and 11 ) I found this to be a clean and simple way of dealing with the 2 different sized connections, and it almost looks factory.

Good luck !

318is · 07-03-2009, 01:40 AM

oh thanks a lot for that one...thought i was gonna have to go get something rigged up at a plumbing store, so that's a nice relief.

hey Blackice, where did you get the 19/32" Vacuum hose when you did the hose cleanup?

mirek · 07-03-2009, 01:23 PM

Check out North Shore Auto Parts, I bought my vacuum hoses there.

318is · 07-03-2009, 01:34 PM

Ya i tired there and pretty much everywhere else in vancouver...no one has a vacuum hose thick as the 19/32" one they have said we need in the parts list. Does the thickness have to be exactly 19/32", or can it be near the same thickness...anyone know?

mirek · 07-03-2009, 04:22 PM

It doesn't have to be that thick, just get regular vacuum hose, that has the same size hole.

06-28-2009, 09:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
318is Member Joined: Jul 2008 From: vancouver Posts: 44 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	Trouble with M42 after painting valve cover So over the last few days I removed the valve cover and intake manifold off my 1991 318is, sandblasted, and then repainted them. To get the valve cover off I also had to remove the spark plugs. To get the intake manifold off I had to disconnect a lot of different tubes underneath it, along with the throttle body and everything leading up to the air filter. Now i've put everything back together, and when I turn the key my engine starts for a second, then there's a very noisy clanking/metal clunking/ticking, and then it shuts off. The car has 175,000 km and ran perfectly before I did the work. Any ideas?

06-29-2009, 11:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
Blackice Moderator Name: Dave Joined: Oct 2007 From: North Vancouver Posts: 1,088 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 43 47 Times in 46 Posts Blackice's pictures '91 BMW 318i '91 BMW 318IS	Could be a air leak. Check all your hoses. Here is the hose nightmare. The blue and yellow dots show the path of the hoses. Attached Thumbnails

07-03-2009, 01:40 AM	#12 (permalink)
318is Member Joined: Jul 2008 From: vancouver Posts: 44 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	oh thanks a lot for that one...thought i was gonna have to go get something rigged up at a plumbing store, so that's a nice relief. hey Blackice, where did you get the 19/32" Vacuum hose when you did the hose cleanup? Last edited by ScottHalliday; 07-04-2009 at 11:59 AM..

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Getting the fault codes to appear on the "Check Engine" light	Blackice	BMW Tech Discussions	8	06-03-2009 01:22 AM
M20 Valve Cover Gasket I can "Borrow"?	applecran	Bimmer Lounge	8	05-31-2008 01:11 AM
Anyone need an M30 valve cover	Mark D.	Classifieds	12	02-06-2008 04:09 PM
WTB M42 valve cover & upper/lower intakes	Mark D.	Classifieds	4	01-20-2008 12:38 AM
Valve seals on an M42	Mark D.	BMW Discussions	5	04-10-2007 03:38 PM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate View Forum Leaders Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read

06-28-2009, 10:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
318is Member Joined: Jul 2008 From: vancouver Posts: 44 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	i was so into details with attaching every single little hose i totally forgot about the spark plug order...hopefully that's it. does anyone know the order to put spark plugs in for a 91' 318is?

06-28-2009, 10:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shocka Senior Member Joined: Jun 2008 From: Vancouver Posts: 362 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 4 11 Times in 10 Posts	1-3-4-2 same for pretty much all bimmer 4 bangers

06-28-2009, 11:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
318is Member Joined: Jul 2008 From: vancouver Posts: 44 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	ok...so each plug has a number on the wire. does the 1-3-4-2 combo start with plug 1 at the windshield heading towards the front of the car...or the other way around?

06-29-2009, 01:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
Eugene Senior Member Joined: Mar 2006 From: Vancouver Posts: 403 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 4 4 Times in 4 Posts	Plug #1 at the front of the car.

06-29-2009, 11:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
318is Member Joined: Jul 2008 From: vancouver Posts: 44 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	ok i figured it out...you start with plug 1 closest to the radiator, then 2, 3, 4 heading towards the windshield. Now it'll start up, but when i rev it a bit the engine stays rev'd high for a few seconds and and the revs kind of 'stick' and don't come back down like usual...then after that the revs drop back down and the car stalls. any ideas?

07-02-2009, 02:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
318is Member Joined: Jul 2008 From: vancouver Posts: 44 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	I found out the the firing order of the cylinders is 1-3-4-2, but the actual order you plug it into the valve cover is 1-2-3-4. I called parkshore bmw yesterday and they confirmed. Has anyone seen or done this before? The mess under the intake - M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS I think i'm tackling it over the weekend.

07-03-2009, 01:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
mirek Senior Member Name: Mirek Joined: Apr 2008 From: Vancouver Posts: 175 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 4 Times in 4 Posts	Check out North Shore Auto Parts, I bought my vacuum hoses there.

07-03-2009, 01:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
318is Member Joined: Jul 2008 From: vancouver Posts: 44 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ya i tired there and pretty much everywhere else in vancouver...no one has a vacuum hose thick as the 19/32" one they have said we need in the parts list. Does the thickness have to be exactly 19/32", or can it be near the same thickness...anyone know?

07-03-2009, 04:22 PM	#15 (permalink)
mirek Senior Member Name: Mirek Joined: Apr 2008 From: Vancouver Posts: 175 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 4 Times in 4 Posts	It doesn't have to be that thick, just get regular vacuum hose, that has the same size hole.

Welcome to our BMW Forums

Trouble with M42 after painting valve cover