316 Carburettor Maladies

[Zonfeld]

Hi everyone,

I wonder if any kind soul could advise me. My 1982 316 has a suspected carburettor problem that has got my local garage stumped: the engine starts easily enough but then dies. On dismantling the carburettor (I believe it's the standard Solex Pierburg 2B4 twin-choke), one of the two chambers is found to be bone dry.

I'm not all that mechanically-minded and my garage (normally quite competent) has had the car for two weeks now without success; they've asked me to do some research but I'm not having much luck so far. I've seen various suggestions to replace the Solex with a Weber, but my old e12 520/6 had this modification and caused no end of trouble.

Thanking you in advance.

[Peter V.]

If one chamber stays dry you must check if all channels are open. Most likely you have one floatneedle that does not work good.

Ofcourse you can change into a weber conversion.

[Zonfeld]

Many thanks Peter, that sounds eminently sensible!

[firoz]

Hi all ... am looking for parts / info / advise on how best to deal with the mal-functioning (dripping and hard starting) Zenith 2B4 carb. for my (MUCH cherished) E21 (316 1.8, 1982, RHD, U.K. version), located in the heart of Africa. It needs re-conditioning (with a new "service kit", perhaps?) and may be followed by some "re-adjustment(s)" as well ... !(?) I also need to learn the "precise" way to connect its small rubber pipes around! The ignition system is just about perfectly adjusted, as the engine runs very "smoothly" (once it gets fired up), with NO smoke at all from the exhaust! Cheers in advance, for any and ALL (much appreciated) help / advise on this rather frustrating scenario ... !

(ps FYI : Am in Amsterdam till tomorrow, Thursday 23rd., afternoon!)

[Peter V.]

The refurbishmentkit can be bought at the dealer. The diagram for al the hoseconnections can be found in our technical parts of the forum. There is a topic about al the carbs used in the BMW e21.

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=23486

Parts is in dutch but the description of the carbs are in german or English.

[firoz]

O.k. that's great, many thanks indeed, Peter ... ! No Dutch-English "translations" available there, I suppose .. ?!?

[Peter V.]

O.k. that's great, many thanks indeed, Peter ... ! No Dutch-English "translations" available there, I suppose .. ?!?

Sorry.

[uwbuurman]

O.k. that's great, many thanks indeed, Peter ... ! No Dutch-English "translations" available there, I suppose .. ?!?

Google is your friend.