Hello everyone,
Well tonight I decided to delve into the reasons why my car misses at idle (yet seems to run fine past 1300 rpm). I checked the plugs and it looks like they need to be replaced so i'll be replacing them. I also noticed that when i took the plug wires off, the firing order on the dizzy was puzzling. Ok, so im NooB and haven't gotten a manual yet, forgive me. But the order was like 1, 2, 4, 3 (clockwise)...that doesn't seem normal to me. So my two questions are, what plugs do you guys usually use in your car...and is my firing order all f'd up? (I found a thread a while ago about plug gaps, but couldn't find it when i searched tonight).

I included a picture to illustrate the firing order.

i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/cornstar43/P1030109-1.jpg
(you'll have to copy and paste the link)

Thanks,
AJ

As much as i want to flame you... the firing order is on the valve cover - 1342
and it is in your pic
http://www.i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/cornstar43/P1030109-1.jpg

Here ya go, sorry had too...

Get new plugs first, the Bosch coppers are only 1$. Might as well get new wires as well. Go stock, of the E21Parts.net 8.8mm race wires.

lol so i'm a moron. Thanks for pointing it out though.

is there a specific number on the plugs? The ones i took off did not have a number...they were autolites...(EDIT: i saw on the e21parts.net site they use AR52 plugs in their ign. setup)

Thanks again.

hah and its bad enough not being able to post links or pictures, then to have others grafitti up my beatiful paint art. :-P (add smilies to that links and pictures list).

That german word above the 1342 even says something close to firing order if you translate it....

Don't worry I did the same thing but since I didn't include a picture they didn't harras me as bad :)

The Autolite AR52's are great plugs in these, with or without electronic ignition...

ken

I run the Autolite AR52's as well, with a bit hotter coil. The plugs are a bit pricey, but between those and the coil it woke the car up a little bit.

If you want, you can also check this distributor out, a bit pricey but waaaaaaaayy worth it in my opinion, I wish my other one didnt get stolen with my last e21 :( It will deffinately increase fuel economy, a bit more hp, maybe 3-4


http://vacmotorsports.com/cgi-bin/view_item.pl?item_id=20

I run the Autolite AR52's as well, with a bit hotter coil. The plugs are a bit pricey, but between those and the coil it woke the car up a little bit.


Alright cool. are you running standard points/distributor with the hotter coil, or did you have to upgrade to somthing that could handle it? What kind of coil is it?

Thanks

If you want, you can also check this distributor out, a bit pricey but waaaaaaaayy worth it in my opinion, I wish my other one didnt get stolen with my last e21 It will deffinately increase fuel economy, a bit more hp, maybe 3-4

Thanks for the notice...i just want to get this car running smoothly first, but later on if i turbo i might go with some stand alone unit or the one you mentioned.

Thanks for the replies guys,
AJ

OO no worries, that will deffinately make your car run smoothly!!! Best shape mine ran was when I had one of those. Made a whole world of difference too, and for somereason, my car didnt heat up ever since I got that, made it easier on my engine or soemthing

car missing at idle? check your gaps! that was my problem...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=575720

sorry wrong thread, although also good.
here is the correct one...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=564935

ah! thats exactly the thread. The date was about when i started lurking around here...today i went ahead and bought some of the bosch coppers (wr9dc) and notice the gaps are ~.036". I'll try them out with the old plug wires, but still plan on upgrading the wires to those on the E21parts.net site.

Thanks for the help everyone.

AJ