Hello, it's certainly been a while. Hope all has been well here.
It's great to see plenty of new people in the e21 registry.

My e21 has had some issues over the past month. Unfortunately I've been in Chicago the entire time and had faith in our mechanic to handle it. I also don't know everything that happened and exactly what has been done so if you need clarification ask and I'll get back to you. I'll start with the history (as I know it) and will put my questions at the bottom.
Thanks for your help.


My sister was on the highway and the car overheated. It was dripping fluid (coolant). Wouldn't start immediately and was towed home.

Upon inspection, Glenn (the mechanic) finds a busted coolant hose. Does compression check (not sure what else), finds gas in coolant (?). Figures that head gasket is cracked.

Replaces head gasket (I assume he did the other gaskets as well). Also checks to make sure head is not warped. Also replaced thermostat and distributor cap.

Car is returned. My sister immediately notices something different (in a bad way). Less acceleration, some kind of hesitation. Grandfather (who happens to be in town now and owned this car for the ~10 years before us) also notices this and believes it to be the timing. I'm not sure if the idle is normal or rough (or if that would even matter).

___

Whats the process for checking/adjusting the timing? How likely is it that this was messed up while the head was off?

Other possible causes?

Grandfather is considering taking it to the BMW dealership...are they equipped/prepared to work on an e21?

Thanks again, A.O.

Gas in the coolant??? Hmmm....now that's one I'd ponder for awhile. Oil maybe but not gas. Overheated who knows how far she drove it. With all that chugging she could have just a tooth or two on the timing chain.

What kind of mechanic is this guy anyway???

How does it start? Idle? Check the vacuum hoses too. Ya never now. Did he try to adjust the valves? Maybe he didn't get the dizzy in right when he put the head back on or messed with the timing when the head was off. Wow, a lot can get screwed up when the head is off. Put it to TDC and check the timing marks. Check the plugs and wires too!! Maybe one didnt get tightened or a bad wire is causing this...

HTH's

I agree, sounds like timing and/ or air/fuel is off. It is rare that any shop but an old bmw shop can tune kjet. Check one thing though- make sure that he hooked the vacuum line from the vac. advance on the distributor to the nipple on the throttle body, NOT the under side of the intake manifold somewhere. If it is, you will have a lack of power, as idle will have full advance and as you raise the RPM's vacuum drops off to 0...vacuum is different in the throttle body and increases as RPM's increase. Common mistake, and the damn blue book doesnt have a specific reference. I found a diagram on my hood still intact:cool

Good luck,
John

Have you had the car brought back to the shop that did the work? Give him a chance to correct the issue, before spending money on it elsewhere.

I agree, sounds like timing and/ or air/fuel is off. It is rare that any shop but an old bmw shop can tune kjet. Check one thing though- make sure that he hooked the vacuum line from the vac. advance on the distributor to the nipple on the throttle body, NOT the under side of the intake manifold somewhere. If it is, you will have a lack of power, as idle will have full advance and as you raise the RPM's vacuum drops off to 0...vacuum is different in the throttle body and increases as RPM's increase. Common mistake, and the damn blue book doesnt have a specific reference. I found a diagram on my hood still intact:cool

Good luck,
John

Thanks, I'll pass that along.
Since I'm 350 miles away, I can do much other than communicate everyone's suggestions.

Have you had the car brought back to the shop that did the work? Give him a chance to correct the issue, before spending money on it elsewhere.

Yeah, he's had it once and I believe it's going back today.