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Thread: tried searching... how do i advance my timing?

  1. #1
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    tried searching... how do i advance my timing?

    I have heard that this can be felt on the butt dyno, but i have no idea how to do it. what part do i actually adjust?

    Thanks


    1989 325ix-winter fun----1982 320i- 256k miles and counting ***for sale*** ---1993 325is-parted out

  2. #2
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    loosen the distributor and turn it. I don't know if it's counter clockwise or clockwise. Attach a tach and a timing light and find out.
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by heartbreaker View Post
    I have heard that this can be felt on the butt dyno, but i have no idea how to do it. what part do i actually adjust?

    Thanks
    If you're unsure, then best recommendation would be: don't mess with it.

    Or, simply put: advancing the timing is adjusting the dist, opposite rotation of the rotor..

    BTW: why do you ask?

    Robert
    Tbd

  4. #4
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    Well, because.....

    I want more POWER.

    Not sure if this will help, but i read in the DIY and have heard some people recommend it, so why not try it.

    Do i just loosen it, advace one degree then drive it to see how it feels?

    Is there a good write up on this?

    Quote Originally Posted by epmedia View Post
    If you're unsure, then best recommendation would be: don't mess with it.

    Or, simply put: advancing the timing is adjusting the dist, opposite rotation of the rotor..

    BTW: why do you ask?

    Robert


    1989 325ix-winter fun----1982 320i- 256k miles and counting ***for sale*** ---1993 325is-parted out

  5. #5
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    A writeup on loosening one bolt and rotating the distributor? I don't think there is... (I take it back, there is a good one on page 79 of the Haynes manual)

    Do you have a timing light? If you are just messing with it blindly, I would make a mark on the distributor before you start so you can come back to it if you mess things up. If you are having running issues instead of blindly advancing it would be wise to check to see where you are to begin with.

  6. #6
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    do i do this while the car is running? how do i know if i have gone to far? can i damage the engine if i screw it up?

    thanks


    1989 325ix-winter fun----1982 320i- 256k miles and counting ***for sale*** ---1993 325is-parted out

  7. #7
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    Advancing the timing

    Okay, here is the poor man's way to do it. Get the car completely warm and make sure EVERY vacuum leak is tightened. Then, take off the vacuum advance line from the bottom of the distributor and plug it with a golf tee. MARK the distributor so you know where you started. Then, loosen the bolt holding it in place. Have someone step on the gas so it is at 1500 rpms. Turn the distributor clockwise until it speeds up, then back it off until it is JUST starting to speed up again. Tighten up the bolt, unplug the vacuum line and re-attach it. Take her for a test drive. You may need to do a minor adjustment either way.
    My son's car was advanced too far, and mine was the other way. This method made it so both of them run smoothly and with pep. If you try this method, let me know how it worked...
    Regards,
    Tim

    One point of clarification...when you back it off, you will notice the rpms drop. Then, turn it back clockwise until the rpms JUST start to increase. Then you will know you are at the "sweet" spot. Good luck...
    Tim
    Last edited by goinstrong; 05-28-2009 at 12:57 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  8. #8
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    ok i wll try it, it doesnt make a whole lot of sence because the distributor is held on with little brackets, but i will try this tomorrow and let you know how it worked.

    Quote Originally Posted by goinstrong View Post
    Okay, here is the poor man's way to do it. Get the car completely warm and make sure EVERY vacuum leak is tightened. Then, take off the vacuum advance line from the bottom of the distributor and plug it with a golf tee. MARK the distributor so you know where you started. Then, loosen the bolt holding it in place. Have someone step on the gas so it is at 1500 rpms. Turn the distributor clockwise until it speeds up, then back it off until it is JUST starting to speed up again. Tighten up the bolt, unplug the vacuum line and re-attach it. Take her for a test drive. You may need to do a minor adjustment either way.
    My son's car was advanced too far, and mine was the other way. This method made it so both of them run smoothly and with pep. If you try this method, let me know how it worked...
    Regards,
    Tim

    One point of clarification...when you back it off, you will notice the rpms drop. Then, turn it back clockwise until the rpms JUST start to increase. Then you will know you are at the "sweet" spot. Good luck...
    Tim
    I used this method and found the "sweet spot". car runs 10 times better and much more peppy in the higher rpm's when it used just stop making power.

    thanks much and recommend this to anyone.
    Last edited by heartbreaker; 05-28-2009 at 12:51 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost


    1989 325ix-winter fun----1982 320i- 256k miles and counting ***for sale*** ---1993 325is-parted out

  9. #9
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    I set my timing with a timing light per factory specs, marked the distributor with a small tick mark, then started advancing from there a degree at a time to see how it felt as I advanced it further.

    I'm running a low compression 2.0L motor so it probably likes a little more timing than stock, plus I run 93-94 octain.

    '81 320i turbo | t25, 931 CIS, 240hp, 13.92@100mph | 2.2L m10 Turbo Build | My E21 Videos |

  10. #10
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    man, i have been driving hard today. my car feels so much more alive. seriously this is awsome.


    1989 325ix-winter fun----1982 320i- 256k miles and counting ***for sale*** ---1993 325is-parted out

  11. #11
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    Yea, I'm considering advancing my timing again. Just passed smog a few months ago, so I guess it's time to add a little personal touch to it again. Hopefully the new head gasket will hold up to it (high compression).

    Robert
    Tbd

  12. #12
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    Advancing the timing

    Hey, glad to hear it worked well for you too!! Thanks for letting me know...enjoy!!

    Tim

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by epmedia View Post
    Yea, I'm considering advancing my timing again. Just passed smog a few months ago, so I guess it's time to add a little personal touch to it again. Hopefully the new head gasket will hold up to it (high compression).

    Robert
    If you checked the head for flatness and/or had it milled and it was torqued down properly, it will hold it. The stock head gasket will hold 15 lbs of boost, I think it will hold advanced timing as well provided you don't go too far and get knock

    '81 320i turbo | t25, 931 CIS, 240hp, 13.92@100mph | 2.2L m10 Turbo Build | My E21 Videos |

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by jrcook320 View Post
    If you checked the head for flatness and/or had it milled and it was torqued down properly, it will hold it. The stock head gasket will hold 15 lbs of boost, I think it will hold advanced timing as well provided you don't go too far and get knock
    I think I went too advanced the last time before the head gasket started leaking between 3 & 4. Yea, the head is very flat, I think the most not flat was less than .001".

    Do you know if the GOETZ head gasket requires a re-tourque?

    Robert
    Tbd

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  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rickysbmw320i View Post
    Edis ftw
    I'm still new here .

    What is Edis, what is ftw??, Robert
    Tbd

  17. #17
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    I know this thread is super old, but seeing as at least the pre '79 e21s have no concrete method of advancing timing (flywheel ball to set initially?), if someone could make a video tutorial and post it to this thread, it'd be incredibly helpful. I'd like to know exactly how to set timing, or advance it (according to the method mentioned in this thread), as this topic has always eluded my understanding.


  18. #18
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    back in the days when I drag race my big block Chevy, I would start at factory setting (12*BTD) and then add 2 more degrees, take it through the gears at WOT. if it didn't ping I would add 2 more degrees and repeat at WOT. i would continue this exercise until it did ping and then retard it 2 degrees. this would give a ideal timing setting for that moment allowing for air temp, humitiy, air pressure, gasoline, ect.
    Tom D

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  19. #19
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    AFAIK, the pre '79 m10s don't have any way to measure timing advance in degrees? If I'm wrong, please let me know where to find any way of telling!


  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by fiveseven808 View Post
    AFAIK, the pre '79 m10s don't have any way to measure timing advance in degrees? If I'm wrong, please let me know where to find any way of telling!
    Tom D has a fancy timing light with a degree dial on it.
    I've never had one of those, so I use a "blind method" that is not always accurate, especially if the engine is not running the way it's suppose to.

    As already mentioned, mark your starting point and do not adjust it too advaced to where it pings!

    After the engine is at normal temperature, advance the timing in 25-50 rpm higher increments (the engine idle will raise as timing is advanced).
    It's easiest to loosen the dist just enough to where a "gentle tap" will nudge it just a "tiny bit".
    Always snug up the dist before driving it.
    Adjust idle screw as needed when you're done.
    2.0L advance is CCW
    1.8L advance is CW
    Tbd

  21. #21
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    you can approximate the degrees by dividing the distributor.

    one rotation of the rotor is 360 degrees.

    1/4 of the cap (from one post on the cap to another) is 90 degrees.

    divide that in half and it's 45*. in half again is 22*.

    half that twice more and you have 6 degrees. this is within the range you will be working.

    mark the clamp below the distributor and then use it as your reference pointer along with the markings you made on the distributor.
    Last edited by Tom D; 07-06-2012 at 05:15 PM.
    Tom D

    77 e21 - m42
    88 e30m3
    04 330 dinan3
    84 r1000rt
    02 r1150rs
    all of them gray
    14 f800gsa - red headed stepchild!

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