1978 Bmw 320i problems
The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact executive cars manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. It is the successor to the 02 Series and has been produced in seven generations.
The first generation of the 3 Series was only available as a 2-door saloon; the model range expanded to include a 4-door saloon, 2-door convertible, 2-door coupé, 5-door estate, 5-door liftback ("Gran Turismo") and 3-door hatchback body styles. Since 2013, the coupé and convertible models have been marketed as the 4 Series, styles no longer included in the 3 Series.
The 3 Series is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the BMW brand's annual total car sales, and has won numerous awards throughout its history.
The M version of the 3 series, M3, debuted with the E30 M3 in 1986.
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Common 1978 Bmw 320i problems
The BMW 320i, produced in 1978, is a part of the E21 series, which was BMW's first generation of the 3-Series. While this car is known for its reliability, there are some common problems that owners have reported over the years.
One of the most common issues with the 1978 BMW 320i is related to the K-Jetronic fuel injection system. This system is known for its simplicity and reliability, but it can suffer from a lack of maintenance. Specifically, the fuel distributor can fail, and replacement or rebuilt parts may be difficult to find.
Another issue that has been reported with the 1978 BMW 320i is rust. While the car in the provided search result does not have any rust through, surface rust can be found on bolts and nuts, as is common with older cars.
Additionally, the 320i's manual steering was precise, but it required regular maintenance, such as valve adjustments and oil changes, to ensure its longevity and reliability.
It is worth noting that the 1978 BMW 320i was affected by tightening U.S. emission standards and the primitive smog controls of the era, which resulted in the car being slower than its predecessor, the 2002.
Overall, while the 1978 BMW 320i is known for its reliability, it is important to maintain the car properly, especially the K-Jetronic fuel injection system and manual steering, to ensure its longevity and avoid common problems.
Are BMW 320i reliable?
J.D. Power has given the 2022 BMW 3 Series a predicted reliability score of 79 out of 100. A predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average. The BMW 3 Series comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty.
What are the disadvantages of the BMW 320i?
“It has a lot of sensors, and when one fails, it could grind the car to a halt,” said Oduor. The owners said, unlike most Japanese cars that can run on “check-engine” lights for a considerable distance, or even days, the BMW 320i series would only give you little room to manoeuvre before breaking down completely.
How much horsepower does a 1978 BMW 320i have?
110hp
BMW 320i Sedan Manual, 110hp, 1978.
How fast is a BMW 320i?
General performance
| Top speed | 235 kph (146 mph) |
|---|---|
| 18m slalom | 66.4 kph (41.3 mph) |
| 50 kph - 0 | 9 m (29 ft) |
| 100 kph - 0 | 33 m (109 ft) |
| 150 kph - 0 | 77 m (253 ft) |
How reliable is the BMW 320i?
Reliability Survey, the BMW 3 Series ranked 18th out of 24 cars in our most reliable executive car class with a score of 87.5%. This was above the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Skoda Superb, but below the Audi A4, the Jaguar XE and the Mercedes C-Class.
What are the disadvantages of the BMW 320i?
“It has a lot of sensors, and when one fails, it could grind the car to a halt,” said Oduor. The owners said, unlike most Japanese cars that can run on “check-engine” lights for a considerable distance, or even days, the BMW 320i series would only give you little room to manoeuvre before breaking down completely.
How much horsepower does a 1978 BMW 320i have?
110hp
BMW 320i Sedan Manual, 110hp, 1978.
Is the BMW 320i fast?
BMW 320i Speed
With sprint times being between 4.4 – 8.4 seconds, depending on variant.
1978 Bmw 320i car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Bmw 320i problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Visibility problems
- Seat belts problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1978 Bmw 320i vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1978 Bmw 320i complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1978 Bmw 320i.
VISIBILITY,SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-04-18
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Components: VISIBILITY,SEAT BELTS
- Summary: AFTER DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND SITTING AT A STOP SIGN HEATER CORE EXPLODED. SCALDING HOT WATER GUSHED FROM BENEATH THE DASH BOARD. CONSUMER SUSTAINED THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON THE LEGS AND FEET. THE SEAT BELT LATCH WOULD NOT COME UNDONE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *AK
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-07-28
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED CAUSING SERVERE INJURY TO DRIVING WHICH RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. *YC
1978 Bmw 320i recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 4 recalls for different components of the 1978 Bmw 320i.
- Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS
- Summary: WHEN SUBJECTED TO THE EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT CAN OCCUR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE DAMPER SLEEVES WHICH COVER THE RETURN SPRINGS OF THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM CAN DEFORM AND PREVENT THEIR RETURNING THE THROTTLE TO IDLE POSITION AFTER RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
- Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE RETURN DAMPER SLEEVES WITH NEW SLEEVES OF HIGH TEMPERATURE-RESISTANT PLASTIC MATERIAL.
- Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
- Summary: THE HEX HEAD BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO TERMINAL #30 MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE.
- Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE FUSE PANEL AND RETIGHTEN THE 5-MM HEX HEAD BOLT IN THE MAIN POWER TERMINAL UNDERNEATH THE FUSE PANEL, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
- Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
- Summary: DUE TO THE HIGH FUEL FLOW RATE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, CONDITIONS OF EXTREME ALTITUDE, TEMPERATURES, OR FUEL CONTAMINATION, MAY LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF FUEL VAPOR BUBBLES.
- Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL PUMP IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
- Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: DUE TO A MATERIAL STUCTURAL DEFECT, THE RUBBER SEAL BETWEEN THE METAL VALVE STEM AND RIM ALLOWS SLOW SEEPAGE OF AIR AROUND THE VALVE BASE.
- Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE METAL TIRE VALVE STEMS AND RUBBER SEALS WITH NEW ONES, AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1978 Bmw 320i problems:
Advice on buying a 1978 320i
Nov 12, 2014 ... 1: Rust. · 2: Running condition and fuel system function. · 3: Engine and transmission oil leaks. · 4: Suspension bushings and steering.
After how many miles will a BMW give you problems? - Quora
Jun 5, 2017 ... Former Manager (1978 ... How many miles can a modern BMW engine do before developing problems? ... It is for a 1981 BMW 320i, the first BMW I ever ...
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