1986 BMW 325 My car loses power on the freeways combined wi

Tiny
SHADOWBMW
  • MEMBER
  • 1986 BMW 325
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 221,000 MILES
I have a 1986 BMW 325e with 221k on the clock I'm not sure if the car's doing the same thing anymore as I havent given it another freeway run since the last time it acted up. However I noticed the catalytic converter would start smelling, kinda like a mix of sulfur and metal burning. It's an acrid smell, like wet sulfur. Then usually followed by a metallic smell that came from the engine just before losing power (gas pedal pressed all the way and the car decelerates)

I've replaced the faulty fuel pumps, replace the plugs, checked the wire and cap and rotor, no evidence of blow-by (no smoking) no signs of head gasket failure (it seems) changed the oil (the stuff when this was happening was really dirty)

However the catalytic converter still makes a funny smell. Someone say it could be the timing, or the O2 sensor (yet it passes emissions!)

I may need to use this car to drive the freeway again and I do not want to get stuck.

So what could it be?
Monday, March 3rd, 2008 AT 4:11 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
It could be a plugged cat after 200,000 miles
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Saturday, March 8th, 2008 AT 9:34 AM
Tiny
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Yeah it did all start after I got a new catalytic converter, nothing's rattling around inside though, which is the odd part.

But it was a cheap catalytic converter and the guys were in the vicinity of another place my mother went for hers, and it failed within a week.
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Sunday, March 9th, 2008 AT 5:01 PM
Tiny
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You might be on to something there.
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Sunday, March 9th, 2008 AT 5:07 PM

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