BMW 3 Series E30 car engine ignition system

Ignition system — general information
The ignition system generates an ignition spark that ignites the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders at a certain moment. In order to generate a sufficient...

Functioning of the transistorized ignition system
The transistorized ignition system is non-contact. Instead of a breaker contact, the ignition distributor has a maintenance-free inductive sensor. An ignition...

Functioning of the parametric ignition system
In the parametric ignition system, the optimal ignition timing is determined depending on the current engine operating mode. Control parameters are engine...

Safety measures when working with the ignition system
In electronic ignition systems, high voltage reaches 30,000 V. Under adverse conditions, such as high humidity in the engine compartment, voltage peaks can...

Checking / adjusting the ignition timing
To check, a speed meter with a closing angle indicator and a stroboscope are required. Attention: On engines with Motronic, the ignition timing can only be...

Ignition timing / CO content / engine idling speed
To check the ignition timing, the vacuum hose is disconnected from the vacuum diaphragm of the ignition distributor. When checking the CO content, the vacuum...

Removal and installation of the distributor of ignition
Withdrawal Disconnect the ground wire from the battery. Four cylinder engine Remove the protective cap from the ignition distributor. Disconnect ground wire...

Checking the ignition coil
The ignition coil is checked with an ohmmeter. Disconnect the ground wire from the battery. Remove the protective cap from the ignition coil. Disconnect the...

Checking the ignition wires
Disconnect the ground wire from the battery. Remove the protective cap of the ignition distributor and disconnect the spark plug tips. Caution: When doing...

Spark plug
The spark plug consists of a central electrode, an insulator with a housing and a ground electrode. The mass electrode is hermetically fixed in an insulator...

Maintenance work on the ignition system
The electronic ignition system is in principle maintenance-free, other than checking the connection contacts and spark plugs as part of the maintenance...

Diagnostics of malfunctions of system of ignition
Fault: engine starts poorly or does not start at all