E36 323 Engine sometimes runs rough

[bretta 0]

My '97 323 has (sometimes) started to run rough after the engine has been running fore a while - anywhere from 3/4 hour to 2 hours. It feels like it is running on only 3 or 4 cylinders, loses power, idles roughly. If the motor is switched off for anything from 5 to 15 minutes, it quite often starts and runs ok, again for about 3/4 hour or more (I am generally back home by then).

I am perplexed with the fact that if left for 5 minutes, everything runs fine for sometime before problem reappears, if at all.

Any ideas of what I can check? Would plugs or coil packs the primary suspect? Could it be a fuel issue?

All fluid levels are ok, Oil filter, Air Filter, plugs done at last oil service - only just down to 1 green light now.

Cheers, Brett

[*Glenn* 854]

An ignition coil fault could be the culprit. Had the same thing with a car on Monday. A scan may pin point the fault.