3 series (compact) power delivery

[alankeith]

I have recently bought myself a 316i compact (UK spec). This is my first BMW and my first RWD car. I am really pleased with the car and it looks great.

I have noticed that when driven on the motorway with the foot down a little, the car has a tendency to deliver the power as if it is "missing a beat". The power comes and goes, but this happens in a smooth and sequential sort of way, the car doesn't shudder or stall. If the car is driven around town, I don't notice it.

I was going to replace the plugs and leads, as I thought it might be a corroded plug lead, or old plugs, but i found that the plugs were brand new. The leads did seem a little dirty, but no cracking etc was evident, so I cleaned up the contacts.

As the new plug leads are £50, I think it might be best to have a diagnostic tune-up carried out, in case I am wasting money which would be better spent elsewhere.

Anyone else had this problem?