knocking

Hi all. I am a bit puzzled with a knocking sound seemingly coming from around the top drivers side area of my engine (passengers side US). I have just replaced the timing chain, tensioners, and chain guides, as well as the big end bearing shells and conrod bolts, all with brand new BMW parts...

My car has 98K and change, and for the past 6 months or so had a knock coming from the dash area when the car goes over bumps or uneven payment. After removing the center vent and the instrument cluster it seems to me that the knocking is actually the plastic inner structure of the top half of...

OK, the beast has been backfiring, bogging down in the cold and popping and pinging when I blip the throttle when it is warm. On freeway onramps (especially those hard right ones) the car literally stumbles and two times has gone into limp home mode. The MAFs were replaced as that was the code...