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Running Rough - Then OK
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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 325
Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Started it five minutes before leaving this AM. Came out and the car wasn't running. Tried to start it - it would start but then run in that horribly rough mode. When it does this, it spews blue smoke out the tailpipe, so it's burning oil. Once the condition clears, so does that.

I wish I could describe this better. It just sputters and coughs like it's running on two cylinders.

Could this be a timing problem? Maybe threw a tooth off the timing belt? It's probably due for a change, The second one was done at about 130K and now I'm not really sure how many miles are on the car, maybe close to 200K.
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m78



Joined: 14 Nov 2001
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would think a timing problem would be more consistent.

Did you check all the spark plugs? spark plug wires?

fuel filter?

.

.
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Lachssilber Metallic 203 1988 325i sedan with 200,xxx miles

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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
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Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not as well as I should have probably. And the fact it's running this rich even for a short time likely means one or more plugs is fouled, I know. It's just so strange that it runs fine after a bit.

It stalled on me again last night when I had the wrench kid from next door looking at it with me. At least he saw it die, about 45 seconds after it started without issue. Nice to have it happen in front of him. He's no BMW expert but he has done some good work for me (front control arms, bushings, sway bar links, etc.), and he does have a friend who IS an e30 expert of sorts, about as good as I can hope for around here without taking it to a shop, which I'd rather not do if I don't have to. Just me.

I can do relatively simple tasks, probably 5 or below on 1-10 scale. Not mechanically inclined by any means but I am a computer guy, so I lean to those kind of fixes.

Speaking of, my car's claim to fame: I used to take it to Bavarian Performance in Mountain View, CA, now Dinan Engineering. Steve Dinan drove my car.
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m78



Joined: 14 Nov 2001
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

spark air or fuel.

cheapest fix first


check the plugs, plug wires, check the fuel pump relay

and electrical connections are not always on/off but when corrosion and age come into play it can be simply not connected completely causing the irregular symptoms you're describing.

check the fuel filter. and any small fuel leaks. There is a fairly easy fuel pressure check in the bentley manual or probably somewhere on-line as well. You can do that one pretty quickly, and would eliminate or confirm fuel as the cause.

check the fuel pressure regulator

check the idle control valve

buy a known working motronic unit, and swap it in.

after that you may have to take it to the shop.

.

.
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cjhsa



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Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 8:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been wondering about electrical connections from the get go as I was running on some washboard (dirt road) when this happened. I wasn't going very fast but it was really rough at the time, and no way around it other than to park and walk over a mile.

Q: Which ground is the most important for the cold start up routine?
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cjhsa



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PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK... It is NOT the fuel pump relay.

It's also not the diagnostic port cover ROFL! That $1.50 part doesn't hold and I had to put a rubber band on it until I can figure out a better fix.

From what I've seen the fuel pump relay and the O2 sensor relay can use the same part, though the original ones are clearly not the same. Is that true? I'd like to test using the new relay if OK.
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m78



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PostPosted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 6:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I assume you've checked the plugs and plug wires and distributor?

.

.
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cjhsa



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PostPosted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 1:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

New cap and rotor going on today, and plugs. Wires are good.
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m78



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PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

you may need to take this to a shop, at least to have them test it using their diagnostic tools.

It may actually be cheaper than throwing parts at it...besides the fact that the parts can leave dents.


.

.
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Last edited by m78 on Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
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Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dents is dents. Laughing

It needed work anyway. In fact it needs a LOT more work.

Hoping the cap and rotor and plugs make a big difference.

As noted before I'm not a mechanic but I do know a young man here in town that has been an e30 fanatic since he was about 10. I first met him when he was 14, I rolled into a golf course and he in turn rolled a bottlecap and tire out of the cart shack. He already owned two e30's and he couldn't even drive.

So he did the timing belt for me, and I know where he lives. Heh... He even did the seals behind the lower front timing cover (of course, I had everything but the gasket). He can't do everything though, and there are a couple specialty shops here, not like you'd find in California but a couple. And a dealership, though I doubt they'd touch this car, despite the fact I bought it there in 1984.
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m78



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PostPosted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hire him (donate a six pack or fav video game) immediately to
help get your car fixed. Otherwise you could be buying and installing unnecessary parts.

Otherwise there should be a shop somewhere not too far away that specializes in german auto repair.


http://www.bimmershops.com/bmwshops/michigan/
.

.
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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
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Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Car is done and running well. The new cap and rotor he installed along with the new plugs seems to have done the trick. Hopefully!

Timing belt good for another 50K+.

Next up, the AC.
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m78



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PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 4:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

CONGRATULATIONS!

It's so rewarding to finally resolve a long standing issue.

You should hang on to the old plugs and examine them, in case that wasn't the problem. Same with the other parts. You could be throwing away perfectly good parts without realizing it.

The plugs especially so, because you can usually tell by their appearance if they are still good or not.
.

.
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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 325
Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks! The cap/rotor was the culprit. The contacts were worn badly, and the Bosch platinum WR9LP's were in rough shape. Have the silver ones in there now.
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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
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Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

CRAP!! It did it again tonight! This time Id been driving for a few minutes and just let off the gas slightly in 4th gear and it sorta hopped. I clutched, revved and it was rough, had to let it go to idle and it cleared. Wth...

So frustrated right now.
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