intermittent starting issue

[chappys4life]

I have been having issues with my 87 325e lately occasionally it just will not start. It cranks just spinning, after trying multiple times it starts sometimes or if I let it sit for like 10 minutes it starts. When it started doing it I thought it was the tps as I had an erratic revving (even after replacing the air hoses related) so thought it might be it but nope still doing it.

About 7 months ago I replaced the fuel pump relay for doing a similar thing but it would spin or occasionally start and run like crap and idled around 500-1000 rpm then slowly dropped and died. Also I replaced the main relay as I was at the bmw dealership and it was cheap. In August I did timing belt, water pump, plugs, fuel filter, cap, rotor.

Any ideas of things to test or try?

[bmwstudent]

Next time it doesn't start, pop off a plug wire and check for spark. See what you don't have (spark or fuel) assuming you have compression. Then investigate. Check your pm, the fender is in Richmond.

[chappys4life]

I think it was a fuel issue. Purchased a new fuel pump relay again its been working. Think I am going to buy new fuel pumps.

[bddog]

Sounds like a crank position sensor.

[navid41691]

Sounds like a crank position sensor.

[chappys4life]

Even though it's been running fine all week?

[shoshottz]

any definitive solution?


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[locar]

any definitive solution?

I'm going to second this:

Sounds like a crank position sensor.

When was the last time the Speed and Crankshaft Position sensors were replaced on your car? I just dealt with this and replacing both fixed it. Make sure you order by the Bosch part numbers to save some $$$. There's two different one's that will work. The more expensive one just has longer wires.

[shoshottz]

fixed my problem. ended up being the external fuel pump


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[e30davie]

I reckon there are a lot of perfectly good crank sensors that have been thrown in the bin.