My E30 won't start :(

[RobertK]

Every blue moon my car would have difficulty starting to where I would have to crank for 10-15 seconds to get it to sputter to life. Most of the time it would crank right up. This has been going on maybe once every 3-4 months for almost 2 years.

Recently as in the past week it started to do it frequently (every other start) and today my friend started my car to move it out of the driveway.. It started right up first try and he accidentally killed it by trying to take off in the wrong gear.

Ever since it will not start. Just cranks and randomly sputter like it's getting some kind of spark. It's definately getting gas because I can smell it in the exhaust and it was on the plugs when I pulled them out after few trys.

Here is what I've done so far. Changed the spark plugs and coil (they were both past due anyway). I ordered a CPS from the local auto parts store to pick up tomorrow and I had ordered a fuel pump and main relay this past Friday just to have extras in the garage.

Is there anything else I could be missing or should check out that would make it momentarily spark but keep my engine from firing up?

[golde30]

Every blue moon my car would have difficulty starting to where I would have to crank for 10-15 seconds to get it to sputter to life. Most of the time it would crank right up. This has been going on maybe once every 3-4 months for almost 2 years.

Recently as in the past week it started to do it frequently (every other start) and today my friend started my car to move it out of the driveway.. It started right up first try and he accidentally killed it by trying to take off in the wrong gear.

Ever since it will not start. Just cranks and randomly sputter like it's getting some kind of spark. It's definately getting gas because I can smell it in the exhaust and it was on the plugs when I pulled them out after few trys.

Here is what I've done so far. Changed the spark plugs and coil (they were both past due anyway). I ordered a CPS from the local auto parts store to pick up tomorrow and I had ordered a fuel pump and main relay this past Friday just to have extras in the garage.

Is there anything else I could be missing or should check out that would make it momentarily spark but keep my engine from firing up?

my e30 used to do this occasionally. pulling off the neg cable of the battery for a few minutes, and reconnecting it worked for me every time.

[RobertK]

Hmm.. I wish I had thought of that before ripping out the old CPS.

Doesn't this just reset the computer right? Did you problem ever go away or do you think it's DME related?

[golde30]

Hmm.. I wish I had thought of that before ripping out the old CPS.

Doesn't this just reset the computer right? Did you problem ever go away or do you think it's DME related?

i thnk it was DME related, but would only happen if my engine was cold and i stalled it.

[RobertK]

Holy shit.. that's exactly what fucking happened.. son of a bitch. That's what I get for being so quick to throw parts at the problem.

I was so set on getting my car running again and I jumped to conclusions.

Is your DME a 173?

[golde30]

Is your DME a 173?

yes.

[RobertK]

yes.

Fuckin' A

[87-325ic]

have you figured this out yet?

occasionally mine will take like 20 cranks to finally sputter to life, other times, its cranking right up.

i can usually let off the crank, then wait for the starter and stuff to stop, then try agin and it comes right on.

[RobertK]

As soon as I get the CPS back on I will post on here and let you know.

[eurodreamz]

guys mine is doing the same exact thing right now. it would eventually work all the time but last week i could just not get it to start for the life of me!!! it was so frusterating, i got some help from some of my buddies that work on these and i still couldnt get it to work! so i got it towed to a bmw specialist to try and let him fix it. hes had it for a week and he says he is having alot of problems getting it to run right. he says he can get it to run but it runs rich... if u have any suggestions let me no please... thanks

[RobertK]

That sounds like an entirely different problem. Of course.. if he disconnects the computer it will run rich until it re-learns the proper parameters.

If you are still having problems running rich then the O2 sensor would be the first thing I would suggest replacing.

[RobertK]

Did the battery trick today and put the old CPS back on the car and took the new one back.

Car still sputtered and didn't start on the first try so the second try I sprayed some starting fluid into the PCV hose into the throttle body and it finally started up. It was rough for a minute like it was still flooded. After that she drove fine. Let her sit and cool down again and she started up a no problem.

I am, however, concerned that my injectors may be leaking down when I turn my car off causing it to be super rich when I start the car. Is this possible?

I'm running some hand me down 19lb Bosch injectors maybe it's time to replace them?

[rs4pro3]

watch the fuel pressure gauge when you shut the car and see how quick the pressure drops. The system should be able to hold 30 psi for at least 5 minutes after the pumps are cut off.

[RobertK]

I still have that gauge on the low pressure return line. This weekend I'm going to try switching it over so I can watch the fuel pressure on high side.

Regardless, I'm still considering a smaller injector like going with a 17.5lb injector instead of using 19lbers. I think the 19lb injectors are a bit much.