Power loss while driving
 

While driving my 325 will suddenly have a split second loss of power. no indicator lights will come on, and just as quick as it happened the cars is back running with no problem. This happens about every 10 minutes. It happens more when drive at expressway speeds, over 55, but will upon occasion happen when driving in town.

Any ideas or suggestions


Thanks Denny

When was the last:
a) fuel filter change?
b) air filter change?
c) plug change ?
d) detailed list of maintenace done? (including what was done)

a GOOD list and mileage (now & then) would be a good starting point

I agree, my first (and just about only) guess would be it's fuel pump or fuel filter related, and if you have a bazillion miles on the car the pump may well be nearing its end. The only other time when I noticed hesitation and momentary loss of power with my E21 was when I was low on fuel and took a turn fairly fast, apparently pushing whatever small amount of fuel was in the tank at the time away from the pump, causing the hiccup. Once straightened out everything was fine (and I headed directly to the gas station about 2 miles away). But this doesn't describe your circumstances, which could be more dire if it happens while on the highway. Other guesses-- fuel pump relay, fuel pressure regulator. Whatever, get it checked.

I asked for the basics because lately we've been getting new folks who ask these same questions without giving us any idea of the history. Some people have NEVER done or don't know when what was done when & it's getting frustrating when trying to help them. IE: met a girl in AZ with a E36 who's folks gave her the car w/ 86k on it and it's never had a fuel filter change on it - since new! and she wonder why it got only 10mpg...:doh her response "I just thought all BMWs got bad mileage":wtf

Yeah, really... I think there's the presumption, of course largely fueled (groan) by the automotive industry, that maintenance isn't that important (besides, they want you to buy a new one, not keep the present one running), and let's face it, the emotions satisfied by driving a sexy, powerful car override the practicality of taking care of the thing properly. Sure, free routine maintenance featured with many new cars these days can be a selling point, but just what's included in "routine," and how long does the deal last? And of course, in this forum we're largely talking about cars that have ceased production a l-o-n-g time ago. What does this mean? Well, a good place to start is getting a Bentley manual and going through the suggested preventive maintenance schedule contained in it if you wanna stay on the road and not off on the side of it. Alas, no such thing as a free lunch, no such thing as a maintenance-free car :cry .

The car has 210,000 miles on it. I don't have any maintenance from the individual that had it prior to me. One of my plans, once we get out of the freezer here in Wisconsin, is to start a general tune up fix up and keep some good records. I haven't done much with it in the time I've had it, a little over a year. I know shame on me. My problem is finding reliable parts that don't make it so I have to re-mortgage the home.
Thanks for the initial suggestions. I was thinking filter, plugs or coil.
Denny

according to your last post you ARE going to learn a valuable lesson - these cars are not very forgiving to lack of maintenance. This isn't your fathers Olds - this is a near zero tolerance car. The longer you put off maintenance the more it's going to cost you. And you're running on a prayer if you have no records of previous maintenance like timing belt change... put that off & it breaks - hope you have $3500+ for reworking head, valves and things that will be needed to reassemble. You're living dangerously...