87 325e stumbls, dies.

[Burgandish325]

Have been lurking here a while, place is excellent~!

My 87 325e always idles smooth, starts easy, great deal on a great car. 267640 miles with regular service. Fuel pump in gas tank failed 6 months ago. A friend installed the replacement fuel pump, and shortly after, while filling up, petrol begins spilling onto the ground - didn't realize it yet, but the friend had installed the fuel pump without the rubber gasket.

That tank of fuel went maybe 200 miles, fuel consumption was half what it once was. Month later, I discovered the air intake on my wonderful car was low - found out after attempting to cross a large puddle in a parking lot. Of course, I assume I've murdered the car. After removing the plugs, and as much of the water as I could find - using starter to shoot water out the plug holes, dumped out the AFM and air box, Fired air through throttle body, etc. I let it dry out for about 2 weeks. It started up ok, took some coaxing, but started up, and ran "ok" without any ovbious signs of major damage.

Changed the oil, air cleaner, plugs, and not long after, it started to sputter, stumble, then die, while in park, or at a light - it's an Automatic - few days later it's horrible to start, I live in Phoenix and it's finally cold (29 degrees as opposed to 150) so now it's hard to start, and once warmed, idles at 1200 to 1300 rpm, sometimes searching between 700 and 1300, and dies everytime it's shifted into gear or reverse.

I can imagine a lot of things, but I had to drive it to Southern California Christmas eve, and am currently working on it. Replaced the pump gasket first, and it started better, but still rough and then seeking between 600 and 1200 rpm. Any suggestions or jokes are welcome and appreciated.

Love my car, assumed the head was cracked at very least after turning it into a water fountain, but it has none of the symptoms - coolant and oil are fine, temps steady and no driveability issues, other then the whack idle.

Gotta get back to Phoenix, would like to do so an get the usual 25-28 mpg rate it's always delivered. That and I don't want to have a catastrophic failure in the process, and I'd like to know how to determine if its about to.

Thanks Bimmer people - Merry Christmas!~

[Big Evil]

I'd be looking for air leaks (the rubber elbow) and vacuum leaks first. I'm actually down in Phoenix every so often and I'll be down in another week or so. Message me if you haven't figured it out by then, I may have time to look at it

[Burgandish325]

i've done a tune up to eliminate any issues such as clogged fuel filter, etc. new cap, rotor, wires, plugs, and so forth.

i am staying in SoCal till i get it sorted. my fuel econmy is about half it normally is. and fuel here is 3.40 a gal, so it's a major issue.

appreciate the reply, as well as the offer.

[Burgandish325]

the AFM was corroded and rusted. cleaned it up and it runs like a champ again. Thanks for the help and all the posts - learned a lot here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZYjtwpDu_0

[Big Evil]

Nice work