BMW e30 325i wont start! NEED HELP - United Bimmer Community

**emerica630** · 02-26-2012, 02:52 AM

Hi everybody
I'm new to this forum so if there is any problem on the post, please tell me, thanks

I have alot of questions.

I have just bought a BMW E30 325i 4 door and I ran into a problem. The car keeps revving high and then low from time to time until you turn the ignition off,(The tachometer does not work so i dont know how much its revving up to) I have cleaned the ICV with carb cleaner, brake cleaner, and soaked them in fuel injector cleaner for 20 minutes or so. The car has not been revving, dont know if the things i did solved the problem. My main problem is that when i start the car, it sounds like it wants to start but stalls after 1~2 seconds later. Some time it starts for 3~4 seconds but does not idle very good and then stalls. Everytime it happens the check engine light comes on. I have to start the car around 7~8 times until the car starts but idle's poorly and I drove it around for a few minutes and then the check engine light goes off and the car idle's fine. I dont know if its too cold outside(48 degrees).Is there anyway to fix it? I read some other forum that the BMW E30 has some problems with the fuel pump, could the fuel pump be malfunctioning?The ECU is chipped and the car has a LSD. I went to pelican technical and read a post that said replace all the vacum hoses might help, but dont the vacuum hoses need to be silicon?(if it does not than i will just use some regualr hoses) Will the engine misfire if one of the vacuum hoses is cracked? because i found a crack in one of the hoses next to ICV, it was connected to the intake tube.
Thank you to everybody that helps with my questions.

DEATH2000 · 02-26-2012, 09:00 AM

Welcome to United Bimmer!

Yes, a crack or tear in a vacuum hose will cause a rough idle, poor starting and stalling issues. It's te most common problem of a rough idle. Since one is cracked, check all of the rest of them. But make sure you feel and bend then to make sure theirs not a hidden crack.

If this doesn't solve the issue clean your MAF as well. It may help with you MPG at least. If the problem still persists your Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) or Crank Position Sensor (CPS) may be bad, causing the CEL and the issues.

Let us know what happens!

**emerica630** · 02-27-2012, 03:28 AM

Thanks for the reply
I have replace the fuel filter and the car starts fine now. I have started the car for three times and each with 2~3hours between and all did not stalled. Another question is that my dash board has this green light in the middle bottom, I think it has 5 green and one yellow(forgot the combination). it now only lights up 4 green and the rest are dark. What does that mean? My AC has this screeching noise when i turn the AC off, it goes does not screech when i turn it on. Whats the problem?
Thanks

DEATH2000 · 02-27-2012, 11:13 PM

Which green lights? The oil service indicators? If one is illuminated and the others Aren't then it may be burned out. I think the only way to tell is to remove the gauge cluster.

As for the squealing have you checked your belt? Are any of the pulleys loose?

**emerica630** · 03-02-2012, 09:18 PM

i solved the squealing sound, The lights are 5 green 1 yellow 1 red. its currently (Green off)(Green on)(Green on)(Green on)(Green on)(yellow off)(Red off). I cant find anyone with similar problems.

DEATH2000 · 03-03-2012, 06:47 AM

Those lights are the Oil Service Indicators. The green lights disappear over mileage. When you get to yellow you need to change your oil. Theirs a special tool you need to reset them. If you do your own oil changes its worth the $150. If you don't then some places have it, but if not the dealership does it for free.

**emerica630** · 03-06-2012, 08:23 PM

thanks

DEATH2000 · 03-06-2012, 08:27 PM

Your welcome. Any other problems let us know!

**emerica630** · 03-08-2012, 10:56 PM

I think a major problem has appeared
Every time i start the car, there is a check engine light on, when i drive it 1st gear works fine, 2nd gear feels as if there is no power going to the rear wheel but the rpm is still revving if you step more on the gas. Sometime(while in 2nd gear) the cars jerks as if it wants to rush really fast, it feels like the rear LSD is not in gear or something. After a few minutes of driving, the car all of a sudden has power and the check engine light goes off. It feels like something is not matching up with the transmission. Need more help....Again
Thank you

DEATH2000 · 03-08-2012, 11:13 PM

What year is the car? That's definitely odd. I'm not sure if it's directly related to the trannsmission or the computer.

**emerica630** · 03-10-2012, 02:18 AM

The car is a 1989.I started the car this morning and the problem was there, but when i started today in the afternoon, the problem was gone and also at night and the problem was not there either. Are there manufacturer that make one piece glass or acrylic for the rear window? I want to turn my e30 into a track car and make it a look-a-like to the BMW E30 M3 DTM race car.
Thanks Death2000 for all the replies

DEATH2000 · 03-10-2012, 09:22 AM

Turner Motorsports might make one. They do make acrylic windows for weight savings but I'm not sure if they have em for the E30

**emerica630** · 03-27-2012, 02:33 AM

My car has another problem, i have replace a idle control valve because the engine was revving by itself and it was surging up and down. when i start the car, there is a check engine light, but when you rev the car a little bit the check engine light goes off.At first i thought it was a fuel pump, but when i drive the car, I can hear the whining sound of the fuel pump. Does anyone have the same problem? Thanks in advance