Hello and welcome to my BMW 328i problem - United Bimmer Community

**eddien** · 07-22-2008, 06:35 AM

Hi,
I'm new to United Bimmer and would like to say hello.: -)

That's as good as it gets as I have a problem with my 328i Coupe.: - (

It starts up fine and runs smoothly, but every now and again, the engine will cut out.This has always happened when stuck in traffic.

I drive in London and as it's not the most patient of cities you can imagine the scenario when the car dies and the traffic suddenly begins to move..lol
It normally starts up straight away, but I was wondering what makes the engine cut out in the first place.

Secondly, the automatic transmission seems to fail and I end driving in what sounds like 3rd gear until I can pull over, turn the engine off for twenty seconds and it seems to reset itself.

If anyone's got any answers to these issues, I'd be very grateful.

Many thanks,
Eddien.

**potterinicupra** · 07-22-2008, 08:06 AM

i seem to have exactly the same problem, after replacing a fair few components im thinking its now electrical... possibly the o2 sensor...will let you know if i fix it!

**player2poet** · 07-22-2008, 01:33 PM

i hate to say it but i had the same problem and it ended up being my ecu .Then again the year might help people give you a better clue .I would also look at your maf sensor but but most likley isnt it if its messing up your tranny.any way good luck

**scooter** · 07-23-2008, 02:46 AM

a dirty ICV could be a cause too if it idles rough, i also second the ECU.
does it throw any codes or check engine light?

**potterinicupra** · 07-24-2008, 03:53 AM

no engine codes just had it checked, my mechanic told me to check the ecu for water damage as its common on this year of car for water to get trapped in the ecu housing area... not great news!

**scooter** · 07-24-2008, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potterinicupra

no engine codes just had it checked, my mechanic told me to check the ecu for water damage as its common on this year of car for water to get trapped in the ecu housing area... not great news!

that is very true, that is a common problem with the e36.
good luck man, hope its not too bad.

**potterinicupra** · 07-24-2008, 04:37 AM

gonna bite the bullet and whip it out for an inspection this afternoonwill keep everyone informed

**potterinicupra** · 07-24-2008, 08:33 AM

right...just been under the bonnet and found something rather disturbing.. I was cruising the site looking for solutions to this problem and found info on the DME relay which relates exactly to this problem..
so..
off i trot to the engine bay convinced this was the solution, lifted the fuse box cover to find..... no DME relay!!!

now am i being really stupid or what?

i have these two green ones with 226 on the top in that little area where the DME should be, but both these are the same...surely the DME and fuel pump relays are different?

Either way i have 2 not 3, and no connections for 3 either..

will try to post pics

**potterinicupra** · 07-24-2008, 08:49 AM

**potterinicupra** · 07-24-2008, 08:52 AM

**potterinicupra** · 07-24-2008, 08:55 AM

**potterinicupra** · 07-24-2008, 09:00 AM

strange no?

and finally.... a picture of my car

seen as i never did post one in the first place

**potterinicupra** · 07-24-2008, 09:40 AM

p.s. didn't mean to hijack the thread eddien! check your dme relay if you can find it!

**scooter** · 07-24-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potterinicupra

right...just been under the bonnet and found something rather disturbing.. I was cruising the site looking for solutions to this problem and found info on the DME relay which relates exactly to this problem..
so..
off i trot to the engine bay convinced this was the solution, lifted the fuse box cover to find..... no DME relay!!!

now am i being really stupid or what?

i have these two green ones with 226 on the top in that little area where the DME should be, but both these are the same...surely the DME and fuel pump relays are different?

Either way i have 2 not 3, and no connections for 3 either..

will try to post pics

i doubt thats your issue since i prsume the car previously ran, some have equipment that others dont etc.
you can test the relays to ensure they function correctly but i doubt you're missing one.

**potterinicupra** · 07-25-2008, 02:26 AM

sorry i wasn't very concise with that!

What i mean is the car runs, just occasionally lumpy and cuts out.. So i looked for the DME relay but only found 2 SPST relays, when the DME relay is a DPST.... im not suggesting its missing, as in gone... just that i cant find it!

**Manolito** · 07-26-2008, 12:24 AM

The fact that both the ignition and the tranny are messing up sounds like a voltage problem to me. I would start cleaning grounds and battery cables and see if it clears up. If you can clip on to a voltage source and monitor it as you drive, that might be informative.

How many miles on the car? Could the brushes be shot and arcing in the alternator, sending voltage spikes into the system? If you are over 200k km, it could be brushes.