Rich mixture - United Bimmer Community

**The Mechanic** · 01-04-2012, 11:04 AM

Hello again.I have one BMW 318 is E 36 M42 1995, 103 kw,aprox 350 000 km.
In this moment all 4 cylinders have the piston rings changed,cylinder head rectified ,this job I did it due Rh,the metter with ignition system was before I was overhauling the engine. Oxygen sensor,MAF, knock sensors ,camshaft sensor,inlet temperature sensor they are new.Regarding the fuel system,all the injectors overhauled,fuel pump changed,fuel pressure regulator and the sensor from the injection rail changed as well. On the tester is showing me the "rich mixture" code,the engine is running ,but the performances are very low,the car is running with a lot of fuel,exhaust gas is clear,once I press the accceleration pedal the engine is getting chocked. I speak with my mechanic witch I done all the jobs ,and we changed and checked almost everything we thought that could be the reason,but no efect. I love my engine and I would like to make it run properly for this reason I applyed .Thanks ,maybe we can find some answers.

DEATH2000 · 01-04-2012, 01:14 PM

Was it running rich before you had the piston rigs and head work done? Or did that only start after?

**The Mechanic** · 01-04-2012, 01:33 PM

thanks for your attention .The problem was before I was overhauling the engine,like I mentioned in my start-up letter.
bst rgrds

DEATH2000 · 01-04-2012, 04:48 PM

Sounds like a very odd problem. It seems like you have replaced everything that may normally cause it. The only thing I can really think is maybe something is wrong with your DME. It seems like you have dealt with all the mechanical components but maybe it's an electrical one?

**The Mechanic** · 01-05-2012, 03:05 AM

Possible,I am also thinking that is something wrong with my DME 1.7,wat I can do?you have some ideas how to find the problem with DME,some ideas to reset or re-soft?i like to mentioned that I think that my engine was cipped from previos owner ,but I not realy sure.
thanks.
bst rgrds

DEATH2000 · 01-05-2012, 01:20 PM

Well the options I can think of are find a DME out of a running car that you know doesn't run rich, swap it in and see of it fixes it, or take it to someone and have it reset. The common electrical troubleshooting is if it doesn't work swap it with something that does to narrow down the problem.

**Manolito** · 01-07-2012, 02:47 PM

When I hear of a rich mixture, the suspects are:
1) Fuel pressure regulator (which you changed)
2) Water temperature sensor (the one that talks to fuel control)
3) Inlet air temperature sensor (which you changed).
These are not only the more common failure points, they are the cheapest parts in the system so optimistically, that is where I hope to find the problem.

**The Mechanic** · 01-08-2012, 10:04 AM

Thanks for the tips. Like I mentioned ,all the sensors are checked and eventual changed. To checked almost everything I need to find one DME ,from another beemer and swap it with mine,or reset or re-soft my DME.Now,if you have some ideas how to reset or maybe re-soft it,i could use some help. Meanwhile I am looking to find one good DME at good cost.
Bst rgrds

DEATH2000 · 01-08-2012, 12:26 PM

Software programming I leave to the proffessionals. That's something I'll never mess with. Way to easy to mess it up. Is their a BMW salvage yard near you? Sometimes they may have one. Finding a wrecked car may be a good option. Tischer BMW may have one. Or Pelican Parts. But they will probably be costly.

**The Mechanic** · 01-30-2012, 03:47 PM

hello again! So,i was looking until two days ago to find one DME for my car,and I found one in other city,ok!so far so good,but I have one question ! I have two options :
-re-soft the DME ,is possible for 300 E
-and to replace my DME with one that I found at 150 E,question!
If i do the re-softing is possible that my DME to collapse again? or better change with other one and I can save some money for other thing for my car.
Is't clear that my DME is the problem.So,from experience,some ideas?
thank you
best regards