Bastard car!

[Steviec]

Just when I think it cant do anythink else to p1ss me off, it does!

It wouldnt bloody start this morning meaning that I was 20 mins late for work.
Im getting soo tempted to just sell it a buy something like a fiesta.

[zaust]

Just a batt or somthing more ?

[Steviec]

The battery is fine, it was spinning over lovely just wouldnt fire.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

When was it last serviced? If your distributor and sparkies are ok then keep reading...

My old 520i used to do it too, it used to flood, think because it thought it was freezing outside!!

Tried replacing associated sensor, no joy. A quick fix was removing the fuel pump fuse (no 23 on the 520i), turning it over, the bugger would start run for a few seconds then obviously stop once the excess fuel was burned off. Pop the fuse back in and it would start first time.

Not sure if that's the problem you are having but maybe food for thought?

[toby]

(sorry if this is a bit basic - i'm no mechanical genius)
yeah mate you need to establish if it is maybe a fuel or ignition problem

if when not starting and spinning over, does it smell of fuel at the exhaust pipe?

if it does then you have fuel

if you disconnect a spark plug lead, shove a screw driver into the end of the lead so it touches the connection and then leave the screwdriver and lead near to a part of the engine so you can see if a spark jumps accross when you turn it over

if it does then you have ignition firing


does it have an immobilizer?
have know of a lot of cars that the immobilizer does strange things when it is very cold - and it was very cold last night down here in kent

symapthies with your frustration mate
and remember even a fiesta can go wrong

[Steviec]

It was bloody cold and I know the alarm is playing up. Ill give it another go when I get home from work.
Think I need a second car so I can just use the cab in the summer.

[Steviec]

Well, I got home, put the key in the ignition and......... it started straight away!

Ive topped up the fluids ect but I think its the alarm, im getting it checked out over the weekend and hopefully tuned up ect, so hopefully it will be ok soon.

[Steviec]

And again this morning, the bastard wont start , well, I do have protected no claims........

[Brianmoooore]

And again this morning, the bastard wont start , well, I do have protected no claims........

Hang a small 12V lamp between the ignition coil + terminal and earth to see if there is power at the coil when it won't start . If not, rip that (aftermarket?) alarm out.

[agent006]

Im getting soo tempted to just sell it a buy something like a fiesta.

Trouble is a fiesta will still be unreliable, mine was. Plus it's unreliable and shite, whereas teh E30 is unreliable and brilliant.

[Brianmoooore]

There's nothing unreliable about E30s, but all cars, E30s included, need servicing and maintenance.
Theres a two year old Audi A3 and a similar age Mitsibushi Evo ouside in the yard, and my E30s are certainly more reliable than either of these.

[Steviec]

I partly put it down to the bloody crap run of luck im having at the moment, I even ordered the Bentley service manual for the E30, but instead they sent me 'The Illustrator And The Book In England From 1790 To 1914'.
WTF is that al about?