E30 Zone

Hi guys,

Tried firing up my S50 swap tonight, no joy, doesnt crank.

I know the starter is good as i've bridged out the Relay and i can get the engine to crank. Basically there is 12v to the feed of the Starter Relay when the key is turned (the thiner black and yellow wire) but nothing comes through the relay. As i say, i can bridge this out but it doesnt run, just cranks with no fuel or spark.

I have a large earth strap fitted in the stock E36 posistion, and have fitted the other earths that i can see (one off the Diag Port thing and one off the relay block).

Anything obvious/common? Dead ECU? Some S50B30's had EWS right? Is there a way i can tell?

Thanks!!!


Fuel pump is working.

Sounds like EWS is your problem here

As above, A lot of s50b30's have EWS. Take the chassis number off the top of the ECU and ring BMW to confirm if it has EWS or not.

Silver label on the ECU will tell you this

Red label on DME.....................

Hmm the main white relay on the E36 loom wasnt clicking when i tested it the first time.. A few tests later, and a double check that my makeshift test wires were on again and it started clicking/has continuity... Lets hope that is the cause?

It wasnt the cause. I stupidly had the power connector that lives by the three (five) main relays connected to the body as i thought it was earth.. I pulled the sheeth back to see a red wire Shit balls.

So anyway, it cranks now but wont start.

Im concerned that putting that power lead to earth, and then ferking about jumping the relay etc and giving both sides of the relay power has done some damage to the loom/sensors maybe?

That, or i got lucky and it just plain doesnt start for some other reason.

Crank Shaft Sensor reads 550 Ohms or so..
Cam Shaft Sensor EXH Side reads 1220 Ohms or so..
Cam Shaft Sensor IN Side reads nothing, no Ohms.

Would point towards a dead Cam sensor, but dont know if this would stop the car from running..

any luck ??

Yep, runs now DME was dead, after loads of checking and arsing about looking elsewhere for faults.

well done!