help - my 325i wont run :(

[A1BMW325iSport]

hi guys i need some help....

my 325i was running 2 months ago, now its not

only thing i`ve done is fitted new wiring loom and scorpion exhaust

sounds like its trying to fire but won`t run

checked everything from fuel pump, relay, sensors,

put some fresh petrol in as well

cleaned and checked for spark on all plugs


can hear occasional pop from exhaust i suspect exhaust valve stuck hence lack of compression and wont run?

any ideas?

[gareth]

start with the sickeningly annoyingly simple stuff that you are at present 'sure' is right. (ht leads on in the right order etc. )

if it's been fiddled with over a period of time it's too easy to do something criminally daft!

give the battery a good charge overnight if it's at all sluggish.

with the lovely overlapping torque pulses of the straight 6 configuration, i'd be amazed if it wouldn't start on 5 cylinders if all else is fairly ok.


have you had it running with the new loom in?

[Brianmoooore]

Crank and cam (thing on No1 plug lead) sensors the right way around?
Fuel feed nd return pipes the right way around?
Doubt if anything to do with just one cylinder. When I was trying to locate which cylinder had a missfire on a M20 a couple of months ago (inlet manifold gasket - missing nut - idiot mechanic), I found the engine would run quite happily with just two plug leads connected. It was only when the two leads connected included no 1 that i could tell for sure it was no 1 that was faulty.
Take all the plugs out and give it a good wind over on the starter motor
if you're sure everything is connected properly.
Take the hose to the throttle boby off and give it some ether, carb cleaner or propane to fire up on.

[A1BMW325iSport]

thanks for replies

haven`t touched anything on the engine since it ran last.

all wiring is sound its from my orig 325i

took all plugs out today, cleaned checked gap and checked for spark on each, all fine.

i`m thinking of a valve being stuck or something stupid like that
is it possible?

fuel is getting to injector rail fine.
1st thing 2moro i`m going to try some easystart in the intake see if that
fires her up

[Brianmoooore]

Double check the fuel is being pumped properly.
If you read my epic post "brianmoooore's E30 related holiday problems"
you'll see that I was fooled by a pump that would run when the pump relay was jumpered across, but would stall when the voltage dropped when cranking the engine.
This caused the engine to fire a couple of times and than die.
Take out the fuel pump relay and connect pins 30 and 87 of the socket together to keep the fuel pump running while you're trying to start it.

[A1BMW325iSport]

yeah i jumped 30-87 to rule that one out,

i`ll have another try in morning and reply with what i find out,

fingers crossed it will run.

strange how i`ve done nothing to engine and now its not running, its never failed to start before

[gareth]

it'll probably be something so simple you'll kick yourself!!!

[A1BMW325iSport]

she is running now

took off intake pipe sprayed in some easystart and she fired up, ran on 5 cyls for a minute then suddenly evened out.

left her running for few 15mins all seems fine, starts first time now.

ticks over lovely, nice exhaust note with the new scorpion

thanks for your help guys

[Adammcf]

Cool, what would have been the problem there then?

[A1BMW325iSport]

injectors gummed up i think

[dazleeds]

congrats matt

[Brianmoooore]

she is running now

took off intake pipe sprayed in some easystart and she fired up, ran on 5 cyls for a minute then suddenly evened out.

left her running for few 15mins all seems fine, starts first time now.

ticks over lovely, nice exhaust note with the new scorpion

thanks for your help guys

Just need to show it who's boss. Usefull stuff, Easystart.

[gareth]

a can of easystart and a gremlin swatting bat!!!