Starting issue

[theretroking]

My 318 takes approx 8 seconds of turning the engine before it fires up, could this be a weak fuel pump as I can hear it buzzing a lot, any suggestions appreciated.

[Speedtouch]

Check the blue temperature sensor as a first step:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... emp_Sensor

[Grrrmachine]

Does it do this all the time, or only from cold?

If you can get your hands on one, put an inline fuel pressure gauge on the car. Crank the engine to bring the fuel pressure up, then leave it overnight to see if it drops down. If it drops, you've probably got worn/sticky/dribbly injectors that are losing all your fuel pressure.

If you don't know the state of your injectors, or you don't want to buy a pressure gauge, then pull the injectors out and send them off to InjectorTune for a rebuild (see the Trader's section). It'll be the best 40 quid you can spend on your car.

[theretroking]

Does it do this all the time, or only from cold?

Yes it seems to do it all the time, seems worse during the day after the vehicle has been driven and parked up and then restarting.

[Grrrmachine]

As Speedtouch suggests then, TEST (don't replace) the blue temp sensor, based on the procedure in the Wiki.

[theretroking]

Cheers, any idea of the cost of the sensor May replace it as havnt a meter to check it.

[Grrrmachine]

DON'T replace it without testing it! We're trying to determine whether it's the sensor, the wiring, or some other issue, so chucking parts at it may just introduce more problems than fixes.

For the sake of a few quid, buy a supermarket multimeter. They're very cheap and very simple to use.

[ethrty]

can be a variety of things, mostly fuel system related like bad pump not providing pressure to start with, or bad pressure regulator and or leaky injectors loosing pressure while sitting, etc.

also check that your crank position sensor is within spec, should be 540ohmss +/- 5%

[Brianmoooore]

£10 fuel pressure gauge kit (and a £5 multimeter) from ebay.