Doesn't wanna start
Moderator: martauto
Iv got this BMW 318IS and it doesn't seem to wann start.
Iv got a working half charged battery that will happily start the car. The cars had no petrol for around 6 month, ran fine previously, I put 10 pound of petrol in it left it in there for about 2 weeks, never needed the car so was not used.
Now comes the weird part. I noticed soon as I tried to start it I didn't hear the fuel pump click before I tried to start, but I tried to start for 4 or 5 times. The problem is the plugs aren't wet.
Slightly damp but not wet. I carried onto a spark check with a fine spark found.
I carried on for about 10-15 times n plugged check, nothing just a slight bit damp but that was probably from before.
Now I'm gonna let the plugs and bores (cylinders) air so I can see what's going on.
From a mechanical point what should I check now or do to start?
Iv got a working half charged battery that will happily start the car. The cars had no petrol for around 6 month, ran fine previously, I put 10 pound of petrol in it left it in there for about 2 weeks, never needed the car so was not used.
Now comes the weird part. I noticed soon as I tried to start it I didn't hear the fuel pump click before I tried to start, but I tried to start for 4 or 5 times. The problem is the plugs aren't wet.
Slightly damp but not wet. I carried onto a spark check with a fine spark found.
I carried on for about 10-15 times n plugged check, nothing just a slight bit damp but that was probably from before.
Now I'm gonna let the plugs and bores (cylinders) air so I can see what's going on.
From a mechanical point what should I check now or do to start?
- Cypriotgeeza
- E30 Zone Addict

- Posts: 3024
- Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: Under a bonnet somewhere..
So no noise from the fuel pump..BROOMY wrote:Iv got this BMW 318IS and it doesn't seem to wann start.
Iv got a working half charged battery that will happily start the car. The cars had no petrol for around 6 month, ran fine previously, I put 10 pound of petrol in it left it in there for about 2 weeks, never needed the car so was not used.
Now comes the weird part. I noticed soon as I tried to start it I didn't hear the fuel pump click before I tried to start, but I tried to start for 4 or 5 times. The problem is the plugs aren't wet.
Slightly damp but not wet. I carried onto a spark check with a fine spark found.
I carried on for about 10-15 times n plugged check, nothing just a slight bit damp but that was probably from before.
Now I'm gonna let the plugs and bores (cylinders) air so I can see what's going on.
From a mechanical point what should I check now or do to start?
Spark plugs dry..
thinking maybe the fuel pump?
I would take off a fuel pipe at the fuel rail, put it in a bottle or container then get someone to crank it over to see if its pumping fuel.. if it is then start looking elsewhere
Check my M30 build threads:
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This ^^^Cypriotgeeza wrote:So no noise from the fuel pump..BROOMY wrote:Iv got this BMW 318IS and it doesn't seem to wann start.
Iv got a working half charged battery that will happily start the car. The cars had no petrol for around 6 month, ran fine previously, I put 10 pound of petrol in it left it in there for about 2 weeks, never needed the car so was not used.
Now comes the weird part. I noticed soon as I tried to start it I didn't hear the fuel pump click before I tried to start, but I tried to start for 4 or 5 times. The problem is the plugs aren't wet.
Slightly damp but not wet. I carried onto a spark check with a fine spark found.
I carried on for about 10-15 times n plugged check, nothing just a slight bit damp but that was probably from before.
Now I'm gonna let the plugs and bores (cylinders) air so I can see what's going on.
From a mechanical point what should I check now or do to start?
Spark plugs dry..
thinking maybe the fuel pump?
I would take off a fuel pipe at the fuel rail, put it in a bottle or container then get someone to crank it over to see if its pumping fuel.. if it is then start looking elsewhere
I don't think or know if it's the fuel pump.
I THINK I used to hear a click not sure just thought I remembered it before I started it.
Can someone tell me if there "IS" does as I say or not?
If I have to do this not that I really want to, Is there an easier way to test this?
Presuming I have to remove the manifold to access the fuel rail piping. If not this what should I try ?
Does anything else tell it when to squirt on time that I need to check?
I'm trying to tool myself up so when I do hit it, I get it started and done.
Thank you
I THINK I used to hear a click not sure just thought I remembered it before I started it.
Can someone tell me if there "IS" does as I say or not?
If I have to do this not that I really want to, Is there an easier way to test this?
Presuming I have to remove the manifold to access the fuel rail piping. If not this what should I try ?
Does anything else tell it when to squirt on time that I need to check?
I'm trying to tool myself up so when I do hit it, I get it started and done.
Thank you
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Take off the inspection hatch under the rear seat. Pump makes enough noise to be able to tell if it's working.
on the passenger side of the inner front wing below the brake servo is silver fuel filter with a pipe coming out of the top , remove pipe and crank engine over , fuel should come out of the filter .

m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
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I tried it today all seems well but now I'm questioning did I remember which way the fuel hoses went when I put it back together.
There's a straight silver one n a angled black one.
Black one comes from top of fuel filter and leads to the connection nearest the fuel regulator is this right?
I only loosened the hose to see if it still had pressure which it did so I continued, should I go back and redo this?
There's a straight silver one n a angled black one.
Black one comes from top of fuel filter and leads to the connection nearest the fuel regulator is this right?
I only loosened the hose to see if it still had pressure which it did so I continued, should I go back and redo this?
Also I have this weird feeling it's the fuel vacuum hose ,from the throttle body, would it help if I sucked it from suck it from the throttle vaccum to the throttle bodyside would it help.?
As In the throttle body is sucking.
As In the throttle body is sucking.
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Hose from the fuel filter does NOT go to the pressure regulator. It goes directly to the injector fuel rail.BROOMY wrote:I tried it today all seems well but now I'm questioning did I remember which way the fuel hoses went when I put it back together.
There's a straight silver one n a angled black one.
Black one comes from top of fuel filter and leads to the connection nearest the fuel regulator is this right?
Thought you said fuel coming through but you had your fuel lines mixed then you said fuel is 12 years old which would make it stale and you wanted to drain it, now fuel pump is not working? Maybe you need a mate that knows a thing or two about cars that can show you how to correctly follow things through before you get yourself in more bother, or if someone on here gives you steps to follow and you not sure how to get around to do them just ask and I am sure you'll get the guidance.
The way I feel is the car doesn't need to run it would just be nice to talk of if it did.
I use this sight as a sorta hit n miss.
I'm actually a passed level 3 motor vehicle student, I'm saying it incase others have the same problem, of which your not helping them.
I use this sight as a sorta hit n miss.
I'm actually a passed level 3 motor vehicle student, I'm saying it incase others have the same problem, of which your not helping them.
Didn't want to upset you it's just when you read through your posts it sounds like fuel was coming through when you undid fuel filter pipe and then two posts latter pump isn't working so it begs a question how did you go about to check it? It is not clear.
So did you drained the fuel and is the pump buzzing?
So did you drained the fuel and is the pump buzzing?
Sorry about the wait, iv been on holiday for 6 weeks.
What Ino now is the car will run using carb cleaner down the plug holes.
Now I found the injectors don't seem to be firing.
Is there a way to get them to fire constantly while I check them?
What do you advise now?
What Ino now is the car will run using carb cleaner down the plug holes.
Now I found the injectors don't seem to be firing.
Is there a way to get them to fire constantly while I check them?
What do you advise now?
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
12 volts will open an injector, but only apply as a pulse, or you will burn them out.
Is there power at the red/white wire at the injectors when the ignition is on?
Is there power at the red/white wire at the injectors when the ignition is on?
Also a stud and 2 nuts are missing from the lower throttle body mountings.
Would this be the vaccum for fuel regulator not working from not getting enough air sucked through it.
I say this as its right next to it. Or is this not helpful?
Would this be the vaccum for fuel regulator not working from not getting enough air sucked through it.
I say this as its right next to it. Or is this not helpful?



