M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: duffusdipspinner on August 29, 2007, 03:26:02 AM

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: duffusdipspinner on August 29, 2007, 03:26:02 AM

Hi guys

unfortunately my first post here is a cry for help.

It's actually my mates car but he is stranded so I'm doing the donkey/internet work ;)

He was driving along and suddenly the engine lost power.

Now the car won't start and is sitting on the hard shoulder of the motorway.

The engine is spinning on the key, but doesn't sound like it's trying to start. My mate is worried that the chain has gone, but in my experience, broken belts/chains generally seize the engine as the valves hit the pistons etc. Is it possible for the M42 engine to lose it's chain and not damage anything ??? (I know some engines are non-interference).

I'm suspecting some sort of sensor failure. Maybe a TDC sensor or something.

Plan to get my tools and have a look after work, so any advice help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: suvi123 on August 29, 2007, 04:16:46 AM

I think that fuel pump is not working/reciving power, check that.(had same problem) You could try i little trick...1) pull up rear seat 2) turn ignition key, let the starter run engine and then tap/hit few times fuel pump (while engine is spinning)

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: duffusdipspinner on August 29, 2007, 04:46:48 AM

OK cheers.

will check that out.

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: e30nut on November 05, 2007, 04:15:37 PM

Did you ever resolve this? I have the same symptoms and troubleshooting is driving me nuts!

cheers!

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: Vladi on November 05, 2007, 04:39:27 PM

I've got a friend with an M40 with the exact same problem: engine cut out on motorway. He's going on 3 weeks. :eek:

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: Lukis on November 05, 2007, 05:16:28 PM

Did the car run nice before the stop? if not check the regulator.
And as written before the fuel pump.

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: e30nut on November 05, 2007, 05:58:24 PM

Quote from: Lukis;37209

Did the car run nice before the stop? if not check the regulator.
And as written before the fuel pump.

The car was running beautifully prior to cutting out. Regulator and Fuel pump are new...

here is my thread on this topic if you care to have a look:

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4010

Thanks,
jpg

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: Vladi on November 06, 2007, 03:57:44 PM

His one, too...:confused:

Title: Just a hunch...
Post by: and0pand0 on December 12, 2007, 08:42:14 PM

Crank/cam sensor?

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: ApocolypseAutoEngineering on December 13, 2007, 01:39:26 AM

Main engine relay could have went on the car or even the fuel pump relay. If Its an M42 318 then take off the passenger side air inlet, if you are in England than its the driver side, and you will find the relays. If they have never been changed now is a good time.

Title: e30 318iS engine cut out on motorway
Post by: ejectorbed on December 14, 2007, 07:41:35 AM

Thanks for all your help with this one.
It was a few months ago that the car broke down and my friend (duffusdipspinner) started this thread to help me get an early idea of what could have gone wrong.

It turned out to be a broken timing chain.
This came as a surprise at first, as I thought the chains were super reliable.
The car had only done 107k and was only cruising at about 3000 rpm when it died.
Reading some other threads, it seems that this could be a more common problem.

Anyway, the car is running again. Couldn't stand the thought of breaking her, so I invested £290 in an E36 M42 that had clocked 78k.

Seems to be running better than ever.