RE: 85/535i - Intermittent Starting problems.

["Stuart Logan" <stu64@xxxxxxxxx>]

I had the very similar problem on my '85 535i.
I would have trouble starting when the engine was hot, would normally push
start OK.  Almost no problem in colder weather (lots of that here in
Canada;-).
It turned out to be 4 semi-related problems:
 - In Tank - Fuel Transfer Pump
	[expensive from BMW but Federal-Mogul / Carter Pump P60293 will fit
with some minor modifications. - about $60.00cdn]

 - Fuel Filter [mine was 15 years / 310,000kms old at the time]

 - Fuel Pressure Regulator
	Yours raises suspicion since there is no change in idle when vacuum
hose disconnected - all three of mine will stall if I disconnect the vacuum
line.

 - 2 rubber 'O' rings on the oil dipstick were old and rigid. Replacing them
significantly improves idle stability. (about $0.10 total)

Hope these suggestions help - all fairly inexpensive for a do-it-yourselfer.

Stuart
'83 528e 600,000kms
'84 528e 160,000kms (Wife's)
'85 535i 375,000kms


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-bmw@domain.elided [mailto:owner-bmw@domain.elided] On Behalf Of
> Peter
> Sent: June 10, 2003 1:59 PM
> To: BMW Digest
> Subject: 85/535i - Itermittent Starting problems.
>
> Hello follow digesters.
>
> My car does not start every time.  Sometimes I can turn the engine over
> and it
> will start with the ignition key on the first try.  Sometimes it'll turn
> over,
> try to catch, sputter and die - no way to get it restarted with the key
> again.
> In those cases I have to push start it, it'll catch and run for a day, or
> a
> week before going back to not starting.  I've experimented with starter
> fluid,
> and it works - every time - but I don't like to use it.   The car will
> also
> start stalling (400rpm idle - or complete stall) in, for example, slower
> traffic or on a twisty road; basically any road that requires frequent
> acceleration and deceleration with gear changes.  If that happens and the
> car
> stalls, I can not restart it without a push-start.  Btw, almost all of the
> time the car idles normally, between 770 and 800 rpm.  DMV says my car is
> idling too rich.
>
> I checked:
> Air filter - clean and unrestricted;
> Idle Control Valve - opens and closes freely with voltage, opens 2/3 the
> way
> with ignition on;
> Fuel delivery to the rail - seems highly pressurized (but I did not check
> the
> actual pressure);
> Fuel pressure regulator - hose feeding it has a tight seal,  when I  put
> another vacuum hose on the FPR and tried blowing air into and out of it, I
> did
> not notice a change in engine speed at idle. - Is this a problem? how is
> it
> supposed to behave?
> Battery - disconnected batter overnight, recharged and had it tested - ok.
> Fuel pumps and filter - all replaced by previous owner (are these suspects
> in
> a case such as this?)
> Oil and filter - New in the last month (still looks fine, and at the
> proper
> level)
> Fuse 1 - elect. Fuel pump - ok.
> Fuel tank - full.
>
> Please Help!
>
> Peter,
> 200k 1985 535i 5-spd Dolphin-Grey in Seattle
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