Re: E30 engine cut off during driving.

[Louie Rendek <ljr7@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Keith wrote:
>	 Hello everyone.  I was driving home from dining out tonight and the 
>engine cut off in my 88 325iC.  I was cruising on a slight downgrade at 
>about 50-55 in 5th gear, and the engine just quit. I puched in the clutch 
>and tried the gas pedal a couple times. After approx a second the idiot 
>lights came on just as if I had just turned the key to the on position. At 
>that time I let the clutch out and gave it some gas and the engine fired 
>right back up and acted like nothing ever happened.  Made it home without 
>any other indications of anything at all being wrong.  There was nothing 
>out of the ordinary about the drive before that happened. Had been driving 
>for maybe 5 minutes, with the heater on, about 55-60 degrees outside.  I've 
>hit the rev limiter in this car once before (a while back) and from what I 
>remember that is exactly what this felt like.  Has anyone had any 
>experiences like this?

>Thanks
>Keith

Keith on my eta, this started to happen and one day the car shut off for
good.  I went through all the checks of the ignition section in the Bentley
(coil, plug wires, main relay, fuel pump relay, reference sensor, speed
sensor, etc, etc).  All tested out o.k., but there was no spark.  I got to
the part about the ignition control unit being bad, but there is not
separate ignition control unit in the later e30s.  It is built into the DME
control unit, at least on my eta it is.  This ended up being the problem.
Dealer wanted $1000 for a new one, I found one used for around $150.  Easy
install, same install as putting in a Jim C chip, why didn't I think of
that when I had it out, Doh!!

In the mean time you could check the other items out on the car to see if
they are going bad, but the DME is tough to check.  I have heard of main
relays causing this problem also and the main relay is a $25 dollar part I
think.  Much cheaper.  Good luck.

Louie Rendek
1987 325e 133k miles
BMWCCA #144328
Case Western Reserve Univ.
PhD candidate; Chemistry Dept.
email:  ljr7@domain.elided

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