93 325is won't start

[GSBMW325is]

Yes, I've searched, but I can't find anything exactly like problem.

Friend has 93 325is, 413 DME. Recently put in a 2.8 liter M52. Car started/ran with stock 2.5 chip. We wanted to try my old Eurosport chip for my 325is to get the extra rpms and hopefully some power, but it did not work (my car is 413 DME, we cut anti-theft wire).

We spliced anti-theft wire back together, put stock chip back in. Will not start. Car cranks, but we noticed car cranks if DME is unplugged. No change when DME is plugged in.

Strange thing is the Check Engine light does not come on! I wanted to check codes, but can't. Other dash lights work (Air bag, check control, etc). Any ideas?

Also could someone detail the chip swap procedure step for step? I think I know it, but possibly I missed something.

[DEFKON99]

tried disconnecting the battery for a few minutes ?

[NYst4te0fm1nd]

my brother had the same problem with his 95 325is. car would crank and he wouldnt be able to start it. we tried pop-starting but got nothing, jump starting etc. we couldnt figure it out. finally we towed it to the machanic and he spent hours trying to find the problem. it was the ignition control unit. water leaked in the compartment and fried the chip which, we just found out by looking on these forums, is a relatively common problem with cars made prior to 95. there is a way to possibly save it that involves spraying the chip down with WD-40 and putting it in a 100 degree oven for a couple of hours but im not sure. sounds like you have the same problem. there is another similar topic on the 3 series forums with a link to a DIY fix on pelicanparts, you could try looking for that. good luck.

[325iS FTW]

same thing happened to me... my 325is started and ran like a champ every time i went to drive.. but the last time i went it would crank and crank but it wouldn't start... i brought it to the shop and it turns out that my ICU is fried (Ignition Control Unit) I had to get a new one (Programa) they cost about $800 + core charge which is about $125.... then more to have it installed... it happened because there was a flaw in the design of the 3 series models prior to 1994... if there are "adverse" weather condition like it rains a lot, a lot of rain and possibly debris will get clogged in the ECU compartment causing the computer to basically sit in water, which obviously is not good for it. Hope that helped... Good luck.

[GSBMW325is]

Car literally was running at 5:00pm local time. At 5:30pm, after playing chip swap, we can't get it to start. We returned all conditions to as they were prior to trying to swap chips. Its not a water leak issue.

The lack of a Check Engine Light, but other dash lights working, is concerning. This seems to indicate that the DME is not receiving power, the chip is messed up somehow or something along those lines.

I can't get back at the car until the morning, so I'm trying to get as much info as possible.

I think we might have somehow missed a step in the chip removal/install process. I think maybe we left the battery hooked up after we tried to start the car with the conforti chip (don't know if this could cause a problem or not). I also think its possible the chip is just not in its slot snug enough (the notch on the chip is the right direction). It might be as simple as unplugging battery for awhile. Just trying to explore all possibilities.

[Morroman]

definitely sounds like a dme problem alone. I'd recommend checking all pin outs to the dme and disconnect the battery for a while to reset all settings.

[BMWMPow3r]

ever solve your issue?