Results 1 to 23 of 23

Thread: 850Ci No power, tips?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR

    850Ci No power, tips?

    Guys, I need some help or tips on what this could be?

    My 95 E31 is weak on my power unlike my V12 E38, it idles at 500 rpm

    The car was abandoned since 09 by previous owner, here are the recent things that I did to get her back to life


    1. New oil and filter
    2. New sparkplugs, distributor, distributor cap and coils
    3. Replaced the jammed fuel pump with a Bosch 69493 one and new fuel filter
    4. Took the mafs from my V12 E38 to see if thats the issue

    My foot was fully on the pedal in the video below



    In the top pic is my E38 V12 happily idling at 600 while in the below pic is the E31




    Anything im missing or need to check on?

    Thanks
    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Deutschland
    Posts
    279
    My Cars
    1998 BMW 740i
    Did you rebuild the DK motors by chance?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR
    Quote Originally Posted by rotomoto712 View Post
    Did you rebuild the DK motors by chance?
    Nope, only carb cleaned the throttle plates from grime and gunk
    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Deutschland
    Posts
    279
    My Cars
    1998 BMW 740i
    When I first got my 8 I had similar problems to what you're having and getting the DKs rebuilt helped tremendously. Also, be sure that the car is not in LHM as that would significantly impact performance as well, and in my experience doesn't always throw a CEL. If that is the case, check the usual suspects; Fuses, fusible links in trunk, CPS, ignition donuts (especially if you did not get OEM wires, the last set I got were made by Karlyn/STI and they were identical to the factory ones).

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR
    Quote Originally Posted by rotomoto712 View Post
    When I first got my 8 I had similar problems to what you're having and getting the DKs rebuilt helped tremendously. Also, be sure that the car is not in LHM as that would significantly impact performance as well, and in my experience doesn't always throw a CEL. If that is the case, check the usual suspects; Fuses, fusible links in trunk, CPS, ignition donuts (especially if you did not get OEM wires, the last set I got were made by Karlyn/STI and they were identical to the factory ones).
    Ill check on that once I get off work and go to my mechanic.

    Correct me if im wrong but the M73 never got the ignition donuts like the M70 right?
    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hampshire UK
    Posts
    8,867
    My Cars
    99 840ci Sport Indv
    As the M73 is OBDII and you have a CHECK ENGINE warning the simplest way forward is to get INPA diagnostics on a laptop - really cheap (<$50) and indispensable for these types of problems. You don't have donuts on the M73 you have 'real' camshaft sensors! If you haven't used diagnostics before this will help:

    http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/Diagnostics.htm

    No need to guess on the M73!
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


    My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
    My Current 840ci Sport Individual
    My Current 650ci Sport Individual
    My E31 Repair and Information Website
    My E38 Repair and Information Website
    My E63/E64 Repair and Information Website

    Chase - Heroes to a generation

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR
    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    As the M73 is OBDII and you have a CHECK ENGINE warning the simplest way forward is to get INPA diagnostics on a laptop - really cheap (<$50) and indispensable for these types of problems. You don't have donuts on the M73 you have 'real' camshaft sensors! If you haven't used diagnostics before this will help:

    http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/Diagnostics.htm

    No need to guess on the M73!
    Already using your website since 2011 when I got my E38, great tips!

    This is what I found on INPA using my diagnostic laptop



    51: Misfire Cyl 2
    28:
    Additive Mixture Adaptation Idle Bank 1
    68:
    Misfiring with Cylinder Cutout Cyl 6
    75:
    Misfiring in Various Cyls
    67:
    Misfiring with Cylinder Cutout Cyl 5

    The other codes either dont come up or dont apply to me Gulf Spec car such as 79 Activation Aux Air Pump Bank 2

    Is my code reading correct? These codes are before I swapped with my E38 maf so I think misfires is what I should look at, possibly gummed up injectors?
    Last edited by spitfire980; 04-17-2018 at 06:51 AM.
    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hampshire UK
    Posts
    8,867
    My Cars
    99 840ci Sport Indv
    That's the error report from the EML - you need to hook out the error codes from DME1 and DME2.

    The error you have pictured shows that the EML system lost communications with a number of module (DME's , Gearbox and ASC) - I would clear that and see what comes back after checking the DME error memory

    P.S. I've never quite understood what the stream of hex numbers are for - given a single error code you get a list of hex codes in multiples of 16.....
    Last edited by Timm; 04-17-2018 at 08:42 AM.
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


    My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
    My Current 840ci Sport Individual
    My Current 650ci Sport Individual
    My E31 Repair and Information Website
    My E38 Repair and Information Website
    My E63/E64 Repair and Information Website

    Chase - Heroes to a generation

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    italy
    Posts
    26
    My Cars
    1991 BMW 850i
    Hi guys i ve bought my first 1991 E31 just a month ago.....I ve changed head gasket,water pump,radiator, thermostat valve and gearbox oil but i ve the same problem described above NO POWER.
    Engine runs well and smooth at cold and hot temperature but it does not give me the power expected.
    I also had diagnostic at my nearest BMW dealer and it reports something wrong with Lambda O2 sensor.
    CEL comes on now and then during drive stays on then goes off.
    I run the stomp test with code 1222 on bank 1 and 2222 on bank 2.
    I am not very familiar with this fantastic car so i hope to find some help here.
    Any suggestion will be really apreciated.
    Sorry if any mistakes

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR
    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    That's the error report from the EML - you need to hook out the error codes from DME1 and DME2.

    The error you have pictured shows that the EML system lost communications with a number of module (DME's , Gearbox and ASC) - I would clear that and see what comes back after checking the DME error memory

    P.S. I've never quite understood what the stream of hex numbers are for - given a single error code you get a list of hex codes in multiples of 16.....

    Im having trouble with my INPA, I keep getting this message when trying to access DME 1 or 2






    Did an EML scan again with INPA and my mechanic PC using Winstar



    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hampshire UK
    Posts
    8,867
    My Cars
    99 840ci Sport Indv
    The two errors are

    Lack of received data from DME1 DME2 EGS and ASC
    Switch state of the throttle pedal implausible

    But, error codes 81 and 114 are not relevant for your model year - so I'm guessing you have an installation error of INPA - and time to delete and re-install!
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


    My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
    My Current 840ci Sport Individual
    My Current 650ci Sport Individual
    My E31 Repair and Information Website
    My E38 Repair and Information Website
    My E63/E64 Repair and Information Website

    Chase - Heroes to a generation

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Posts
    3,774
    My Cars
    Supercharged 850ci
    M73 throttles cant really be rebuilt. But I have some good used ones.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR
    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    The two errors are

    Lack of received data from DME1 DME2 EGS and ASC
    Switch state of the throttle pedal implausible

    But, error codes 81 and 114 are not relevant for your model year - so I'm guessing you have an installation error of INPA - and time to delete and re-install!
    I messaged the guy I bought the laptop from, he said he will get back to me.

    Switch state of the throttle pedal implausible, don't you mean kickdown switch implausible?

    Quote Originally Posted by dragon850 View Post
    M73 throttles cant really be rebuilt. But I have some good used ones.
    Thats what I know, M73s dont need to be rebuilt like the M70 ones
    Last edited by spitfire980; 04-17-2018 at 11:34 PM.
    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Stamford, CT
    Posts
    840
    My Cars
    1991 BMW 850i
    You say you changed the distributor, but did you change the rotors as well? I spent all day (actually many days) trying to figure out why I lost a bank. Was spending so much time on it, I decided to seal my intake manifolds while I was working on the car (hence the many days). I swapped everything but the rotors since I stripped it a bit putting it in and it was fairly new. When I finally got it out, it was burnt out (looked perfect on the side I can see). Just a thought.
    My Cars - 1991 BMW 850i - mine for fun, 1993 Saab 900c - mine for fun, 2008 Lexus is250 - my daily driver, 2003 Dodge Durango - my wife's, 1994 Acura Legend - gave it to kid

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR
    Quote Originally Posted by PabloRock View Post
    You say you changed the distributor, but did you change the rotors as well? I spent all day (actually many days) trying to figure out why I lost a bank. Was spending so much time on it, I decided to seal my intake manifolds while I was working on the car (hence the many days). I swapped everything but the rotors since I stripped it a bit putting it in and it was fairly new. When I finally got it out, it was burnt out (looked perfect on the side I can see). Just a thought.
    Distributors and rotors both changed along with the coils
    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hampshire UK
    Posts
    8,867
    My Cars
    99 840ci Sport Indv
    There's no kickdown switch on the M73 - the action is parsed from the speed of pressing the pedal and the distance it has travelled - all done digitally....
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


    My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
    My Current 840ci Sport Individual
    My Current 650ci Sport Individual
    My E31 Repair and Information Website
    My E38 Repair and Information Website
    My E63/E64 Repair and Information Website

    Chase - Heroes to a generation

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Santa Barbara
    Posts
    3,462
    My Cars
    91 Dinan860 & 91 850 6sp
    Hashim,
    I already told you this on FB, but you need to get rid of the platinum plugs and install the CORRECT NGK 1ohm copper plugs.
    Before you go off buying a bunch of stuff you may not need, fix that.
    NGK BKR6EK - YES
    NGK BKR6EQUP - NO NO no... and again, NO
    Last edited by cartoonz; 04-18-2018 at 05:37 PM.
    '91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
    '91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
    '91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
    '90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
    '94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
    '96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
    ''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
    ...and a few other non BMW cars

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR
    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    There's no kickdown switch on the M73 - the action is parsed from the speed of pressing the pedal and the distance it has travelled - all done digitally....
    You sure? because I feel the little click of the switch once I fully press on the pedal

    Quote Originally Posted by cartoonz View Post
    Hashim, I already told you this on FB, but you need to get rid of the platinum plugs and install the CORRECT NGK 1ohm copper plugs.
    Before you go off buying a bunch of stuff you may not need, fix that.
    NGK BKR6EK - YES
    NGK BKR6EQUP - NO NO no... and again, NO
    Hmm, Ill look into that again right now once I fully wake up and go to my mechanic's.

    Im pretty sure I have the same plugs on the E38 and cant say iv had any of those issues.
    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Santa Barbara
    Posts
    3,462
    My Cars
    91 Dinan860 & 91 850 6sp
    We're not fixing your E38 though, are we?
    '91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
    '91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
    '91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
    '90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
    '94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
    '96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
    ''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
    ...and a few other non BMW cars

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR
    Quote Originally Posted by cartoonz View Post
    We're not fixing your E38 though, are we?
    True but both cars are M73B54/5HP30
    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Santa Barbara
    Posts
    3,462
    My Cars
    91 Dinan860 & 91 850 6sp
    Sigh... good luck.
    Last edited by cartoonz; 04-19-2018 at 03:36 AM.
    '91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
    '91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
    '91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
    '90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
    '94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
    '96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
    ''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
    ...and a few other non BMW cars

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Posts
    566
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 540i6
    Sell it and get a CL65, won’t have that issue anymore 😏

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    705
    My Cars
    Merc R129, E31, Jag XKR
    Quote Originally Posted by killian665 View Post
    Sell it and get a CL65, won’t have that issue anymore 
    God no! I had a friend who had a W215. That thing spent more time in the shop than the time it took me to do a frame on resto/mod on my 69 Chevelle

    Update:
    Removed the injectors and got them inspected, 1 was completely dead. replaced it and had them all cleaned and checked.

    The throttle response now is much better now and happily idles at 600 with no check engine


    I still have the transmission failsafe, kickdown switch status implausible and the CAN ABS/DSC signal to deal with. Any ideas where to start?
    "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car, Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, Torque is how far you take the wall with you."

Similar Threads

  1. No power to fuel pump - Need help - whats wrong
    By DupaHead in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 09-30-2009, 09:20 AM
  2. **CEL** Rough Idle, No power
    By Farmer in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 08-26-2003, 07:43 PM
  3. please help..circuit breaker pressed now no power windows/sunroof
    By BossBimmer in forum General BMW and Automotive Discussion sponsored by Intercity Lines
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-14-2003, 10:23 PM
  4. Which wire has power when lights are on and no power when off?
    By asif2002 in forum Car Audio & Electronics sponsored by Bavsound
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-13-2003, 01:34 AM
  5. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-12-2003, 11:11 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •