1984 745i Starts but will not stay running

[Nate28]

Hi all! I was recently driving to lunch in my euro e28, and as I was passing a janky old car lot spotted a set of euro headlights.
I whipped back around as quickly as the old e28 would allow, and there I was looking at a euro E23, I had no clue it was a 745i at the time,
anyways I now the proud owner of another non running BMW that's apparently sat dormant since 06'. After getting rid of the 15 year old fuel and repairing the fuel pump. The first issue I found was no spark which I traced back to the speed and reference sensors,
after getting it to fire up I can get it to run if I feather the gas just right, but it will not idle, it's putting out a little blue smoke, and the plugs are getting drenched in fuel(super rich) I'm pretty ignorant on this car as well anything with a turbo. Any help from the resident experts would be much appreciated.

Thanks Nate...

[Hit Man X]

Probably massive vac leaks.

[rrbacon]

I just tried it and it does run, very rough with those two parts of the plug connected. Before this it was running great for several months. I have replaced all the vac. lines that I can find.

[Nate28]

Thanks, I plugged the vac leaks and she was running great, but on the way to the carwash the other day it started dying if I let off the gas, then just died and wouldn't start, it would turn over and almost come to life, but wouldn't catch. so I let it sit for about 10 min and disconnect then reconnected the battery and was able to get home. but it seemed to be only making about 3 psi of boost.

[Hit Man X]

T hose under throttle body? Injectors ever serviced? What does your WBO2 show? AFM sticking and 022 model?

This car is nearly 40 years old and needs everything.

[Nate28]

checked the hoses under the throttle body, and just serviced the injectors. I don't have a WBO2 yet.
I'll take a closer look at the AFM. 022 model?
the car seems to be in limp mode, any idea what could cause it? Occasionally when its cold it will run fantastic, then after it warms up it hits 2psi max.

[lynnbilodeau]

Plugs are getting drenched?

Have you put a fuel pressure gauge on it? Could very well be a bad fuel pressure regulator. I had one go bad back in 1987 and it did exactly as you describe.

Eric is dead on though; 90% of the time there is a huge vac leak. But that wouldn't explain the plugs getting wet.

Check your fuel pressure.

[Nate28]

Thanks for the help, I went back through through the fuel system and deleted the inline pump, opting for a single in tank walbro 255, fuel pressure is now 100%.
Added a 3" turbo back exhaust.
New plugs.
Brought the valves back in to spec.
After all of this and dealing with any vac leaks there was no change, but while adjusting the valves I pulled the spark plugs, and #1 still looked brand new, turned out 1 and 5 had been swapped at the distributor. Bam the car pulls like a dream now, also forgot to mention this car is manual swapped.
The only issue I've had since, is after running car for a couple of hours it dies at idle but returns to normal after unplugging the AFM for a few seconds.
I really wanted to get a Wideband 02 on it, but unfortunately I just moved to California, and had to leave the car in OK for now, so it will be a while till I get back to it. I have to con my brother into working on it for me, with the perk of getting to drive it.
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[8991XJ]

Glad you found that wiring error.

If if you don't have a BAR sticker CA won't be friendly if you show them your car.

[Hit Man X]

Was that care ever in MD? Looks familiar.

[Nate28]

If if you don't have a BAR sticker CA won't be friendly if you show them your car.

I know this has me worried. hopefully I can find some sort of workaround?

- - - Updated - - -

Was that care ever in MD? Looks familiar.

It sat in OK for at least the last 17 years, and it has a half torn TX registration sticker on the windshield so I'm assuming it spent time there as well.
beyond that I don't know any history of the car.

[Hit Man X]

Unplugging the AFM cuts fuel to the injectors, so the car is probably running very rich...if has been for a long time it will have bearing wear and potential glazing of cylinder walls.

It will never pass CA smog with correct tune on stock electronics. It idles around 14:1 and lean cruises in the mid 15s.