Inherited my parents 1987 BMW 325i manual convertible. It's in great physical and running condition with just over 100k miles. Ive been driving it on the weekends for the past few months and on occasion it quickly loses power and stalls. I have to pull over quickly and then restart it. It always restarts fine and then Im off and away. This will happen 10 minutes into a drive or 45 minutes into a drive, but it always happens at least once.
To note:
-The car never starts on the first turn. It always only starts on the 2nd or 3rd attempt.
-It stalls out really in no particular driving moment, it can be on the freeway at 70mph or slowly on a residential street.
-Ive replaced the distributor cap, ignition rotor, plugs, coil and wires.
-The car runs great it idles and runs quietly and smoothly.
I was thinking this could have to do with the fuel pump ( or pumps). When it stalls out it feels like the engine simply isnt getting fuel. From my reading online, some of these 1987 vehicles have 1 pump and some have 2 pumps (under the rear seat and another along the line under the driver side door.). Would it make sense that the pump or one of the pumps was functioning but not in its full capacity and occasionally failing?
Love everyone on here. Thanks in advance for the help and advice!!
1987 bmw 325ic.jpg
Ive struggled with this in the past. I had to pull over on the interstate cause it would barely run. I always maintained fuel pressure (I have an in line gauge in the bay) and it always started back up once it sat for a few minutes.
I assumed it was electrical - so I checked / tightens my ground strap - I replaced the Main relay and the fuel pump relay. I also went through all my terminals and plugs and sprayed contact cleaner and made sure no corrosion on my wires leading to the bottom side of the relays and fuse box. I dabbed dielectric grease on exposed terminals.
After a few weeks of methodically checking and going through the wires - I haven't had an issue. I'm at 310,000 and its my daily.
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