1997 E39 528i M52 - Not Starting …

[Jason5driver]

I bought an old 528i that’s been sitting for at least 10 years .
I replaced the fuel system, and put a new battery in it .
Checked the fuel pump fuses and relays , and they checked out good .

I got the car to start for 30 seconds from residual fuel in the rail , but it died .

However , the car still doesn’t start .
It cranks , just doesn’t start ….

Finally was able to read the codes on the ODB2 plug after leaving the battery plugged in for 24 hours .
No power to the car for over 10 years didn’t help .
I think the system needed to power the auxiliary system .
I got 5 codes , cleared them , and nothing came back .
Still no start though ….
Fuses and relays check out good .
I tried reading the codes again today , and it says error again .
Battery voltage is at 11.7 volts , so maybe that’s the problem ?
I’m at a total loss …. I have no idea what’s wrong and where to fix …

I’ve noticed recently that the key can spin freely backwards if messed with just right .
Could that be the reason ?
I’m borrowing a inpa cable , however I need to download the software .

Please help …
1997 528i 1.jpg
1997 528i 2.jpg

[MarcoZandrini]

At that voltage the battery isn’t capable of starting the engine or properly powering the electronix. Was the suspect battery in the car or did you put in a different battery?

[bmwdirtracer]

I'd suggest a good battery, so as to allow extended cranking as you make your way through a few tests.

Is there spark? Pull one plug and coil, ground the threads, and check.

Is there correct fuel pressure at the rail? The fact that you replaced things, and the relays work, does not equal correct pressure. If, for instance, the return line is kinked because someone jacked the car up incorrectly, you'll have a grossly flooded engine. Or, if someone swapped the feed with the return, you'll have inadequate fuel pressure.

Squirrel in the airbox?

Check a few things: fuel, spark, air, compression. (If the engine is flooded, you will lose compression)

[Jason5driver]

I had the battery charged.
It’s a brand new battery btw .
Probably drained from trying to start it so many times .
There’s no fuel pressure .
I don’t think there’s power going to the fuel pump .
The fuel pump is new and works because the pump runs with direct power .
I’ve pulled and cleaned all the plugs and coils .
The engine cranks , no problem .
It’s not getting fuel for some reason .
I pulled the 2 fuel lines going into the fuel rail , and cranked the engine , and not a drop of fuel .

The engine ran for like 30 seconds from residual fuel in the rail , then stumbled and died .

[328 Power 04]

I think you're almost there. Look into the upstream electric control of the fuel pump. I bet engine runs with the fuel pump manually activated.

[bmwdirtracer]

I don't have a date which the car changed from "early production" to "late production", but "early" shows fuse 54 being fed by the fuel pump relay in the Right Rear of the trunk, which is fed by fuse 31

[Jason5driver]

Yep , thanks all for the replies !
Yep , fuse 54 is in the trunk .
And fuses 22 and 31 are in the glove box .
I have checked those fuses with a multimeter , and they are good .
I checked where fuse 54 plugs into , and there’s power there as well .
The ground shows up with a test light at the fuel pump plug as well .
This car is a 05/1996 production car , which is one of the very first E39’s .

[Jason5driver]

I put in the charged battery and cranked the engine , still nothing .
I noticed the check engine light was flashing when the key was in position 2 .

[328 Power 04]

Have you scanned for codes?

I don't think I have actually seen an MS41 car flash the CEL. Hmm

[Jason5driver]

I tried scanning with my reader , and it just says error …
I left the battery plugged in , to see if the system needs time to charge , then I try reading the codes later .

[bmwdirtracer]

The DME activates the fuel pump relay by delivering a ground via the black wire with a violet stripe. The relay delivers power to the pump (under the rear seat) via a white wire with a blue stripe.

What are you using to read codes? Are you plugged into the round 20 pin underhood diag port?

I would suggest rechecking for spark before further chasing fuel delivery.

[Jason5driver]

I’m using a cheap reader from AutoZone that also reads abs stuff .
It plugs into the obd2 connection under the dash by the steering wheel .
I need to buy the round pin connector .
I am trying to get my daughter’s laptop running so I can download INPA software to it .
I suspect no fuel because there’s no fuel getting to fuel rail when cranking the engine .
And , I don’t think there’s power at the fuel pump plug as well …

[bmwdirtracer]

Check for spark. It's really not difficult to pull one coilpack and one plug, ground the plug threads, and see if it sparks when you crank the starter.

OR, get some MAF cleaner spray and spray it into the intake while someone cranks the starter. I recommend against starter fluid - it is highly volatile and can explode the manifold. MAF cleaner works well for this.

You might just try locking and then unlocking the car, just in case the alarm system is what's disabling the car. I have seen that system get angry when the battery's been messed with. Did your 4-way flashers come on during any of this?

[Jason5driver]

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...lDbWNuRmVRWVl3

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...lDbWNuRmVRWVl3

[bmwdirtracer]

I'd start with gasoline.

[Jason5driver]

I hooked up INPA , and it wouldn’t read …
Plus , the ABS relay under the cabin filter constantly clicks when the key is in position 2 .

[bmwdirtracer]

Are you connecting to the 20 pin round diag port? The OBD port is useless in that year.

[Jason5driver]

Are you connecting to the 20 pin round diag port? The OBD port is useless in that year.

The laptop was connected to the OBD2 connection under the dash .
Are you saying the OBD2 connection doesn't work for this car ?

[bmwdirtracer]

IF it works at all, it will only read the engine computer --not, for instance, the EWS or the alarm system codes. If the cap isn't on the 20-pin diag connector, the OBD won't work at all. In my experience, there's really no point in connecting to the OBD connection on any BMWs before ~2001. Some work to talk with some computers....or not.

[BimmerBreaker]

His car isn't reading the DME from the OBD2 connector and it is flashing the CEL. It sounds to me like a DME or DME power supply issue. He needs to figure that out first... It seems it gets power intermittently as sometimes it will communicate with OBD2 scanner and other times it wont

[Jason5driver]

Most of the time , it will NOT communicate ... lol .
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...lDbWNuRmVRWVl3

[bmwdirtracer]

His car isn't reading the DME from the OBD2 connector and it is flashing the CEL. It sounds to me like a DME or DME power supply issue. He needs to figure that out first... It seems it gets power intermittently as sometimes it will communicate with OBD2 scanner and other times it wont

I appreciate your points, and your extensive wisdom, but I believe the wiring diagrams show that the DME communicates with the 20-pin diag connector...which then sends that info to the 16 pin OBD connector...IF the cap is on the 20 pin connector, and the bridges there are intact. I have experienced many BMWs which will connect to the DME through the 20-pin, but not through the OBD port. It's SO common that I don't bother even trying the OBD port before ~2001 or so.

[Jason5driver]

I appreciate your points, and your extensive wisdom, but I believe the wiring diagrams show that the DME communicates with the 20-pin diag connector...which then sends that info to the 16 pin OBD connector...IF the cap is on the 20 pin connector, and the bridges there are intact. I have experienced many BMWs which will connect to the DME through the 20-pin, but not through the OBD port. It's SO common that I don't bother even trying the OBD port before ~2001 or so.

lol , awesome !
Where do I find the wiring diagram ?
I really don't know what relay is specifically for the DME , and which relay is for the Fuel pump .
I have just been checking them all ...
Sorry to be so ignorant on this . lol ...
Just really frustrated at this point .
I am ordering a round pin connector .
I do find it amazing that no bmw guys in my area have the round pin connector , or offered to let me barrow it .. lol .

[BimmerBreaker]

I appreciate your points, and your extensive wisdom, but I believe the wiring diagrams show that the DME communicates with the 20-pin diag connector...which then sends that info to the 16 pin OBD connector...IF the cap is on the 20 pin connector, and the bridges there are intact. I have experienced many BMWs which will connect to the DME through the 20-pin, but not through the OBD port. It's SO common that I don't bother even trying the OBD port before ~2001 or so.

In order to pass emissions the car has to be able to communicate engine codes and readiness monitor status through the OBD2 port. As such any car equipped with an OBD2 port should be able to communicate to the DME through that OBD2 port. The other modules - EWS, ABS, ASC/DSC, etc - are what require connection through the round diagnostic connector.

Pins 17 and 20 in the round port can also be bridged with a piece of wire on the round cap (and then re-installing the round cap) to allow connection to all modules through the OBD2 port.



I would like to help him more, but I can't even find the wiring diagrams for this car. The diagrams for the MS41 are not in TIS and everything I find seems to be for the M52TU, which is a different engine with different electronics

[bmwdirtracer]

In the meantime, you can check for spark. Pull out one coil and one plug, ground the plug threads, and crank the starter while watching for spark.

For wiring diagrams, I have access to Alldata and Mitchell, but I can't share them - they're pro resources which have protections against sharing.

However, there's also
http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm
This site doesn't show E39's, but the basic wiring patterns will be roughly the same as an E36 from the same year.

Lastly, if you PM me with your email address, I'll send you an invite to TIS.


Please know that I an not arguing BimmerBreaker's experience; he absolutely has excellent points and much wisdom. I'm just relaying my own experiences.