Old School Member
I got a check engine light this morning after letting my car run for about 10minutes. I went to Autozone and it came back as "Fuel trim malfunction bank 1 and bank 2" WTF is this? Why are E36 M3's such failure prone hunks of crap? Every week something goes bad. Hell my E30 with 230K on it was way more reliable.
License Revoked
I hate to tell you. But, the e36 (or the 5 that I have owned) Are very well built. With the exception of the windows, and small other problems. I think you have a Ford Built BMW. Your car was beat the ef up!
And DO NOT ever allow your car to idle for 10 min. to get warm. It will tell you...1 sec...on page 85 in the manual. "DO NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO WARM TO ITS NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE BY LEAVING IT IDELING AND IN PARK."
"THIS WILL CAUSE UNEVEN LUBRICATION, AND PREMATURE WEAR."
Old School Member
I drove it lightly to normal temps. I have owned several BMW's and other higher end cars and know what I am doing. I just want to figure out this problem. This car is more unreliable than a piece of crap Ford Probe GT I had with more miles and horrible abuse. I am not impressed.Originally Posted by m3outtanowhere
Member
you should sell it.
sounds like a O2 malfunction. $80/ea and there are 4 of them. Enjoy!
Old School Member
Well screw this hunk of crap. I just did the head gasket. E36M3=pile of shit.
License Revoked
ya but there there fun as shit too lol!
Member
Dont be sad panda bear
You have the best color! technoFTW
Old School Member
Meh, had Autozone reset the CEL and I am gonna drive it until the thing blows up again.
Member
you know you can get 4 wire Bosch o2s from ebay that work. You just need to splice into the old pigtails. They are only like $35/ea
Where'd the sun go?
I would like the P Code that came with that code. Because you can have random E36 owners just tell you possibly wrong info and waste money like it seems you are consurn about OR Give all the info you can. Have some one who works on bmws or knows more then the normal E30 or E36 owner. And then take there answer to heart.
The big info I want is what are your Long Term Fuel trim numbers. Are they Positive or Negitive? By telling me this, I can inform you if your can has a vacuum leak or possible other problems.
And heres the low down on Fuel Trims:
Positive numbers mean your car is adding fuel because the O2 sensors see more O2 then normal. So its trying to hold the constant 14.7:1 that was programmed into it.
Negitive numbers mean that your car is reducing the amount of fuel going into your engine because the O2 sensor isn't seeing that much O2.
Some reasons for the possible numbers above is - vacuum leak, clogged air filter, failing fuel pump, failing Fuel pressure regulator, and other possiblitys. Now on the other side this could just be one of Bmws normal oops problems. In that case you may just need to replace "A" sensor or many sensors. But again I wouldn't spend money on parts yet. It needs more Diag before then.
Hope this helps, and sorry if I have misspelled anything. If other members have problems with what I said please contact me by Pm so we can keep on topic.
NO LTW ®
voted best e36M section member 2006!
ESS 625RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
Old School Member
You rock! I believe it is a vacum leak. I don't have any numbers yet but the car will whistle randomly but usually in gear and under load. I think the little cannister thingy (nice technical speak) under the intake manifold is not in correctly. Something is stopping it from pushing all the way in. I had them reset the CEL and will get it in better as well as look for other possible leaks.
Thanks!
Senior Member
gregg grab a can of carb cleaner.. while the car is started spray around where you think the vac leak is... if the idle changes then you have a vac leak. Easiest way to find it
do you remember the pcodes? how many miles are on the car? it sounds like a vac leak but could be O2s if not. I had to replace mine around 95k
Alpinweiß-Trash Lux-Hater
Not only are you elitist.. but misinformed
The E36 is prone to issues such as this. it is not the car that the E30 was.. never will be. BMWs have been declining in quality since the E36 debut.
I'm sorry that you have problems with ford. i never have.
current = '99 Estoril/Mulberry M3 Coupe :: past = '97 Alpine/Anthrazit M3 Coupe
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!
where do you get these? and is there a write up? i need new O2 sensors mine have 141K on them ( I guess, i didnt change them nd the guy before me didnt either)....wow.
Member
g funk era
Poor gregg, first everyone beats it to his wife on bf.c, now his car is broken again!
lol j/p
Where'd the sun go?
That does work, but using carb cleaner may cause fires.
Senior Member
haha really? I guess you're right it could since its flammable. I usually just spray it here and there instead of "soaking" it down. Will be a little more careful next time
Member
Check to see if the precat O2 sensor wires are crossed. The the bank 1 sensor would be plugged into the bank 2 connector and the opposite. Does you car run badly?
Where'd the sun go?
Thats for the vote, but really I just wanted to help out a fellow member. Before making him waste some money.voted best e36M section member 2006!
Gregg keep us posted.
What's that rumble?
yeah, what drifter said is pretty much dead on. and none of us can really do anything for you with out a good description of the symptoms. check for vac leaks, and if not that, it will be either the fuel system or the 02 sensors.
dont freak about the o2s. you will only need to replace 2, if any. and you will be better off doing what another member said and getting the bosch heated universal sensors. they are half the price and all you have to do is solder the connector off the old o2.
i see no problem using carb cleaner.... that side of the engine is not hot, and when checking for vac leaks, you do it when its cold anyways. now, starter fluid is a bit more volatile, so i would def be more careful using that. but carb cleaner should be fine.g/l!
Old School Member
Well after the job thing today the car is gonna sit for a while.
Where'd the sun go?
Just Fyi letting a M3 sit is a bad idea. I let mine sit for 4 months and my master cylinder went on me. I belive the car gets mad and breaks more things.
Old School Member
I am just not in any mood to deal with it right now.
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