my 97 E36 shuts off after 5 seconds

**Revv Hard** · 02-09-2003, 12:17 AM

well first off its a 1997 M3. I picked up the car from an auction, it wasnt running, it has 65k miles on it, it has mods which are headers, free flow exhaust, not cats. and Dinan software. I got the car running but the thing is it cuts out after a few seconds. i gave it a tune up (oil change, thermostat,water pump, air filter, and such) well i have to give it gas in order to keep from cutting out. i noticed a few vacuum lines blocked off, i have no clue why they would do this. and what i also noticed is that it has two fuel return lines, which one is also blocked but the other one is fine. and i also noticed that it has no catalyic converters. it has an 02 sensor on the headers but not any towards the middle of the exhaust system, it has 02 sensor connector inserts but no 02 sensors, just one on each header, does anyone have a clue whuts goin on?

**John H** · 02-09-2003, 12:30 AM

hmm, well the blocked vacuum tubes might from the carbon canister (or lack thereof)... some people remove them for racing as they are just an emissions part. no idea what this guy was doing without cats but it might be the same kind of person that removes the carbon canister. or perhaps it is part of the a/c system? is that all in tact? where are the tubes you are talking about?

as for the engine starting and dying, have you checked the HFM? I know if it fails the engine can run for a second or so, but then will most likely die.

you know you'll have to get cat's on it to get it registered in CA

(duh).

give us more details...

cheers,
john

**Revv Hard** · 02-09-2003, 12:36 AM

well whats an HFM? i thought alot of bimmer guys go with free flow exhaust? well the vacuum lines and the fuel lines i noticed all under the brake booster and a little towards the manifold. sometimes it will keep up and not die but it will idle rough while it tries to run and it will stay around 500rpm

**bimmer95** · 02-09-2003, 01:02 AM

The loose vacuum lines could very well be for the idle control valve. However any loose vacuum lines could make the car not idle. Figure out where they go and get that fixed before screwing with anything else.

**M325M** · 02-09-2003, 01:11 AM

Do you mind letting us know how much you got it from the auction for?

**IgotMy18s** · 02-09-2003, 01:26 AM

yeah tell us how much did u got it for? Are you going to replace ur broke mirror?

**vroo//M** · 02-09-2003, 02:58 AM

What kind of color is that? I've never seen that on a Bimmer before.

**Revv Hard** · 02-09-2003, 03:09 AM

its a 1997 4 door M3, i wasnt scared of bidding on it eventhough it was starting, bidders got very afraid, so i got it for $7500 out the gates. and it has 67,000 miles, i am now 2nd owner, i ran a vin check on carfax and its fine, no problems found. the car had a shit load of mods already (h&r-bilstein struts,springs,sway bars,strut bars.) carbon fiber hood, 18 inch BBS RC wheels, Z3 fenders,custom interior black/white,DTM exhaust(no cats), performance headers, Dinan computer software. european tail lights, AC Schnitzer rear window spoiler. was it a good deal people???

**Revv Hard** · 02-09-2003, 03:11 AM

sorry i forgot that the front bumper is hanging off so dont laugh at it, heres another pic

**JM3** · 02-09-2003, 03:16 AM

i wouldn't touch that car with a ten foot pole.

:

**95DinanM3** · 02-09-2003, 03:29 AM

OT, but that color is awesome! $7500 is not a bad deal, especially with a running motor and little cosmetic damage.

**John H** · 02-09-2003, 04:38 AM

Originally posted by Revv Hard
well whats an HFM? i thought alot of bimmer guys go with free flow exhaust? well the vacuum lines and the fuel lines i noticed all under the brake booster and a little towards the manifold. sometimes it will keep up and not die but it will idle rough while it tries to run and it will stay around 500rpm

HFM = Hot Film air Mass sensor... it's the thing between the airbox and the ASC throttle body

I think when most people say free flow exhaust they mean from the cat back. Most people just replace the cat-back portion of the exaust with a lightweight straight through design (as opposed to the 50-lb serpantine exhaust that comes stock).

Sounds like an OK deal. Too bad the hood isn't the same color as the car ;-)... i'd get that fixed if i were you.

as bimmer95 said, the vacuum line could be the idle control valve. where is it coming from?

cheers,
john

**Revv Hard** · 02-09-2003, 05:03 AM

thats a carbon fiber hood, its not no primered garbage, carbon fiber isnt cheap, and i dont think it has anything to do with the air flow sensor because the car wouldnt be able to pass 2000-3000rpm. MY 300zx had a bad air flow sensor and wouldnt pass 2500rpm.

**M triple** · 02-09-2003, 05:35 AM

I am guessing by the "Kompressor" badge on the trunk in your first pic that this car was supercharged at some point. Depending on the kit that was installed, there can be some tell tale signs(cruise control/airbox bracket is cut off). This might be a place to start from anyway. I know from personal experience that a non supercharged car can run with the supercharger software. It dosent run well, but it will run. I would probably key in on the vacuum lines and the fuel system. Get yourself a Bentley manual, its worth the money. Nice car, great price.

Good luck...

**M triple** · 02-09-2003, 05:39 AM

I also just noticed the carbon build up on the rear bumper. Running a little rich is she? That is pretty good evidence that there could be some sort of FI software on board. Again, the car should run with the software but my guess is that someone pulled the blower off in a hurry and probably didnt get everything back to stock...

**Revv Hard** · 02-09-2003, 06:04 AM

what is f1 software?

**M triple** · 02-09-2003, 06:10 AM

Sorry, FI = forced induction

**slvr98 M** · 02-09-2003, 10:27 AM

I think that assumption of a SC once being installed is correct. They took it off at the last minute and sent it through the auction for a quick sale.

You have a lot more money to spend than you think.l

**ClubSport332ti** · 02-09-2003, 10:34 AM

Software,

**M3 Pete** · 02-09-2003, 03:51 PM

$7500 was very cheap, but I'd spend some real money at a competent BMW shop and get everything hooked up correctly. And I'd have them check the compression while they are at it, you have no idea why this guy was selling this heavily modded car. I wonder it is actually an E36 M3, it's got an E46 M3 front bumper, and did anyone notice the Z3 (E46 M3?) shark gills on the side? And the contrasting color seat panels? Somebody spent some money customizing this thing, I hope he didn't beat up the engine.

I hope you got a car worth saving, but you may have to spend some money to get it running right.

**Revv Hard** · 02-09-2003, 08:44 PM

well i dont see how there could of been a supercharger in it, i mean its got performance headers, dont you think superchargers have its own manifold? the motor looks and sounds very smooth when i give it gas, it just cuts out. i doubt it had a blower on it

**jblack** · 02-09-2003, 08:53 PM

No. You are thinking of a Turbocharger. The Kompressor is loosly translated to English as Supercharger.

**M triple** · 02-09-2003, 08:58 PM

What supercharger kit has anything to do with the exhaust headers? I think you are confused about the difference between a supercharger and a turbo. If the car was turbocharged then you would be correct about the headers unless that was switched before the sale. Supercharger's are belt driven and turbo's are driven by the exhaust gas.
If I am not mistaken, that emblem on the left side of your trunk lid that says "Kompressor" is a Mercedes Benz emblem off of one of their cars that is supercharged like for instance the SLK 230.
Maybe you could post some good pics of the engine bay, the drivers side in particular.
I am still pretty convinced that the car was supercharged at one point...

**Revv Hard** · 02-09-2003, 09:52 PM

this is the only pic i have of the engine bay

**Croak** · 02-09-2003, 09:58 PM

Originally posted by M triple
I am still pretty convinced that the car was supercharged at one point...

And I'm pretty convinced that whoever had it rode it hard and put up wet. Looks like a repo.

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