Phil Marx
03-21-2004, 03:04 AM
Just a warning for those who do what I did.
Yesterday afternoon I had to move the '98 ti so the family van could haul five kids to soccer practice. I started it up, moved it over about fifteen feet and shut it off. This morning I went to start it to take my youngest to her soccer game and for at least the first second of cranking all sounded normal, but no start. Subsequent start attempts sounded like either a disengaged starter, or an engine cranking with no plugs or, worse, no compression. I swapped snacks, orange slices, drinks, camera, and folding chairs into the trusty E28 535is and went to the game, my mind running this scenario over and over during the drive. When I returned several hours later same symptoms: engine cranked like it had no compression. Having only me to diagnose the problem and not even being sure at that time if the engine was even turning over, I chalk-marked the serpentine belt, cranked it just enough to make sure the starter was turning the engine, then figured I'd remove the plugs to see if maybe they were just soaked. :idea:
Now this has always been a problem on M50TU, M3, M6, and M5 motors even to the extent that BMW shipped the M cars with "transit" plugs. When I had my own dealership I'd move the inventory in and out of the storage garage every day. I'd usally get a week on an M50 engine if it didn't get driven during the day before having to either take it out and drive the @*#& out of it or clean the plugs. I've never before had a BMW that you couldn't start, move, stop once, and then restart. But I'm warning you now, if you move the ti out of the garage to wash it, let it sit a while and it won't restart; remove the plugs, clean them with carb cleaner, dry 'em off real good, reinstall them and crank the livin' #*&% out of the engine until it starts.
A word to the wise might save a tow bill.
-Phil Marx
Yesterday afternoon I had to move the '98 ti so the family van could haul five kids to soccer practice. I started it up, moved it over about fifteen feet and shut it off. This morning I went to start it to take my youngest to her soccer game and for at least the first second of cranking all sounded normal, but no start. Subsequent start attempts sounded like either a disengaged starter, or an engine cranking with no plugs or, worse, no compression. I swapped snacks, orange slices, drinks, camera, and folding chairs into the trusty E28 535is and went to the game, my mind running this scenario over and over during the drive. When I returned several hours later same symptoms: engine cranked like it had no compression. Having only me to diagnose the problem and not even being sure at that time if the engine was even turning over, I chalk-marked the serpentine belt, cranked it just enough to make sure the starter was turning the engine, then figured I'd remove the plugs to see if maybe they were just soaked. :idea:
Now this has always been a problem on M50TU, M3, M6, and M5 motors even to the extent that BMW shipped the M cars with "transit" plugs. When I had my own dealership I'd move the inventory in and out of the storage garage every day. I'd usally get a week on an M50 engine if it didn't get driven during the day before having to either take it out and drive the @*#& out of it or clean the plugs. I've never before had a BMW that you couldn't start, move, stop once, and then restart. But I'm warning you now, if you move the ti out of the garage to wash it, let it sit a while and it won't restart; remove the plugs, clean them with carb cleaner, dry 'em off real good, reinstall them and crank the livin' #*&% out of the engine until it starts.
A word to the wise might save a tow bill.
-Phil Marx