528i Engine Trouble
Discussion
Afternoon. I have a 528I with a sick Engine. Initially I thought it was due to lack of compression and after some advice from a colleague I squirted some oil down the bores before turning it over and it temporarily ran for a couple of days.
After being stood for a while and the battery going flat I have come to re-start it doing the same thing and this time it will not start at all.
I removed a spark plug and held it against the manifold and checked for a spark but noticed that as I turned the engine over the spark, although strong, was very random and sometimes non-existent. Does this mean the problem could be with the ECU rather than a lack of compression?
Any advice greatly appreciated. Particularly if it doesnt involve taking it to a BMW dealer.
After being stood for a while and the battery going flat I have come to re-start it doing the same thing and this time it will not start at all.
I removed a spark plug and held it against the manifold and checked for a spark but noticed that as I turned the engine over the spark, although strong, was very random and sometimes non-existent. Does this mean the problem could be with the ECU rather than a lack of compression?
Any advice greatly appreciated. Particularly if it doesnt involve taking it to a BMW dealer.
If the block was replaced then you wont have a compression problem due to worn bores.
Oil down the bores? I've never heared of that except for an old, possibly seized engine. Doing it a second time has probably oiled your plugs. Take 'em out and clean 'em up.
WRT the spark, you may have knackered plugs, leads or coils. The only way you'll find out without replacing parts in turn is the get it plugged into a diagnostic at a BMW specialist or dealer.
Oil down the bores? I've never heared of that except for an old, possibly seized engine. Doing it a second time has probably oiled your plugs. Take 'em out and clean 'em up.
WRT the spark, you may have knackered plugs, leads or coils. The only way you'll find out without replacing parts in turn is the get it plugged into a diagnostic at a BMW specialist or dealer.
Problems started with it becoming increasingly difficult to start. it made no difference if the engine was warm or not. Eventually it wouldn't start at all.
After a conversation with a friend of a friend he suggested it might be compression problems but seeing as the bottom end has been replaced this seems doubtfull. However he said a test for this was the oil down the bores. I assume this would create a temporary seal to increase the compression. Anyway. I tried it and it seemed to work....temporarily.
The spark plug thing just seems weird. Is there any reason why the plug would just spark the once and then not spark again?
It sounds like diagnostics is the only way to find out for sure. Problem is its a Steptronic box so I cant tow it!!
Anyone want to buy a car?? Full leather, fsh etc etc...... Going cheap!!
After a conversation with a friend of a friend he suggested it might be compression problems but seeing as the bottom end has been replaced this seems doubtfull. However he said a test for this was the oil down the bores. I assume this would create a temporary seal to increase the compression. Anyway. I tried it and it seemed to work....temporarily.
The spark plug thing just seems weird. Is there any reason why the plug would just spark the once and then not spark again?
It sounds like diagnostics is the only way to find out for sure. Problem is its a Steptronic box so I cant tow it!!
Anyone want to buy a car?? Full leather, fsh etc etc...... Going cheap!!
Thanks for your help.
Engine seemed to be running ok prior to it stopping.
Spark plugs were very sooty.
Would BMW really replace a block with the another the same?? That seems really stupid.
Power seemed ok. If it had dropped then it was gradual as I had not noticed any problems in the preceding months.
Had a phone round yesterday afternoon to see if I could find a second hand Engine but struggled to find anyone. Do you have any ideas about where I might get one from?. Someone reliable and reasonably priced.
Problem is that even if the car was running its only worth £3-4k max. So chucking a couple of grand at getting it fixed would not make sense. I could probably get a couple of grand by breaking it. Shame though. Its a nice car.
Engine seemed to be running ok prior to it stopping.
Spark plugs were very sooty.
Would BMW really replace a block with the another the same?? That seems really stupid.
Power seemed ok. If it had dropped then it was gradual as I had not noticed any problems in the preceding months.
Had a phone round yesterday afternoon to see if I could find a second hand Engine but struggled to find anyone. Do you have any ideas about where I might get one from?. Someone reliable and reasonably priced.
Problem is that even if the car was running its only worth £3-4k max. So chucking a couple of grand at getting it fixed would not make sense. I could probably get a couple of grand by breaking it. Shame though. Its a nice car.
got to be worth getting some sort of diagnosis. I would suggest firstly a compression test, and then a quick look at the electrical side.
Cant believe you are looking down the new engine route that soon. At leas find out what is wrong with it. Surely you can find an independant who will spend an hour on it.
Cant believe you are looking down the new engine route that soon. At leas find out what is wrong with it. Surely you can find an independant who will spend an hour on it.
Bore wear is a gradual process, the first signs of which are uneven running and vibration at tickover.
By the time it has reached the non starting stage, you would have noticed that it was dog rough.
Now according to the BMW TIS program I've got running, sooty plugs are most likely caused by a misfire/poor ignition circuit, so your thoughts on the piss poor spark sound correct.
Get the pulse generator and coils checked would be my thoughts.
By the time it has reached the non starting stage, you would have noticed that it was dog rough.
Now according to the BMW TIS program I've got running, sooty plugs are most likely caused by a misfire/poor ignition circuit, so your thoughts on the piss poor spark sound correct.
Get the pulse generator and coils checked would be my thoughts.
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