I took my 840Ci to the dealer to check what I thought was a fuel filter problem. I heard a growling sound coming from behind the driver. Turned out to be a bad clamp holding (barely) the fuel filter on.
What is happening, though, is that sometimes, when I am just cruising, not on the gas, my engine cuts out a little. This can be nerve-racking, especially when I am far from home. The dealer did not discover anything so I am asking here if anyone has any input? Electrical problem? Plug wires maybe?
It doesn't happen always but worries me.
Thanks for your advice,
Cheers!

May need to check the crank position sensor. My 740 did that little go into freefall for a moment thing sometimes. It is real exciting when it stops for a moment at full throttle

Does the check engine light flicker on when it does it?

Checking the CPS requires a Scope to do it properly. The resistance test will only tell if it is Dead or Alive. It may be cheaper to replace it than pay the labor to test it.

Thanks for the info, Terry. I will look for the check engine light next time. I will also ask my local BMW dealer about this.
The only light I noticed was this morning when the street was a little wet and I jumped on the gas. An amber light with a little triangle in it came on in the upper center of the guage cluster. Maybe some kind of traction control light (?)
Thanks again, Terry, you're awesome.

Yup, that is the "I saved you from imminent trouble by keeping the wheels from spinning" Light.

If you turn off the ASC switch on the console, the light comes on constantly to remind you that it can't save you this way:)

I'm having a similar problem with my 840ci, sudden engine/electrical shutdown and I narrowed it down to a bad wire or connection in the steering column...
started the vehicle and fiddled with every wire I could think of looking for a bad connection/wire and as soon as I fiddled with the wires behind the steering wheel, it shut the engine down every time...now my dilema is whether it's a wire or a connection,haven't figured it out yet...maybe this could also relate to your situation...

I am taking the car in to the BMW dealer to diagnos the problem. I mentioned the CPS problem Terry had with his 740. They told me this does happen. Why they didn't troubleshoot for this the last time I had it in, I do not know.
I will let you know what they find.

I took my 840Ci to the dealer to check what I thought was a fuel filter problem. I heard a growling sound coming from behind the driver. Turned out to be a bad clamp holding (barely) the fuel filter on.
What is happening, though, is that sometimes, when I am just cruising, not on the gas, my engine cuts out a little. This can be nerve-racking, especially when I am far from home. The dealer did not discover anything so I am asking here if anyone has any input? Electrical problem? Plug wires maybe?
It doesn't happen always but worries me.
Thanks for your advice,
Cheers!

I have this same sound coming from behind the driver as well...I have posted several times and no one knew where it was coming from...how did you find out that it was a clamp, and how much was the repair? As for your engine cutting off ???? Thanks for the post!

Mine gurgled behind me for the first time ever today:(

I'll look this weekend but it sounded like it was filling an empty filter canister. Quite a bit noisier than I would have expected.

You guys must be a bad influence:)

Damn...I joined this forum a few months ago with the gurgling sound and no one ever heard of it....now it seems to be an epidemic! Sorry guys!

Terry, if you find out what it is for sure, please post. Thanks.

I found out is was the fuel filter clamp because I thought that I had a clogged filter and that [it] was causing the engine to cut-out. I took it to the dealer and he said the filter was about to fall off due to a faulty clamp. He also replaced the fuel filter. I have not noticed the gurgling sound since.
I am having a full diagnosis performed on the car today (3/2/06) to determine the cause of the cutting-out. I went as far as to have the service manager drive the car home, about 25 miles one way, to see if he could duplicate the symptoms. Of course he couldn't. That would only happen in a perfect world.
I'll keep you all updated.

You let the service manager drive your 8 home? He better be your brother and you better live with him! j/k But BMW service guys in my opinion are worthless. Find someone who you can trust not at BMW to work on your 8. Better service AND save yourself some money. Thanks for the info on the clamp, though!