First of all it’s like every 6 months I am replacing the spark plugs. Now Thursday last I noticed a bit of a rough idle. I didn’t use the car on Friday (Good Friday,) on Saturday it turned over rather slowly and although it managed to start up, it idled roughly again. I backed out of the garage and parked on the driveway. That was all the usage it got on Saturday. On Sunday I attempted to start it up and it seemed like the battery was going, the motor spun really slow and the car never started. I hooked up a charger to the battery and although it turned over the engine at a normal speed, the car would not start. All day Sunday it was like that, I made so many attempts to start it that on one attempt I got a “transmission failsafe program” message on the display. I made arrangements to have the car towed to the dealer but wanted to have a final go at her before I actually sent it over. I replaced all 8 plugs (Bosch platinum 2) with new ones and the car started immediately. I noticed that while removing the old plugs, they were all wet with fuel (hint.) The car runs fine now with no signs of a failing battery, alternator or starter. What’s going on here Guys?
Secondly (unrelated) the car vibrates through the body (not steering wheel) on the application of the brakes, any ideas on what defective part(s) to look for. Thanks a million guys.

Any ideas?

If you only moved the car a couple of metres & switched it off, you could have flooded it, I was told to let the car run for 5 minutes before switching it off. We had that problem with a E36 & was told that the E38 is the same. Had to take all the plugs out & dry them.

Alan

Yep, sounds like it was flooded to me too. You might have other issues with the car. Are you getting any fault codes? If the plugs are getting fouled after 6 months of use the engine is running too rich or you're getting oil in the combustion chamber. Neither one is good. Continued operation with the fuel mixture too rich or oil in the chamber is going to ruin the cats. I don't know what the recommended service life for the spark plugs is but I'm pretty sure it's more than 6 months.

bimmerfixr: if the VANOS was goofed up could it cause fouling of the plugs?

Ok thanks guys.