Hi its my first post here and was hoping some one could help?

having a starting prob with my 525 diesel what im getting is a prob every time i try and start her if shes been parked facing uphill or if she is warm i have replaced the glow plugs but this doesnt seem to have helped.
I think this may have all started after i jet washed the car i did spray the inside of the engine bay but i did try not to hit any of the engine its self

I can get the car to start but it takes a long time i give it about 10 glow runs then turn it over for about 15 secs then another glow and it starts with a puff of black smoke (un-burnt fuel)
can anyone tell me where to start looking i'v read many posts but with so many posts on this im not sure what one is for me

thanks for any help here guys

There aren't many oilburners on here as it is a US based site....I'm sure there is someone here who can help, but it may take a while...

I wish I had an M51.... :(

Try www.bimmer.info (http://www.bimmer.info) there are many English e34 owners on there who can help you with your diesel.

Jeez it's been a while since I've done diesel anything, let's see what I can recall... it sounds like the problem is that you're not starting after parking on a hill, I'd check your Bentley and see if your car has an anti-drain-back valve, or a pressure accumulator, or something along those lines in the fuel system. Air in the lines of a diesel is bad for starting, it makes it not happen.

I believe you should be seeing puffs of smoke from the tailpipe when it's cranking even if it doesn't start, otherwise you're not getting much fuel.

Also check to see that your glow plugs are actually operating, you say you replaced them, did you check to see if they were actually heating? I don't recall the exact procedure for checking a glow plug, I *THINK* you run a test light to it, but it may be something more like running a resistance test while cycling the glow plugs. You may have new ones, but a bad relay is what I'm getting at.

I'd stake money on the first thing though, I think your lines are siphoning back into your tank, and the time spent cranking is the fuel pump repressurizing the lines.

Yay....!!!!!!!!!!! Another 525tds touring owner!!!

Your car should have an anti drain back valve and they can go bad. Not sure where it is on the car :( but they definately cause problems.
Another thing you could try changing is the fuel filter. These can cause starting problems too.

Post up pics of your car too....

Many thanks for all you replies

I had a good look at the engine today and found a few signs of diesel had been leaking think it was the diesel pump so I sorted that out and I also changed the small pipes running to each injector now the car seems to start much much easier but the test will be tomorrow once it’s had a night sitting still wish me luck

Cheers

Oh and ill post some pics soon but Iv done nothing to the car so its nothing much to look at YET

cheers

yes but it is a diesel!

yes but it is a diesel!

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