Hey,

It all started with my car (1997 528i auto) overheating due to my crappy OEM radiator giving out on me@ 95k miles. Needless to say, the head gasket went and so did my cylinder head. I had a very well respected machine shop perform a complete rebuild and repair of the head. I got everything button up. Yes, I did the complete tear down and install of the cylinder head. What a pain that was....and amazingly it started at first try.

After starting up the car, I made sure I didn't have any leaks, vacuum, water, and exhaust. I was a chicken **** about putting the car back on the road since I wasn't sure how successful the r&r went. Never know right? Anyhow, after taking the car on many short trips (up to 5 miles).
I decided to drive it to work one day (70 miles), during the freeway cruise it ran great. I got off the freeway to get some gas, the car started to sputter and shake. Like it's running on 4 or 3 cylinder? Anyhow, the light turned green and the car was struggling to move, I had to floor it to get it to the shoulder.

Of course, the check engine light lite up, I thought that the cylinder head or gasket might have given up, but I didn't see any white or any smoke?
During my wait for the tow truck I tied to start the car again, it did start and run, but only for a few seconds. It was shaking and sputtering hard(500-800RPM).

So, could this a fuel related, ignition, or airflow sensor problem?

1.I pulled my rear seat to check the fuel pump. I simply listen for the sound of the fuel pump. Yes, it was making a normal pump sound. I don't have a fuel pressure guage to do a proper test.

2.Next, I pulled all the spark plugs and it too was good, the color was about where it should be. No excessive moisture, carbon build up, or burnt plug.

3.Then I proceeded to pull the airflow meter to see if the hot wire was still intact? Yeap, it too looked normal. I had this replace once under warranty at 45k miles.

Please, if anyone have any clues, educated theory or guess. Help me out. If anyone is a BMW Master tech, I would be more than will to pay for you services. I'm located in the city of Lake Elsinore, CA.

Thank you all for your time, Jay

can you get the codes read? sounds like maybe a bad cam position sensor or maybe a bad crank position sensor. good luck post back when you know more

Well, I pulled the valve cover off and check for proper timing for the crank and camshaft timing. Everything is in order as it should, I have it several rotations and all is well. No valve contact, so that should rule out timing chain skipping due to failed tensioner.

I would really recommend getting the codes read. You'll just be guessing until then. Autozone will refund the rental price of the code reader if returned within 30 days.

I would really recommend getting the codes read. You'll just be guessing until then. Autozone will refund the rental price of the code reader if returned within 30 days.

I got some fult code read with my Peake R5/FCX2. It read 11, OE, and 44. I think that the first number is the table to use then the fault codes is OE and 44. I just got this thing so I'm not sure how to read it.

According to the Peake manual on table 11
1. OE is air intake temp sensor.
2. 44 is EVAP system, purge control valve.

The car wants to start, I can hear some ignition going on in there. Not sure my fuel pump is pumping enought fuel. Is there fault code for weak or faulty fuel pump on 1997 528i?

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/FD3S/P9110051.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/FD3S/P_00364.jpg

Head is pulled and the damage is.....http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/FD3S/P1020277.jpg

The area of the crack was grond off and welded. Sorry, don't have the any pics of the repair.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/FD3S/P1020307.jpg

Clean and ready.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/FD3S/P1020538.jpg

Any guess?

pretty sure your car committed suicide because its owner put those silly pinstripe decals on. Remove them and I assure you youre car will run for another 250k miles without a hiccup.

[QUOTE=boomshakalaka;12165730]pretty sure your car committed suicide because its owner put those silly pinstripe decals on. Remove them and I assure you youre car will run for another 250k miles without a hiccup.[/QUOT

It's part of the AC Schnitzer S5S package, and if you have any real contribution to this tread then post it.
Otherwise..........read up on it before you make an ass of yourself.

http://www.netcarshow.com/ac_schnitzer/2001-acs5_5series_e39/

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb139/jimmy3211/OH-SNAP.gif

You got told Boom!

true, I didnt know the history behind the pinstripes, either way I still dont like them..

but Im sorry to poke fun at your car in a casualty thread, I didnt mean to be a jerk about it but seeing as your car is out of service I can see how it doesnt matter if my intentions were good or not. Hope everything works/ed out with your car!

true, I didnt know the history behind the pinstripes, either way I still dont like them..

but Im sorry to poke fun at your car in a casualty thread, I didnt mean to be a jerk about it but seeing as your car is out of service I can see how it doesnt matter if my intentions were good or not. Hope everything works/ed out with your car!

Cool.

Definitely going into "limp home" mode but can't figure out why. What else did you work on when you had the engine repaired?

Okay, I got the fuel presure test guage and it's reading 10psi, there are no fuel present in the rail? Only air???

Next, I jumped the relay 30 and 87? I can hear the fuel pump swirling, so it must be working right?

Then, I checked my fuel filter which was replace after the car died on me. The arrow is pointing in the right direction. Towards the engine.

Please someone help me....

I forgot to mention that the fuel presure regulator vacuum hose was disconnected. I reconnected it and it still did not start.

[quote=boomshakalaka;12165730]pretty sure your car committed suicide because its owner put those silly pinstripe decals on. Remove them and I assure you youre car will run for another 250k miles without a hiccup.[/QUOT

It's part of the AC Schnitzer S5S package, and if you have any real contribution to this tread then post it.
Otherwise..........read up on it before you make an ass of yourself.

http://www.netcarshow.com/ac_schnitzer/2001-acs5_5series_e39/
Maybe it was the ///M badge on the hood :)


I'm joking, don't beat me up!

I have no clue and I'll shut up now.

Don't knock Ebay.. You can't be a winner if you don't bid. ;) Wow, that should be in a fortune cookie.

Posted in your other thread on purging air in the fuel rail and then re-installing fuel pressure tester [making sure stem in schraeder valve is depressed to allow fuel flow and pressure testing].