FIXED!!!!!-Smog failed due to EML light, did a drive cycle, now car is messing up!

[TerminatorX5]

I have had some serious power loss and rough idling that set off check engine light (suprisingly, yours did not), and trans failsafe mode... i went from MAF to throttle body, even bought a fuel filter to replace, until i hooked up the INPA, and among of many other codes if mentioned misfire on cyl 5... i thought that misfire was secondary to other issues but nevertheless bought a brand new Bosch coil off ebay, replaced the coil and - voila!!! all the problems that i was having with loss of power, engine idling so rough that i thought it wanted to jump out... all was gone... i still have fuel filter on my to do list but the urgency has gone...

[diddy0071]

Just bought NGK BKR6EQUP, oem ones (9 each) do these need to be gapped? I don't want to spend money on coils and boots if I don't need them.

Can I find a INPA at autozone/Oreilly's?

[diddy0071]

I should rephrase, I am on a budget. I will eventually (a month or two) purchase coils and boots with the plugs.

[upallnight]

If he had a bad coil, he would have gotten a SES light on with the appropriate code for engine misfire with injector shut off.

[TerminatorX5]

no gapping...

here are some aftermarket coils:
BMW M3 M5 x5 Z3 Z8 323 325 328 330 525 528 530 540 740 850 Ignition Coil B321 | eBay

here, all 6:

BMW Ignition Coil IC15 323 325 328 330 Z3 525 528 540 740 X5 | eBay

and here is BOSCH, which is the OEM supplier:

BMW Ignition Coil Bosch Set of 6 New E36 E46 E39 M3 M5 E38 E31 E37 E52 E53 | eBay

this is just for information/reference... does not mean you have to buy coils...

INPA can't be bought from a retailer...

here is dude who lets you download it -

BMW Dis V5 7 Inpa 5 0 2 Ediabas V6 47 SSS V32 Carsoft NCS Expert Dummy | eBay

but you still need a OBD2 to USB cable... that cable you might be able to find locally... i would not know where to look for it, or what specs to look for - mine came as a package from romania... but you can't wait that long...

INPA will narrow your search for the problem...

[diddy0071]

My brother is a Honda mechanic. I will ask him to see if he has an OBD to USB scanner. And before you ask, he doesn't want to help me fix the car. He doesn't know much about BMWs.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Sounds like it is starving for fuel. Have you check the fuel pressure at the fuel rail?

I am leaning that direction also but since it has gone from missing to won't start I think we should go back to the beginning and start over with a logical troubleshooting flow, especially since OP is on a budget. It makes no sense to me to throw new parts around the engine and see if anything hits the mark.

OP could start with checking fuel flow before MAF but I feel better if we get an MAF sensor in there that we know it would run.

OP now has new plugs, bad plugs could contribute to problem but wouldn't come on so instantly and would not go to won't start that fast.

Could be that injector or coil has failed, even two, but that doesn't cause a no start condition, at least it would try.

I have found quirky causes to problems in the past but lack of enough air to keep it from running has never been the cause.

I don't think much of coincidences and this started right after a test by likely a do do bird so I am suspicious. I don't have any idea what could have been done to cause this chain of events but--it started with a trip to the doc for check up, he left with heart condition and died the next day of a massive heart attack. I've never looked to see what they do for a smog test- but it sure seems to me possibilities associated with that event should be thought through.

My primary message is to Slooooooooow down and take this a step at a time starting with the most basic of causes before the more technical and/or costly bucket of other possible causes.

OP--FYI plugs are set to install out of the box, no gapping necessary.

[Ricky Bobby]

No gapping necessary man but you're right the plugs do look like shit. Is that rust on the electrodes? I just replaced with the Ngks and they are great

[diddy0071]

Plugs are going in after dinner. Then putting it all back together again. Afterwards diagnose it again.

Going to re-inspect vaccum lines with carb cleaner (a water hose since I have No fire extinguisher) and move on to the next.


We do know now that: DISA was bad. Spark plugs were bad/needing replacement. Replaced rubber boot and MAF sensor.

See you when I am done.

Thanks for all the help by the way. This is a lot of time spent helping and I appreciate it immensely.

[bcredliner]

Carb cleaner might work to search for vacuum leak but I am sure brake cleaner with the little tube to target the flow does a great job. You can also use a propane tank but it is a little harder to pinpoint the location of a leak and it is already a gas so I don't feel very comfortable going that route.