I will check that line out later on and my fittings at the intake elbow as well, thanks Gary!

I don't know about emissions regulations in Jersey, but down here in Cakalaka, we don't have them, so I'll most likely be removing my SAP soon. Doing so would allow me to cap off at the valve on the manifold, and remove the vacuum hose altogether. Don't worry, we keep our polluted air to ourselves down here... :rofl:

BTW: The first poster to say anything about BMW and emissions rigging gets blocked for life. jus' sayin'... :D

^Now that's what I'm talking about! AFAIK, I will also check the coilpacks for any oil in the spark plug wells indicating a leaking VCG. My miles are fairly low at 82k but at 12 years old I am starting to wonder if I am on borrowed time with an original one.

^ Never done the VCG? Piece of cake!!! Just be careful with that same vacuum hose when you put the cover back on. If you're not careful, that hose can get trapped between your new gasket and the head, causing not only vacuum issues, but a nasty oil leak. Ask me how I know... :cool:

Well the SAP hard line looks fine, the vaccuum section is a bit crumbly but no visible leaks (I'll prob replace it with fresh line anyway to the hard pipe), the VCG running my hand all around the front and sides is dry, although I need to get my stool out and check the back.

I'll have to scan the X this weekend for misfires and check those cylinders coil packs to see if any oil pooled in the spark plug holes perhaps, and if not but it registered a misfire on those cylinders I may R&R the corresponding culprit coilpacks.

Nothing on the intake elbow side but again another vac line I may replace preventatively as its starting to crumble

I'm guessing if it was anything fuel pump related there might be a related fuel supply code thrown? The X rode fine all the way home again as well.

*Update*

Just updating this thread to keep all symptoms together, so when I do fix the problem I can mark the solution and mark the thread as fixed.

Since this thread started I have not had the issue again - Admittedly I have been too lazy to throw the batt charger on and scan the X lately as well, life gets in the way and when the issue doesn't present itself it doesn't bother me as much.

Went to start up today, 37 degrees in garage - My X has been sitting since Saturday afternoon in the garage after I washed it on the weekend -

Started up, started sounding lumpy right away, went through the 30 seconds or so of the high idle/SAI pump, then afterwards it got lumpier, and threw the SES light - my wife even said "is it supposed to sound like that", so she even noticed -

I hate doing this on a completely cold engine, but after the 30-45 seconds, once I saw the SES and continued rough running idle, I shut the X and immediately started it back up.

Just like last time, re-started completely fine, no lumpiness or rough idle, and SES light was gone immediately.

Something is throwing a code but is back to normal after a quick shut down and re-start - I don't smell the fuel in the cabin indicating a leakdown from a faulty injector, although its something I will check out to be sure they aren't leaking down after a few days -

If it was coil-packs I would assume the misfires to occur frequently, and not just after sitting for a few days. Battery voltage is still fine when the X is running, pegged around 13.5v when driving and the battery is new (and to be honest it happened twice before I changed the battery in December)

I'll post updates as I check the codes its been throwing.

Probably when it threw the SES it also did a fuel cutoff. The DTC should still be in memory even though the SES is off and the engine is running fine. Read the code and post the code.

*Update Again*

I'm just bumping this thread to keep it active until I find the solution - Again I washed the car this weekend and only pulled it out of the garage to wash it yesterday, and pulled it back in to dry, so it ran for only about a minute each time since I parked it Friday night.

Same symptom, lumpy as soon as it started like it was on 5 cylinder, after 30 seconds or so (SAI run time I believe), stayed lumpy and threw SES. Turned off, then started up again, idle is fine and SES is gone.

I was starting to think it had to do with something getting wet on the X when I washed it, but I think its from the short run times when I wash the X (1 min or less) and then when I go to start up the 3rd time or so its lumpy? I'm starting to almost believe the leaky fuel injector theory, although my gas mileage is perfect.

Will be due for a trip to the indy in a month or so (rear suspension, check of belts/coolant/water pump), I promise I will scan the X and post up what codes I've been throwing before then, lol.

Most likely the short time you have the engine on and the engine is still in open loop. My E34 and many other people on the E34 board experience a flooded engine from just starting it up and moving it into the garage. That's why I don't start the X up and shut it off.

You can floor the car to go into a clear flood mode where the DME will not fire the injectors and clear any excessive gasoline in the cylinders. A engine will not start on wet gasoline, it needs the gasoline to be in a vapor.

^What do you think is adequate time then, say perhaps a few mins of idle each time if I am just washing the car? I'm leaning towards that as well, and glad the E34 has something similar. I don't think its a defect or faulty part its just a byproduct of the short time it is started up a couple times, by the time I go to drive it, there is excess unburnt fuel.

I know if the injectors were leaking down i'd smell fuel vapor or so I've read - plus it would happen more often.