1987 325e runs but won't start - BMW Forum

Ron333 · 04-20-2010, 02:47 PM

Hey everyone,

iv got a 1987 325e and it's a 5 speed manual 2.7 v6 and my car won't start. I am able to bump start it and it runs and idles fine but if I try to start it with the key it just spins and never fires. I have checked everything I have thought of. It's all good. The only thing is that the coil doesn't have power going to it so I got some wire and bridged from a 12 volt source and even with the coil having a
full 12 volts it still won't give power to the distributer cap but if I bumps start it then everything works and has power. Please help out with anything you guys have to say.
Thanks -Ron

elsabor67 · 04-20-2010, 03:36 PM

Do you have a picture of this V-6 under the hood of your car???? AFAIK, the only V-series engines BMW makes and made are V8,10, &12's.

Now, Check and see if you are getting spark to your plugs. If you are not, replace the CPS (Crank Position Sensor). I don't really know if there is a way to test your coil but ensure that it's not shot. But definetly replace the CPS.

silversled · 04-20-2010, 07:02 PM

yeah, I'd like to see this v-6 myself...further..what does bump mean? a jump start or a push start and clutch dump?

Ron333 · 04-22-2010, 01:17 PM

Sorry guys that was a typo. Didn't mean to put the v. It's a inline 6. And the cps,wouldn't that still work if I can bump start it and it'll run? And by bump
start I mean get it rolling with the key on and dump the cluch to
turn the engine and it fires up and runs and idles fine

Ron333 · 04-22-2010, 01:22 PM

And one more thing. There is no spark if I am just turning the engine over with the key but if I bump start it and it's running the there is spark to all 6 plugs. And the original coil worked perfect but I still replaced it anyway so there is a new coil that works

elsabor67 · 04-22-2010, 04:28 PM

That's a new one on me. You have spark if you "push/bump" start it, but not when you try to crank it? Let me ask a couple of friends that I know. I am stumped on that one.

Ron333 · 04-22-2010, 11:10 PM

Ok. But yeah I have no idea what else to check. Iv gone over anything I can think of but Im not a bemmer mechanic so any ideas would help out
Thanks again guys
-Ron

silversled · 04-25-2010, 09:32 PM

is it?

Ron333 · 04-26-2010, 07:54 PM

What do you mean that's not the entire story? What is missing?

Ron333 · 06-10-2010, 02:36 PM

Hey guys. Me and a friend of mine that has a shop figured
out the problem. There are 2 cps down at the flywheel. One looks at the teeth for the engine speed andthe 2nd looks at this metal piece that sticks out of the flywheel so the sensor has the right timing. I'm guessing the piece is where # 1 is. Anyway that piece was gone. It was ground down flush with the flywheel so we drilled it out and tapped it and put a ground down bolt in so it has the right air gap between the bolt and sensor and we threw the senso back in and it fired right up no problem

witeshark · 06-10-2010, 03:03 PM

Glad to see it's sorted!

silversled · 06-13-2010, 07:09 PM

you just reversed yourself, you stated the car would start but not run. Then you said the car started right up after this fix. I could agree that the solution is correct but the engine would never have started with the TDC magentic tooth/sensor missing/damaged...once the engine is started it doesn't need that reference, the computer has it...but once you shut engine down and try it restart the ECU can't tell when to start doing it's thing and the engine won't start....see?

Ron333 · 06-14-2010, 01:07 PM

Hey. I never said that it wouldn't run. I said it wouldn't start, like with the key. But I could bump start it