car is starting to cut off in traffic

[mikester328]

hi, my 318i every now and then will out of the blue just cut off while idling. It runs perfectly and is nice and smooth but just cuts off about as quick as me turning off the ignition. Any ideas? I'm gonna clean my cold air intake after about a year of it being installed. I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I also use 93 octane grade gasoline. Any ideas? Spark plugs or fuel pump?

Thanks, Mike

[Cruzin 323is]

does the idle get rough? right before it cuts out... how often does this happen.. does it start right up again, after it stalls?

[mikester328]

thanks cruzin',

It doesn't happen very often, only started to do this since it's gotten cold here (which is about 45 F, not too cold). Most of the time, it just cuts right off, and then sometimes tries to keep itself from cutting off, then cuts off. RIght when it cuts off, it definately hesitates starting back up, but if I hold the ignition for about 6 secs total, it cuts on. How long do fuel pumps last on these things? Spark plugs haven't been changed in at least 4 years or so, nothing's been changed hardly. What usually breaks first ? And if in the near future I were to replace anything that breaks relating to throttle, what parts can be upgraded for any slight performance gain?

Thanks, any input is appreciated.

Mike

[SpooldUp]

yeah i would suspect the fuel pump. if it was a loose wire or something then it probably would not start back up every time. the hesitation upon restart may be due to low fuel pressure in the system. usually fuel pumps go like that, off and on and then...one day...the car won't start at all!!! so i would suggest looking at that component.

[nobrakese36]

do your plugs, fouled plugs will kill your car of performance and fuel efficiency, make sure you get bosch platinum 2's or more

[cymorg]

my car did this pretty soon after i bought it (used). its a 1996 318is. i took it to the dealer and they had to replace some part. it wasnt the fuel pump. i dont remember what it was called, though. sorry. it cost me around 400 or 500 i believe. i say it wasnt the fuel pump because my fuel pump is acting up now and i cant imagine a new fuel pump going bad in less than a year already haha...

[mikester328]

thanks, I think I'll change the spark plugs to the bosch platinum 2's... but are these reliable and what makes them so good? And also are there any upgraded fuel pumps for the M44 engine? I'm pretty much a newb with this stuff..

[Furious]

id really check into some sort of fuel pump issue, however its hard to tell because of the frequency that the problem arrises, it really hard to tell, have you ever had a fault when the car shuts off? to me i dont think its a spark plug issue at all, nor would i bother changing them unless you can conclusively say its a sparkplug issue , if anything id change the plugs when the time comes to whatever you prefer. although i am curious as to when your idling if the RPM needle bounces around (up high than drops down low) untill eventually dies out.