Hard starts below 33 degrees ??????

[jshores7]

Hello all.. I was wondering if anybody knows what would cause my 1999 318ti to give me a hard time starting cold whenever the temp outside is below 33 degrees. The dealer has yet to figure it out. He tried to tell me it starts fine(while it was in the garage). He finnally agreed that there was a problem-after I told hime to move it outside and let it cool off. He told me he was not sure what the problem is ..I have been without my car since weds and it is now going on monday...After It starts and runs for a while you can start it right back up after turning it off. Thanks in advance. ghead

[culdeus]

I'm having this problem on my 2001.

Here's a fix to get it running.

Idle in neutral for a minute to get the temp needle running up

Then put it in gear, the car will only stall in gear with the throttle engaged. At cold temps for whatever reason the car won't take the throttle.


Looking around I've seen quite a few posts on msg. boards out there. I was hoping to find a catch all fix.

Lots of people are talking about the idle valve as the problem.

I've got a CES code for the dealer to dump and I'll report back if they manage to fix it Wednesday.

I'm starting to wonder about this car myself, I've had issues with the window construction, fast idles, and now this stalling. And only 36kmiles. Consumer Reports is really ripping this lastest 3-series model. If I can't get this going I'm switching to some foriegn re-badge.

[culdeus]

Car is returned. Started fine this morning at ~45 degrees in Dallas.

It doesn't get much below that here ever so I may not be able to fully test it until next December...Such is life.

Work order says:

Perform test plan on inlet camshaft sensor, replace inlet camshaft sensor.

Parts

12-14-1-438-081 Camshaft P
12-14-1-748-398 O-Ring

I did not get the fault codes but they said the codes were faults from this sensor.

If the thing ever gives me issues I'll find my way back here somehow.

[culdeus]

Oh, and the fast idles I think can be explained by this sensor also.