320i e90 slow start

Hi

What could be the problem for a lagging start? This only happens when I drive the car,leave it for a while,then startup again. In the mornings, car starts normal. Help:flyfun:
 

ASH M

Active member
Thermostat and coolant temperature sensor. Had the same story with my 330, have a look at the thread.

Basically what happens is that the engine is hot but the ECU gets the incorrect reading. So when you park the car it thinks the vehicle is still cold. Thereby altering the fuel mixture and making it too rich.

Therefore when you try to start it after a while it basically floods the engine. If you leave it overnight the engine gets cold naturally and the mixture is correct for the morning start.

Go into the hidden menu and check the coolant temperature.


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Ralf*

///Member
Explain "lagging" start

My only experience was many years ago on my E39-530d, whereby after a short drive (10minutes or so) the subsequent start was not always possible....it used to crank and crank and crank, and then suddenly fire up momentarily, but woudn't sustain, and then back to cranking and cranking etc.

It would either carry on until the battery was flat, or eventually after many minutes have passed crank up and fire normally.

Google lead me to these here forums, and thats when I registered here, the advice given back then was
1)Crankshaft sensor (difficult to change due to accesibility)
2)Cam shaft sensor (very easy as it sits in front on top)

I decided to try the Cam Shaft sensor as a fault tracing process, and since then it has started first time every time.

so my past experience says Crankshaft/Cam Shaft sensor.....but your descripion of "lagging" start isn't descriptive enough to say exactly where the problem lies.
 
Thanks guys. I took the car to Technospec and the prob still remains. It's not a major issue as the car drives like normal, but the lagged start is starting to irritate me badly. Will take it back to the mechanic with these suggestions and see what he says..


Ralf@Speedway Motorsport said:
Explain "lagging" start

My only experience was many years ago on my E39-530d, whereby after a short drive (10minutes or so) the subsequent start was not always possible....it used to crank and crank and crank, and then suddenly fire up momentarily, but woudn't sustain, and then back to cranking and cranking etc.

It would either carry on until the battery was flat, or eventually after many minutes have passed crank up and fire normally.

Google lead me to these here forums, and thats when I registered here, the advice given back then was
1)Crankshaft sensor (difficult to change due to accesibility)
2)Cam shaft sensor (very easy as it sits in front on top)

I decided to try the Cam Shaft sensor as a fault tracing process, and since then it has started first time every time.

so my past experience says Crankshaft/Cam Shaft sensor.....but your descripion of "lagging" start isn't descriptive enough to say exactly where the problem lies.

By lagging I mean that when I press the ignition button it will take about 3 seconds to actually start,not like a normal start. In the mornings it starts first time, as soon as I get to work and start the car again it does this. The mechanic explained it to me as "hard starting" .
I'm new to BMW so I have no clue where to start or diagnose the prob.
 

ASH M

Active member
Ebi m sport said:
Thanks guys. I took the car to Technospec and the prob still remains. It's not a major issue as the car drives like normal, but the lagged start is starting to irritate me badly. Will take it back to the mechanic with these suggestions and see what he says..


Ralf@Speedway Motorsport said:
Explain "lagging" start

My only experience was many years ago on my E39-530d, whereby after a short drive (10minutes or so) the subsequent start was not always possible....it used to crank and crank and crank, and then suddenly fire up momentarily, but woudn't sustain, and then back to cranking and cranking etc.

It would either carry on until the battery was flat, or eventually after many minutes have passed crank up and fire normally.

Google lead me to these here forums, and thats when I registered here, the advice given back then was
1)Crankshaft sensor (difficult to change due to accesibility)
2)Cam shaft sensor (very easy as it sits in front on top)

I decided to try the Cam Shaft sensor as a fault tracing process, and since then it has started first time every time.

so my past experience says Crankshaft/Cam Shaft sensor.....but your descripion of "lagging" start isn't descriptive enough to say exactly where the problem lies.

By lagging I mean that when I press the ignition button it will take about 3 seconds to actually start,not like a normal start. In the mornings it starts first time, as soon as I get to work and start the car again it does this. The mechanic explained it to me as "hard starting" .
I'm new to BMW so I have no clue where to start or diagnose the prob.



My car also drove normal, but just battled to start when hot and parked off for a while.

No one could help me including BMW. Btw you won't get a engine management light on the dash.


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ASH M

Active member
Ebi m sport said:
Not even BMW?? that's strange. What was their reason?

Well they say they needed more time since the diagnostics isn't picking up anything.

They wanted R2k to book the car in for the day to do fault finding and said that it could be more if they need to remove parts.
 

OppositeLockMT

Active member
For interest's sake, do you usually have to hold the start button to fire up the engine or does it fire up when you press it once?
 

ASH M

Active member
OppositeLockMT said:
For interest's sake, do you usually have to hold the start button to fire up the engine or does it fire up when you press it once?

Just one press and it will start itself. No need to hold the button in.
 
OppositeLockMT said:
For interest's sake, do you usually have to hold the start button to fire up the engine or does it fire up when you press it once?

With mine I have to keep it in for like 3 seconds.. Hence my issues.
 

Deren

Member
Hi

Recently I have been experiencing the same problem. The car is booked in at BMW and they suspect it is a faulty injector and going to replace it will see if it makes a difference. my thoughts is if it is a faulty injector the problem will be persistent and not only when the vehicle is hot and try to start
 
Deren said:
Hi

Recently I have been experiencing the same problem. The car is booked in at BMW and they suspect it is a faulty injector and going to replace it will see if it makes a difference. my thoughts is if it is a faulty injector the problem will be persistent and not only when the vehicle is hot and try to start

PleAse let me know the outcome
 

ASH M

Active member
Deren said:
Hi

Recently I have been experiencing the same problem. The car is booked in at BMW and they suspect it is a faulty injector and going to replace it will see if it makes a difference. my thoughts is if it is a faulty injector the problem will be persistent and not only when the vehicle is hot and try to start

Yes I also thought injectors, bad coils or the vanos. BMW said the same.

But these faults as you say, will be persistent . So when I told that to the dealer it just confused then even more lol.

Btw push a screw driver into the test port on the fuel rail and check if you got fuel there before attempting to start when got. Remember to use a rag under the rail as you don't want fuel dropping onto a hot engine.

But guys start at checking you engine coolant temperature on the hidden menu in the dash.

Hope your'll come right.


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Deren

Member
So go the car back yesterday drove from the dealership to work about 5kms drove abit hard to get the engine temp up. stopped at work let the car sit for about 15 mins tried to start again and it fired up normal switched of and started about 5 times and fired up perfect every time I will continue to monitor it as I will be driving to DBN tomorrow so will test again at Bergview and provide feedback. the dealer said there was a leaking injector that they replaced.
 
Deren said:
So go the car back yesterday drove from the dealership to work about 5kms drove abit hard to get the engine temp up. stopped at work let the car sit for about 15 mins tried to start again and it fired up normal switched of and started about 5 times and fired up perfect every time I will continue to monitor it as I will be driving to DBN tomorrow so will test again at Bergview and provide feedback. the dealer said there was a leaking injector that they replaced.

What did this cost you bru?
 

unikbarna

Member
I am having a similar issue as Ebi with my '06 E90 320i. My start-up lag happens in the mornings mostly. The car delays to start up in cold mornings but starting in the afternoon it fires up instantly.

What could be the problem?

:fencelook:
 

Deren

Member
Ebi m sport said:
Deren said:
So go the car back yesterday drove from the dealership to work about 5kms drove abit hard to get the engine temp up. stopped at work let the car sit for about 15 mins tried to start again and it fired up normal switched of and started about 5 times and fired up perfect every time I will continue to monitor it as I will be driving to DBN tomorrow so will test again at Bergview and provide feedback. the dealer said there was a leaking injector that they replaced.

What did this cost you bru?

Just a Update on this ever since the Injector was replaced I did not experience this problem again:thumbs:

sorry bru car is on MP so not sure about the cost
 
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