Multiple issues on 540i

[gre]

Hi Guys,

Wonder if you would be able to help...

I have recently purchased a 2001 E39 540i Auto and it has a couple issues.

Firstly, the car just switches off on idle...no errors or messages just dies off. I am able to start it again after a few attempts.

Secondly, there is a jerk when the car slows to a stop(assuming this gearbox issue)

Do you guys know of any reputable and reasonable mechanic/autoshop i can take the vehicle to as ZF transmissions wanted to charge me R7000 to replace a gbox cooler:thumbdo:

Please help:bangdesk:

 

[Adi]

hi u jhb based?

 

[Solo Man]

Regarding the gearbox issue, there are numerous posts about the problem although i cannot remember what the solution was, but check the posts on the 540 E39 and you will find it.

 

[Sankekur]

WRT the stalling the crank or cam position sensors might be possible culprits.

 

[Nic_s]

WRT the stalling the crank or cam position sensors might be possible culprits.

Also maybe Fuel pump?

 

[Douglas]

If you are Jhb based try Tunetech

 

[Sankekur]

WRT the stalling the crank or cam position sensors might be possible culprits.

Also maybe Fuel pump?

Yup also a possibility.

Though I am thinking that the fuel pump might be more likely to give issues at higher RPM when the engine needs more fuel.

 

[AdiS]

WRT the stalling the crank or cam position sensors might be possible culprits.

Also maybe Fuel pump?

Yup also a possibility.

Though I am thinking that the fuel pump might be more likely to give issues at higher RPM when the engine needs more fuel.

A friend of mines dad used to have an e39 540i, and i remember him having trouble with the fuel pump - car was fine when driving, but it would stall intermittently at low revs or idle (obviously fuel pump hadnt quite given up).

 

[gre]

Thanks for the replies guys , I am based in JHB (Westrand) . Does any body know if Budler Motorsport would be a reputable place to take the car to. Ive had prev issues with taking my cars in and only to find out a few months later that some of my parts(that did not even need replacement) had been swapped with other parts. So i'm quite terrified of this happening to a BMW.

 

[Ralf*]

@ gre

I have had similar intermittend cutting off problems when stopped at a robot etc, and also starts fine almost every time again.

In my case the problem hasn't been resolved, but a "work-around" temprorary solution...

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=35502

My suspect was the either the MAF, or a vacumm leak, or the Idle solenoid valve, or the O2 sensors, in my case I unplugged the MAF, and as some of the other clever members here told me is that without a "valid" signal from the MAF to the ECU it goes into a default mapping mode, ie ignoring any or all signals from the above items.

In my case the car now performs perfectly well, never cuts out when idling, pulls well etc etc....only noticable thing is the fuel consumption has gone up slightly (and was to be expected....from average 19.5L/100km to 20,3L/100km in-town driving)....E38 7401 2000

 

[spawn616]

budler would be fine,i take my car there and was charged the same amount of cash that i was charged at bmw alberante only budler had replaced more

they were/still a bmw service station before they built 8sec m5 drag cars

 

[gre]

Thanks for the replies guys . In the past 24 hrs this is the most help Ive gotten on my car in the 6 months ive owned it :ty:

I will try the process of elimination route and drive it with the MAF disconnected and see if it makes any differences. (1st I need to google what it looks like - been driving Honda's all my life and admired the E39's on the road :fencelook: but now that I have one I don't have a clue on what is where )

You guys have been a Great Help - :ty: once gain.

 

[Ralf*]

Thanks for the replies guys . In the past 24 hrs this is the most help Ive gotten on my car in the 6 months ive owned it :ty:

I will try the process of elimination route and drive it with the MAF disconnected and see if it makes any differences. (1st I need to google what it looks like - been driving Honda's all my life and admired the E39's on the road :fencelook: but now that I have one I don't have a clue on what is where )

You guys have been a Great Help - :ty: once gain.

from the air filter box, follow the air intake pipe towards the engine, and the first component just after the air filter box is the MAF, and has a large "screw-on" type electrical connector on top...half turn disconnect

 

[AdiS]

Budler Motorsport is a great place to take your car, apparently.

 

[gre]

Thanks bud - I gonna try it and see what happens :thumbs:

 

[Ralf*]

Thanks bud - I gonna try it and see what happens :thumbs:

the way I understand from some of the cleverer guru's here, is that disconnecting the MAF causes the ECU to bypass almost all the functions of Idle solenoid, O2, MAF etc and goes into a basic mode, and it doesn't mean that the MAF is at fault, it could be one of the others as well.

 

[spawn616]

also a fellow honda driver:thumbs:

 

[BMWV8lover]

I had same problem on a 1994 E34 540i - Problem was the air flow meter.