1986 BMW 325e won't start

C_Lee · 03-06-2013, 10:54 AM

1986 BMW325e won't start. 6-cylinder, automatic, a/c has aprox. 175,000 miles. Just replaced battery, drove it a couple of days fine, then one day while driving a couple of miles from home, engine lost power sputtered and quit. Has a full tank of gas, starter cranks, but engine will not start. Checked fuel to injectors, good, and has spark to only the #1 cylinder and not the rest 2-6. Changed rotor also. Any ideas?

Manolito · 06:24 AM

Spark only to one of the cylinders. When you changed the rotor, did it happen to be pointed at the #1 cylinder? Bump the starter and see if the rotor is in the same spot. If the rotor is not turning, you have significant problems. Well, there is one cheap possibility - I worked on a V-6 once on which the roll key that held the sprocket on the distributor shaft had fallen out. Took a while to figure that one out.

C_Lee · 03-07-2013, 10:51 AM

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

C_Lee · 04:48 PM

Pulled off the distributor cap and had my son bump the starter to watch the rotor and it's not rotating. Looks like timing belt might have broke. Is this an easy fix?
Okay, I have gotten the valve cover off and can see the cam gear, but I don't see any belt on it. Does the belt cover the entire gear or just the front part of it? I have also removed the radiator all hoses to it and the fan shroud. I can 't get the fan off and that is where I am stuck. Anybody have any ideas how to get this off?

C_Lee · 03-07-2013, 05:52 PM

Okay, got the fan off. Made a wedge with a piece of 2x4 wood. Tapped it lightly between the two pullies and took a rubber mallet and hit the end of the wrench sharply and it loosened. Got top cover off and low and behold one shredded timing belt.

Manolito · 10:01 PM

The timing belt is a relatively easy chore. Figure a whole Saturday afternoon the first time you do it.

The question now is whether this is an interference engine, meaning - Do the pistons come up high enough in the cylinder to collide with a fully open valve? I don't know this engine at all, but I'm guessing that the answer to that question is most likely yes. If so, you are going to need to pull the head because you have at least one bent or broken valve. Hence my earlier comment that you might have significant problems if the rotor was not turning.

If you pull the head, you may need to be very careful with the cams. If they are hollow like the cams on an e36, you have to remove them VERY carefully if you don't have the BMW tool. There are good instructions on the 101 projects section of this site.

C_Lee · 08:36 PM

I have pulled the water pump and all related items. Is there anyway to check for bent valves without pulling the head?

Manolito · 03-11-2013, 09:07 PM

All the ways I can think of risk further damage to pistons and valve seats. A good manual for your car should tell you.

This website suggests that this could be your lucky day, if it is accurate.
Timing Belts: Is Your Engine an Interference Engine?

Here is another link you may find useful if you were lucky.
Pelican Technical Article: BMW E30 Timing Belt Replacement

And here is the link if you were NOT lucky.
E30 BMW 325i Cylinder Head Rebuild, Fixing bent valves, Cracked head | Big Boom Blog

Manolito · 03-11-2013, 09:08 PM

All the ways I can think of risk further damage to pistons and valve seats. A good manual for your car should tell you.

This website suggests that this could be your lucky day, if it is accurate.
Timing Belts: Is Your Engine an Interference Engine?

Here is another link you may find useful if you were lucky.
Pelican Technical Article: BMW E30 Timing Belt Replacement

And here is the link if you were NOT lucky.
E30 BMW 325i Cylinder Head Rebuild, Fixing bent valves, Cracked head | Big Boom Blog

C_Lee · 03-16-2013, 07:47 PM

Looks like after closer inspection, the #6 exhaust valve seems to be stuck open, there is a lot of slop in the rocker arm. If my memory is correct there should be none because the spring is supposed to keep it closed until pushed down by the rocker arm. Looks like a valve job! Keeping my fingers crossed the have no damage to the piston or any others. This thing is becoming a cash cow!