Engine stops while driving +electrical failure!

[stratos]

Hi all Just joined BMW Z3 1.9 1998
Out driving 40 miles from home in town engine stopped -all instruement lights out. Stopped -key to off then back to on pos 2 -all warning lights on then slowly reset and extingwish tonormal but traction light and auto box shift warning still on Gear to Park and engine started -traction light stays on and does not respond to AST-T on /off switch operation Drive 300 yards engine stops again . repeat 6 times limping to friends home
and train home.
Z3 1.9 1998 Auto in otherwise excellent condition I've owned only 2 weeks.Previous owner had similar occurence but ECU reset as precaution and seemed okay after .

Returned to car next day. Started normally all warnings including traction !Light out.
Disconnected battery earth to reboot systems for 5 mins —started again normally and tractio and other warnings out drove 20 meters egine stopped as previously. Would not restart at all.
Known electrical faults
Alarm does not work Drivers door will not lock with key
Ignition switch, relays ?? Any ideas?

[harborman]

How old is the battery? Did you remove the POSITIVE connection and clean? What is the battery voltage? Was a load test done on the battery? Check other ground connections. Fuses?

[stratos]

Thanks harborman. Bttery check always good advice but after last failure in restricted parking town street miles from my home could do very little more especially load check --considered Zippo as altternate ignition source but had it recovered by local reputable garage instead!
Due their recent reopening and backlog of work thanks to the Chinese flu I'm still waiting but have access to a replacement ignition switch to help troubleshoot what is an intermittent fault.
Any thoughts and input are still wellcome I shall update as things unfold.
Thanks

[harborman]

Originally Posted by stratos

Thanks harborman. Bttery check always good advice but after last failure in restricted parking town street miles from my home could do very little more especially load check --considered Zippo as altternate ignition source but had it recovered by local reputable garage instead!
Due their recent reopening and backlog of work thanks to the Chinese flu I'm still waiting but have access to a replacement ignition switch to help troubleshoot what is an intermittent fault.
Any thoughts and input are still wellcome I shall update as things unfold.
Thanks

Well good luck. I always say, check the little things first.