E46 323i Problem :( Help!

[98r-1144]

I took over payments for my father for an E46 323i. It was bought used (from a Toyota dealership ), but my dad had purchased the extended warranty.
Here is the problem. It seems to happen randomly, mostly when the car has been driven on/off for awhile when it's very hot outside (the engine stays in between Cold and Hot).
The car will either:
1) Not turn over when cranking

2) The engine turns over, but if not revved past 2000, it will die (this sucks because in order to drive the car, I have to keep it above 2000rpm at stops or else it will die)

3) The engine turns over, idles fine, but performance REALLY SUCKS. Partial throttle or Full throttle in any gear (1-5) results in the car BARELY accelerating (the tach moves up VERY slowly).

When either of these 3 things happen, the Service Engine Light turns on. It stays on for a few days, then disappears. Then when the problems repeat, it comes back on again.

I have taken in to Toyota's Used Car Service department. They said they scanned the codes and nothing showed up. They said that the Service Engine Light doesn't mean something is wrong w/the car (even though I insisted it only comes on when any of those 3 problems happen)... and that it only comes on when it's time for an oil change or maintenance work. Then they said that they drove it around all day and couldn't duplicate any of my problems. So they made me pick up the car. Low and behold, the minute I get home from picking up the car, I turn off the engine, wait a few seconds, then try to start it again. It happens again.

What can I do???

[Salvator]

Take it to a BMW dealer... Depending upon miles and when exactly it was originally purchased (in service date), it should have at least 3yrs, 36K mile factory warranty... obviously, these Toyota people have no clue, and that extended warranty (who is providing it, Toyota? If not, call them up and see where else it is accepted...) isn't of much value until you can find someone who knows something about BMWs... sounds like an ignition issue, and I beleive someone else said they had a similar problem and it was the fuel pump... Good luck!

[Halm]

I agree with Salvator. It sounds like something in the FI system is not holding pressure and thus you have gas vaporization when hot. Very common problem in P-Car world.

[jens_uk]

Originally posted by 98r-1144

2) The engine turns over, but if not revved past 2000, it will die (this sucks because in order to drive the car, I have to keep it above 2000rpm at stops or else it will die)

3) The engine turns over, idles fine, but performance REALLY SUCKS. Partial throttle or Full throttle in any gear (1-5) results in the car BARELY accelerating (the tach moves up VERY slowly).

I bought my 328 to replace a Mustang (we all make mistakes) that exhibited these two symptoms. Pro'lly won't help much, but when the Mustang did #2, it was the idle air control, and #3 was some engine control computer (located under the driver's seat!) that had an intermittent short. #3 was a pain to get fixed, as it wouldn't happen for the dealer, so I ended up stranded a time or two.

#2 causing a near miss of some cars (power steering gets heavy when the engine dies) inspired the frightened fiancee to approve "anything you want as long as the payments don't go up". Three days later, an Ultimate Driving Machine. Woo hoo!

[yogi799]

Originally posted by jens_uk

#2 causing a near miss of some cars (power steering gets heavy when the engine dies) inspired the frightened fiancee to approve "anything you want as long as the payments don't go up". Three days later, an Ultimate Driving Machine. Woo hoo!

HA HA! You are awesome! Your fiancee's too!

[jens_uk]

Originally posted by yogi799
HA HA! You are awesome! Your fiancee's too!

Yeah, she's a keeper. Amazingly, she hasn't put up much resistance to getting a p-car if I really want one. She's even on board with my idea of flying to LA, picking up a 911, and driving it back. I think she feels she owes me after I grudgingly accepted her wish for a dog.

And she'd prefer that her Neon became a Mini before I acquired a second car, but that seems reasonable enough.

Where in the midwest are you at?

[yogi799]

KS.

[NoLift911]

02 Sensor.....

-Jeff
nolift911@hotmail.com

[jbripps]

Fuel pump?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Have you run the codes ont he car to see if the computer has picked up any error messages?

[LKF]

My year 2000 323i has exact the same problem. See my post yesterday. So did you finally figure out what was the problem?