E46 b3 cold start issue
E46 b3 cold start issue
Hi i have a cold starting fault , when I start my B3 on a 2002 plate with 55000 miles from cold it splutters and misfires until the automatic choke goes off and then the car is fine all day.
My local BMW dealership has no clue whatsoever as to why or how to repair this fault .
Has anyone had a similar fault and knows a fix
My local BMW dealership has no clue whatsoever as to why or how to repair this fault .
Has anyone had a similar fault and knows a fix
First up - is this a 3.3 or 3.4 engine? And what variant is it - saloon, coupe, convertible or Touring? And finally, what is the build number (located on the plaque in the cabin)?
From cold, the engine sounds rough for about 30-45 seconds before settling down. During this stage, the secondary air pump (located to the left of the engine block) should be running and forcing additional air through the system to help reduce exhaust emissions. Is your pump working as it should?
If you are able to do so, a video/sound file of the issue would be helpful.
From cold, the engine sounds rough for about 30-45 seconds before settling down. During this stage, the secondary air pump (located to the left of the engine block) should be running and forcing additional air through the system to help reduce exhaust emissions. Is your pump working as it should?
If you are able to do so, a video/sound file of the issue would be helpful.
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Hi Mal,
Just in case I hadn't explained properly, here's a picture of an E46 3.3 engine bay showing the location of the secondary air pump:
On cold start, this pump should run for about 45 seconds or so and you will clearly hear (and feel if you put your hand on the top) it running. The engine will sound loud and rough during this phase with revs about 1250 rpm. After about 30 seconds, the revs will start to drop to about 1000 rpm but the pump will still be running. Once the pump cuts out, the engine revs will drop to normal idle and the engine should be running smoothly.
Once we have had a chance to see/hear your video then we should be able to either reassure you or begin to diagnose another issue (hopefully the former).
Just in case I hadn't explained properly, here's a picture of an E46 3.3 engine bay showing the location of the secondary air pump:
On cold start, this pump should run for about 45 seconds or so and you will clearly hear (and feel if you put your hand on the top) it running. The engine will sound loud and rough during this phase with revs about 1250 rpm. After about 30 seconds, the revs will start to drop to about 1000 rpm but the pump will still be running. Once the pump cuts out, the engine revs will drop to normal idle and the engine should be running smoothly.
Once we have had a chance to see/hear your video then we should be able to either reassure you or begin to diagnose another issue (hopefully the former).
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
I thought this was unique to the E46 B3S
I love waiting for mine to go through this sequence and stop rumbling!
I love waiting for mine to go through this sequence and stop rumbling!
E46 B3S Saloon
E46 330Ci
Golf VR6 loved for 7 years and then went bang at 7K rpm, sadly missed
So many other cars, faves below
Ford Orion 1.6i Ghia
Triumph dolomite 1850 (With Sprint wheels of course!)
Fiat 131 Supermiafiori
Mercedes 250CE Pillar less coupe (my first car!!)
E46 330Ci
Golf VR6 loved for 7 years and then went bang at 7K rpm, sadly missed
So many other cars, faves below
Ford Orion 1.6i Ghia
Triumph dolomite 1850 (With Sprint wheels of course!)
Fiat 131 Supermiafiori
Mercedes 250CE Pillar less coupe (my first car!!)
please get a diagnostic test run before anything else and post the fault codes up here
generic obd readers can be cheaply bought or if youre anywhere near south bucks i can plug my inpa (official bmw diagnostic suite) into it
from what you describe it could range from nothing to a million things
generic obd readers can be cheaply bought or if youre anywhere near south bucks i can plug my inpa (official bmw diagnostic suite) into it
from what you describe it could range from nothing to a million things
Porsche 997.1 GT3 CS I Alpina E46 B3s Coupe I Alpina E46 B3 3.3 Touring I Ducati 749S Mono I Ducati 748R I Ducati 749 Track Bike I Ducati 916S
Hi had taken B3 to my local BMW dealership in Norwich for a diagnosing and trouble shooting and the only fault found was an inlet cam sensor which they replaced .all faults cleared .
But has made no difference to the cold start bad running .Bmw acknowledge there is a cold start issue but do not know has to resolve as there is no fault code.
Mal
But has made no difference to the cold start bad running .Bmw acknowledge there is a cold start issue but do not know has to resolve as there is no fault code.
Mal
Think I will take it to another BMW dealership in Norfolk at a later date .when all this BMW recall dies down and they are less busy and able to sort my B3 starting fault .
Started this morning put my hand on the secondary pump couldn't feel it was running .Thought BM would have check that .
Cannot find a way to download video either from my phone or tablet to the website to show my car starting .
mal
Started this morning put my hand on the secondary pump couldn't feel it was running .Thought BM would have check that .
Cannot find a way to download video either from my phone or tablet to the website to show my car starting .
mal
don't you have a reputable indie near you?
if the secondary air pump was failing/failed i would have though the check engine light would have popped up on the dash? if not, then i would have expected more fault codes other than inlet cam sensor if there was a genuine fuelling issue
if the secondary air pump was failing/failed i would have though the check engine light would have popped up on the dash? if not, then i would have expected more fault codes other than inlet cam sensor if there was a genuine fuelling issue
Porsche 997.1 GT3 CS I Alpina E46 B3s Coupe I Alpina E46 B3 3.3 Touring I Ducati 749S Mono I Ducati 748R I Ducati 749 Track Bike I Ducati 916S
yes mine can be like this sometimes. Its also getting worse over time.
I've not tried it on my car but unplug the air pump and start her from cold see if it makes any difference. its a load of emissions bollocks anyhow as all it does is pump air into the exhaust to lessen the emissions!
E34 m5s are saddled with a similar load of air pump shite and E36 alpinas also have it
I've not tried it on my car but unplug the air pump and start her from cold see if it makes any difference. its a load of emissions bollocks anyhow as all it does is pump air into the exhaust to lessen the emissions!
E34 m5s are saddled with a similar load of air pump shite and E36 alpinas also have it