Engine management problems please help

Hello all,

New to BMW's and to this forum. I figured that this section of the forum would be the best place to ask this question.

Background:
My company has a 1999 323I that we have will be using to test tires on.

We bought the car a drove it home and had no problems, after a few months the battery died and tried to jump it, (end result new battery) it was at that time we were taking it to get a roll cage put in.

Problem:
The engine will not rev past 2500 rpm, When held to the floor the rpm's go to 2500 then fall top 1700 then back up to 2500 and so on.

Checked:
fuel pressure:50 psi
fuses:under glove box and 6 next to ECM in engine compartment
Dealer changed the mass air sensor, and throttle body no difference and is dumb founded.
Check engine light, EML light, and traction control light.

We had a local shop test the computer and the print out is ass follows:
169:throttle valve system, switched off
100: ECU self test
45: steering wheel interface monit (monit is spell that way on the readout )
145: can: engine intervention

What kind of dealer throws a MAF and throttle body sensor at it without being sure. Take it to a good dealer or a really good independant and have them guarentee the fix.

jared_wiesner,

Yes I know, the problem I found is that they plug into the cars computer and it gives a readout and they just start replacing things... called all other dealers and they say the same thing. The other part of it is because the car has a roll cage most dealers don't want to touch it.

Originally Posted by Dankcorp

jared_wiesner,

Yes I know, the problem I found is that they plug into the cars computer and it gives a readout and they just start replacing things... called all other dealers and they say the same thing. The other part of it is because the car has a roll cage most dealers don't want to touch it.

Some of them do this, the good ones don't. We sure don't pull this crap at our dealer.

I'm not trying to push you off. I just think that something like this should be handled by a qualified shop. I wouldn't even tackle this at home myself unless I had more background on the situation that gave me more of an idea where to start. I do all my own work except when it would come to something like this. The expertise of a really good technician will save you time and money in a scenario like this over any other option.

Really if someone in your area can chime in with a good recommended shop with experienced techs, that's where I would start. It's next to impossible to diagnose simply from the codes you gave. Could need a new computer, could be a bad sensor or wire. The system is in limp mode right now, which was triggered by whatever has gone wrong, thats all we know.

Originally Posted by Dankcorp

jared_wiesner,

Yes I know, the problem I found is that they plug into the cars computer and it gives a readout and they just start replacing things... called all other dealers and they say the same thing. The other part of it is because the car has a roll cage most dealers don't want to touch it.

i would recommend contacting AR Design. They're the only BMW indy shop in Colorado that i would trust to touch my car. they're big in the e90/e92 world, but they know their shit. give them a call:

303-351-3515

You didn't forget to unplug the battery or something when you were welding in the cage did you?
Could have fried the DME (computer)

SH4DY,

We had a local shop do the cage. The shop says they put a surge protector on the computer. My understanding is there is a Engine control computer and a transmission control computer under the hood and a "general control module under the glove box"

I have pulled the relay for the ECM and as expected the car will not start.

Is there any way to test if these have gone bad?

Hi all,

I took an ultra gauge to the BMW and the fuel Trim is nothing but 0.000 on all long and short banks. O2 sensors are responding.

used the same method on our Chevy Malibu and the trim bank operates as expected.

Could this be the proof that the computer has gone bad?