ZPOST
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   ZPOST > BMW Z4 Technical Talk > Engine, Exhaust, Drivetrain Modifications
  TireRack

SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS!
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      09-28-2016, 06:37 PM   #1
JayL
Enlisted Member
8
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: Z4MC, X3
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Engine cutting out on the track

Took my 07 Z4M to the track today. In the middle of the second session the engine would completely shut off while under load. There weren't any dash lights on after this happened. I had to stop and restart the car and it appeared to be fine until it happened again.

Each time it happened in a turn following a hard braking zone. The car is stock with the exception of M track mode being coded in. This was in use when this happened. Outside of that, oil temp at 225, outside temp around 90 and just over 1/2 tank of gas.

Any thoughts?
Appreciate 0
      09-28-2016, 06:44 PM   #2
longress
Second Lieutenant
longress's Avatar
United_States
105
Rep
233
Posts

Drives: 2007 Z4M Coupe
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Wyoming

iTrader: (2)

I'm having the exact same issue at the track under your same conditions. I do not think I could duplicate my problem on the street because of the constant load the engine is under while at the track. I suspect my issue may be a fuel delivery problem because as soon as I put fuel in the car and bring the tank above a half tank the problem goes away.

Last edited by longress; 09-28-2016 at 07:10 PM..
Appreciate 0
      09-28-2016, 06:53 PM   #3
angelr
Lieutenant
188
Rep
515
Posts

Drives: 07 aw/ir m coupe, 2013 S4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Cedarpines park, Ca

iTrader: (1)

Nothing to suggest. Any codes stored at all?
Appreciate 0
      09-28-2016, 06:59 PM   #4
JayL
Enlisted Member
8
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: Z4MC, X3
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

No codes, filling it up now and will try another session.
Appreciate 0
      09-28-2016, 07:23 PM   #5
JayL
Enlisted Member
8
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: Z4MC, X3
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Full tank of gas, same issue.

Both m track mode on and off had the same issue. Another BMW guy noticed the battery wasn't an oem battery, does that matter in these cars? Wouldn't that be an issue at other times as well?
Appreciate 0
      09-28-2016, 07:44 PM   #6
longress
Second Lieutenant
longress's Avatar
United_States
105
Rep
233
Posts

Drives: 2007 Z4M Coupe
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Wyoming

iTrader: (2)

My engine only completely died once but it would cut out and fall on its face on the throttle coming out of a corner after a long straight then just continue to do so more frequently with each lap. I mean like 4-5 seconds to recover before I had any throttle.

Does your car act like you just turned the ignition off or does it cut out?
Appreciate 0
      09-28-2016, 07:55 PM   #7
JayL
Enlisted Member
8
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: Z4MC, X3
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

It acts like I completely turned the ignition off.
Appreciate 0
      09-28-2016, 10:02 PM   #8
longress
Second Lieutenant
longress's Avatar
United_States
105
Rep
233
Posts

Drives: 2007 Z4M Coupe
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Wyoming

iTrader: (2)

If it was the battery you'd think it wouldn't crank to start. But then again some of these fail pretty weird but easy enough to test.
I ordered a pump and filter. I had ran the car darn near out of fuel on two occasions so I may have damaged my pump.
Appreciate 0
      09-28-2016, 10:44 PM   #9
i2ichal2dZ4M
Lieutenant
61
Rep
516
Posts

Drives: 2007 BSM Z4MC
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, California

iTrader: (1)

Happened to me one day driving home on day under load. My alternator was showing symptoms of failing prior and I was waiting for the replacement unit. I'm at 91k.
__________________
2007 BSM Z4M Coupe - 18" VOLK TE37 - 18" Apex ARC-8 - GC Track/Street
Appreciate 0
      09-28-2016, 11:49 PM   #10
losingmylycosa
Second Lieutenant
losingmylycosa's Avatar
United_States
7
Rep
258
Posts

Drives: 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Denver

iTrader: (1)

Aggressive DSC
__________________

______________
Steve Clark
2007 Z4MC
Appreciate 0
      09-29-2016, 02:02 AM   #11
Finnegan
Dog Listener
Finnegan's Avatar
United_States
701
Rep
7,850
Posts

Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Teaching the dog to slalom

iTrader: (22)

Crazy thought? Short of some kind induced by heavy Gs in braking?
Appreciate 0
      09-29-2016, 08:16 PM   #12
JayL
Enlisted Member
8
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: Z4MC, X3
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Just a quick update, it appears that one of the o2 sensor wires touched the header and melted the insulation on the wires. Looks like it was only moving enough to cause issues under cornering. Unfortunately I won't know for certain until I get it back out on the track.

I would have expected this sort of thing to light up the dash as the car freaked out rather than cutting the engine. Not even sure how this would happen, but I suspect when the sensors were swapped out a zip tie was used to hold it away from the header.
Appreciate 1
inTgr8r2421.50
      09-29-2016, 08:25 PM   #13
dc_wright
Captain
dc_wright's Avatar
249
Rep
758
Posts

Drives: 2006 Z43.0si Roadster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Orlando, FL

iTrader: (0)

Definitely a big surprise it didn't throw a CEL!
__________________
Top Down 365
Appreciate 0
      09-29-2016, 08:49 PM   #14
Finnegan
Dog Listener
Finnegan's Avatar
United_States
701
Rep
7,850
Posts

Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Teaching the dog to slalom

iTrader: (22)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JayL
Just a quick update, it appears that one of the o2 sensor wires touched the header and melted the insulation on the wires. Looks like it was only moving enough to cause issues under cornering. Unfortunately I won't know for certain until I get it back out on the track.

I would have expected this sort of thing to light up the dash as the car freaked out rather than cutting the engine. Not even sure how this would happen, but I suspect when the sensors were swapped out a zip tie was used to hold it away from the header.
What do I win with my wild *** guess?
Appreciate 0
      09-30-2016, 08:03 AM   #15
inTgr8r
Lieutenant General
inTgr8r's Avatar
Canada
2422
Rep
11,665
Posts

Drives: M2 Comp
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (10)

^

.....out to check my O2 wires
__________________
'21 M2C Hockenheim Silver
'18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold)
'13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold)
'07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
Appreciate 0
      09-30-2016, 08:38 PM   #16
JayL
Enlisted Member
8
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: Z4MC, X3
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

I can't help but wonder if this was something which was already wrong with the car prior to the track day but wasn't the cause of the issue. I played around with the o2 sensor wire and there doesn't appear to be enough slack to allow it to even hit the header. There's enough play in the wire for it to appear like it would move but when actually trying to move the wire it wouldn't quite get there. I'm thinking it was a problem for the previous owner of the car and upon moving it away from the header the car ran fine (I drove it home from the track last night without issue prior to finding out the wire had a problem).
Appreciate 0
      10-03-2016, 07:23 AM   #17
gmd2003
Colonel
gmd2003's Avatar
352
Rep
2,176
Posts

Drives: 2014 CP M6 and 2006 VT 525 Z4M
Join Date: May 2012
Location: South Carolina

iTrader: (2)

It is a fueling issue, I had the exact same problem on my supercharged track car due to inadequate injector size( no CEL or stored code ) . While your injectors are likely not the culprit there is an issue somewhere in the system . Common things being common and the mileage on your car I would replace your fuel filter and check your fuel pressures . If you have a damaged primary 02 sensor there will be a code stored and it wouldn't be intermittent .
My two cents
G
Appreciate 0
      10-10-2016, 10:45 AM   #18
longress
Second Lieutenant
longress's Avatar
United_States
105
Rep
233
Posts

Drives: 2007 Z4M Coupe
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Wyoming

iTrader: (2)

This weekend I went to put in my new filter and pump that I had ordered to address a fuel starvation issue at the track and quickly found the culprit - the pump had come out of the bracket that it clips into at the bottom of the tank and managed to fall over inside the tank. I had noticed that my fuel gauge seemed to drop at a weird rate and now it all makes sense.

I replaced these parts even though they were probably still good. I figured I was in there I might as well.

This is the picture looking inside the tank opening, note that the pump should be at a 90 degree angle (straight up).
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 6
angelr187.50
inTgr8r2421.50
StickMon635.00
SaltyNC367.50
3002 tii2272.00
Hedward59.50
      10-10-2016, 11:11 AM   #19
angelr
Lieutenant
188
Rep
515
Posts

Drives: 07 aw/ir m coupe, 2013 S4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Cedarpines park, Ca

iTrader: (1)

Glad you sorted it.
Appreciate 1
longress104.50
      10-10-2016, 11:43 AM   #20
inTgr8r
Lieutenant General
inTgr8r's Avatar
Canada
2422
Rep
11,665
Posts

Drives: M2 Comp
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (10)

Quote:
Originally Posted by longress View Post
This weekend I went to put in my new filter and pump that I had ordered to address a fuel starvation issue at the track and quickly found the culprit - the pump had come out of the bracket that it clips into at the bottom of the tank and managed to fall over inside the tank. I had noticed that my fuel gauge seemed to drop at a weird rate and now it all makes sense.

I replaced these parts even though they were probably still good. I figured I was in there I might as well.

This is the picture looking inside the tank opening, note that the pump should be at a 90 degree angle (straight up).
I haven't seen this issue before.
Great info!
__________________
'21 M2C Hockenheim Silver
'18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold)
'13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold)
'07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
Appreciate 1
longress104.50
      10-10-2016, 03:29 PM   #21
longress
Second Lieutenant
longress's Avatar
United_States
105
Rep
233
Posts

Drives: 2007 Z4M Coupe
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Wyoming

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by angelr View Post
Glad you sorted it.
Thank you!
It was a wild ass guess without any diagnosis when I ordered a pump and filter. I would of had to of ran around with a fuel pressure gauge hooked up when the problem was occurring to see it but I figured it had to be fuel.


Quote:
Originally Posted by inTgr8r View Post
I haven't seen this issue before.
Great info!
Yeah I searched for pump issues thinking I would find someone that had a bad pump but I never found anything let alone something like I found and it wasn't encouraging when I went to order a pump and the BMW store had to get one from the warehouse because none of the stores in the area had one! That tells me they don't stock them becaue they don't install them often.

I've been racking my brain to figure out how this happens and I think it comes down to a few possibilities -

1. Missed incorrect install from the factory
2. Pump was knocked out of the bracket when the previous owner was hit in the rear.
3. Some how it came loose from banging the curbs on the race track which is probably unlikely since people on the forum track their cars all the time
Appreciate 0
      09-03-2017, 07:44 PM   #22
JayL
Enlisted Member
8
Rep
37
Posts

Drives: Z4MC, X3
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

I'm bringing this one back from the dead because it happened again. Spent last Wednesday at COTA and while on my first hot lap the car died again. I ended up doing a few additional laps because there wasn't really anyone around me at the time and it always happened happened on right turns. Specifically turn 13, followed by 16, 17 and 18 if you are familiar with COTA.

The good news is I was finally able to get the car to do the same thing on the street while entering an on ramp so I hope to replicate this again tomorrow morning while recording some video. Maybe it will show something I'm missing which will help to diagnose this. I'm hesitant to throw parts at this or take it to a shop because of not knowing even where to start. Any ideas?
__________________

Last edited by JayL; 09-03-2017 at 07:59 PM..
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:03 AM.




zpost
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST