Rough cold start

[VinnieAces]

This morning waa pretty chilly outside, about 6 degrees celsius, when i started the engine the rpms shot to about 1200 like normal but then dropped all the way to zero causing the engine to stall!!! Instantly restarted the motor and everything was perfect. Has this ever happened to any of you? Should i be concerned? It is a brand new motor too that i just got warrentied about 3 weeks ago!!!

[Caddyshk]

What fuel are you using? In addition how long was the car parked?

[thekurgan]

When my engine was new, in both the Z4 and the E46, this would happen, but stopped after it broke in some. S54 can be grumpy in the cold at first start.

[costa316]

Holy sh*t!! This has happened to me 3 times already this week, and I just picked up the car a week yesterday

Whats causing this? Is this the dreaded Vanos problem??!!

I am putting premium gas (91) from Petro CDA

[gcochard]

Move south.

[VinnieAces]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

What fuel are you using? In addition how long was the car parked?

Ultra 94 octane, car was parked for probably about 12-13 hours, not in gear while parked fwiw

Help!

[costa316]

I just called the dealership (Maranello) and they said it could be the fuel regulator...My car usually sits overnight and then during the day from 8-5. It only happens during these times. So they told me to start the car (1pm), and it started with no problem. So they told me to keep an eye on it during the weekend and if it persists then to bring it in on Monday.

[Caddyshk]

Originally Posted by VinnieAces

Ultra 94 octane, car was parked for probably about 12-13 hours, not in gear while parked fwiw

Help!

Ethanol - Go with another fuel... In addition turn the key to position 2 and delay for a few moments before cranking.

[VinnieAces]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

Ethanol - Go with another fuel... In addition turn the key to position 2 and delay for a few moments before cranking.

Would you say the Ethanol is the direct problem? I'll gladly switch over to Shell if this is the case

[VinnieAces]

Originally Posted by costa316

I just called the dealership (Maranello) and they said it could be the fuel regulator...My car usually sits overnight and then during the day from 8-5. It only happens during these times. So they told me to start the car (1pm), and it started with no problem. So they told me to keep an eye on it during the weekend and if it persists then to bring it in on Monday.

Keep us posted! If you visit the dealer and it is the fuel regulator ill definitely be calling in as well

[RevsPlease]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

Ethanol - Go with another fuel... In addition turn the key to position 2 and delay for a few moments before cranking.

Bingo. Try thinking of it like a diesel. You gotta let it glow before ignition.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

Ethanol - Go with another fuel... In addition turn the key to position 2 and delay for a few moments before cranking.

I've never had to do this, but I hear this a lot, maybe I'll see what happens...

[Caddyshk]

Originally Posted by VinnieAces

Would you say the Ethanol is the direct problem? I'll gladly switch over to Shell if this is the case

Just something I've noticed when using 94 Sunoco/Petro Canada. The delay in cranking is to pressurize the fuel pump/system - read that somewhere but it seems to work...

[ZStig]

my old 3.0 and the M now, both are a little grumpy with cold weather starts, but settle down after about 30 seconds, but never stalled

[danlauz]

This is my 2nd z4m and both are-did make it on cold days start. My first z4m 2 year ago, car was at the dealer 3 weeks and they never found the problem...

Now, my 2007 z4m has check engine light pop up for the 3rd time. On the 2nd time, they changed all 4 O2 sensors and it did ok for 1 month... Last week, after a fuel stop at shell, run it on highway and 90 min later, the check engine light came for the 3rd time...

Anybody had this problem ?

[Mirko]

I am getting this too. Morning starting the car it is too cold for it I guess. Have to give it a little gas once and then it stabilizes. This must be a BMW thing, my 330ci hated the cold as well.

Could it be our batteries? Car is 3yrs old now and it hasn't been changed.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by danlauz

This is my 2nd z4m and both are-did make it on cold days start. My first z4m 2 year ago, car was at the dealer 3 weeks and they never found the problem...

Now, my 2007 z4m has check engine light pop up for the 3rd time. On the 2nd time, they changed all 4 O2 sensors and it did ok for 1 month... Last week, after a fuel stop at shell, run it on highway and 90 min later, the check engine light came for the 3rd time...

Anybody had this problem ?

What, if any, codes have you pulled? Sorry, possible thread jack

[04z4]

Does not sound like a battery problem to me. As long as the battery has enough power to crank and start the engine, it should be fine.

[Kgolf31]

I've had this problem is cold weather as well. It's never stalled, but i'd drop in RPMs drastically and then recover.

It would only bounce once and maintain idle then, just a weird thing I think

[VinnieAces]

lots of reassurance from you guys makes me feel a little better, the stall only happened once, usually just a big rev drop once and then it'll bounce back up and stabilize like mentioned. Hoping the stall was fluke!

[VinnieAces]

Originally Posted by costa316

I just called the dealership (Maranello) and they said it could be the fuel regulator...My car usually sits overnight and then during the day from 8-5. It only happens during these times. So they told me to start the car (1pm), and it started with no problem. So they told me to keep an eye on it during the weekend and if it persists then to bring it in on Monday.

updates?

also anyone know if fuel regulators are expensive? hard to install? jus incase it IS the problem and isnt covered under warrenty

[BTM]

if it's what BMW calls the "idle regulating valve" MSRP is $335.12

#1

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...10&hg=13&fg=15