Engine Running Rough and Growling

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Hello all please advice and thank you in advance.
Picked up a 1988 735iL two weeks ago. Runs good title cleared and drove to work 100Miles both ways. Noticed when first started the car it sounded like a diesel engine did'nt bother me since its BMW with perfect body dropped 2K$ from a third party dealer still worth every penny.

Runs smoothly but today on the way home from the NJ turnpike doing about 75-80 mph when I slowed down the engine started to rumble and seems that I have lost torque still ran manage to get home but the rumbling of the engine was louder the car could hardly move and as the car left on idle rumble is present so shut down engine then finally parked on it.

From the goodness of your heart did anybody experienced the same I'm unsure where what to be fixed or look at. There was no oil leaks on the driveway. It could barely move. Its cold here in NJ in the single digit temps can't wait for the weather to break to start the troubleshooting process. couldit be the engine or trans? it felt from the back seat console felt the most rumble too.

Love BMW don't even know what the acronym stands for.
FYI have a 1988 325I Conv. for 2 years now runs like a champ.

Again thank you for your future assistance.

I had a similar problem with my 740iL V8 a few months back. I suddenly lost power and would barely run at all but I had the additional symptom that it started burning oil-lots of it.

I traced my problem to what BMW calls the "Non-return" valve on the back of the intake manifold. It was allowing oil to be sucked up from the crankcase into the intake manifold and thus ruining the air-fuel ratio required for strong running.

However, looking at my Bentley's manual it looks like BMW uses a more conventional PCV setup for the 735 engine. If you're burning oil like I was you might try to change out that PCV valve anyway.

Since it happened so suddenly probably one of the sensors failed or just came loose, as opposed to being a dirty fuel filter or something. Look around and make sure the all of the engine sensor wires are in place. Any broken vacuum hoses? Also, check to be sure that air can move from the air filter through the airflow sensor and into the intake manifold without leaking.

You can try to read your own fault codes which may give you a clue. The procedure, known as the "Stomp Test" is here: http://tridem.han-solo.net/auto/erich/auto.htm along with many, many other items.

First Thank you
Yes it happened so sudden. OK today able to start the car and put it in the garage slowly obviously " engine sounds like diesel with the rumbling growl pop the hood things look normal no oil spots check the dip stick ok just had an oil change this past weekend. I'll get a 735 manual $104.00 I'm sure a must have since now its a project and locate all the sensors.
Noticed that the Intake tube that goes in the trottle body is broken and I'll replace that anyways with cold air intake. Just waiting for shipment from bavauto.com. thanks again will let you know regardless what the outcome is.
PS I have a broken instrument panenl in the dash so no fault lights or mileage to be seen. People say to change the Circuit board $494 plus labor. So far this car is costing 2800$ but in the end it will be worth it.

There is a problem with M60 engines known as Nokosal problem. If your engine is an M60 chances are you may be experiancing this problem. Call BMW North America, give them your VIN, they will let you know if your car was one of those with Nokosal related issues. In Nikosal cases, the engine blocks need to be changed. Look under Nikosal on google, will get lots of info on it.

The car runs OK even if its running rough, at this time replaced the Air intake to a cold intake that helped. Ran to the BMW dealer to check the exhaust maybe its clogged they where closed hmm maybe that is a sign so brought it to MIDAS for an exhaust checkup. Most likely the oxygen sensor is bad that causes everything to go knots. I got a bentley manual now.

Lots of things to fix in this car due to a bad Oxygen sensor maybe. Anyway Liberty my GURU rough idle that sounds like a diesel. Your thoughts.

Dealer was 12 miles away. Drove the car there still going 65 - 70 no problem rides like a dream. Just nicely accelerating and suspension is dynamite

- Issues - rough idle
- low idle
- does not start when extremely cold even with new battery
- sounds like a diesel

BMW gave me the codes to the Radio. Sound system is great.
Thanks for your help

The fuel-injection system has a number of sensors and they all have to work together for the engine to run right. There's a sensor for the air temperature that enters the engine through the intake manifold. There's also an Idle Control Valve which allows more or less air into the engine to make a smooth idle. The Mass Airflow sensor, between the air filter and the intake manifold, measures the air mass to get the right air-fuel mixture. The oxygen sensors feed back to the computer information about the combustion by looking at the exhaust gases and the computer tries to make adjustments accordingly.

Oxygen sensors are only good for about 60,000 miles. I had a rough idle before I replaced mine.

Also, you may need to check if you're getting a steady flow of fuel via the fuel pump, the fuel filters, and the fuel pressure regulator. You should check your fuel delivery before replacing any sensors since most of the sensors are expensive.

No Choice my Guru friend. The rockers that holds the camshaft one of them is broken the replaced 12 of them and replaced the camshaft also brought the head to a machine shop.

They say that when they are done it will run better that my supped up pony. far damage is 1200.00 including labor.

Original findings at Midas is that Cylinder one has lost all its compression.

Cause by a broken rocker leaving the valve open at all times.
With rumble and growling noise the broken rocker was everywhere.
Goodthing I had an overhead cam no additional labor charge on the Camshaft installation.

tailights are being installed the exhaust system has no leak everythings cool evy it shows signs of rust. Just a clamp good to go.

Left power window is also getting fixed and they will drop the trans oil. No gum or gook in the engine.
So getting there should be done next week. As the 325i Conv 1988 relaxes inside looking pretty its big brother is going thru all kinds of surgery.
thanks bud let you know

hey bud i have a 87 735i that kinda sounded like a diesel, from past cars i have owned am leaning towards injectors but im not sure but im in the middle of changing my power steering pump so that might be something to do with it and also i idle at bout 500 and im told it should idle @ 1000 i just replaced my hanger bearing so when i dropped the exhaust i cheaked my ox sensor and it was fine so im stumped still get great power so i just live with the low idle also lately every now and then i smell gas but no loss of fuel or explotions so signs of leaks in the fuel sys. but there is a bad bushing on my throttle cable so im getting to that and we will see
as for bmw lol belgum motor works i think i could be wrong
come on man we should know this lol
good luck with it all and learn lots so u can give me advise lol
kenny

Liberty my man the car is fixed and it pur's like a BMW idle is perfect and runs like a champ.
thanks for your assistance worked done!

- Valve and cam
- Rockers
- air flow
- steering worked handles awesome (Just for show not to race moderate driving) have the stang for that
- tail lights

Wish list if funds free up when tax return comes.
- Future work regulator for the driver side window where can we find one of this?
- head lights wiring
- paint job maaco
- bumper trims the aluminum like material
- wheel fender trim should define it some more
- lowering springs about an 1 and a quarter for handling

Liberty my friend I almost passed the NJ DMV inspection.

They put the car to a rigorous test.

First they check under the car. Opened the hood.

My cluster works intermittently but the day on Inspection it works.
Cluster cost 93$ from the junk yard and 120$ to install still beats buying a circuit board.

Now I had no hazard lights they did not check.

After all the stress test on the front end. Emission test, lights, wiper, exhaust, visual of the inside of the engine.

They passed all except for the DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES IS INOPERATIVE and unsafe.

WOW. So before I went I had all this work done. Right from alignment, Cluster, Rocker, Camshaft, Head trim, rear right ligts, instrument panel functionality.

THE law is the driver side window must work. OK since we could not find a regulator that fits my 735iL we will take the one from the passenger front side and install that hope that it works. In all
I have totally spent $4800.00 which includes the purchase. The 735IL runs like a champ. No bumps goes 100mi per hour. Radio works. And the on board toys on the right which tells you MPH distance and timer Works.

Hope that it holds up for my kids use when he starts this Sept. in college. He might have to pry the car from me. Thanks for your help and hope I could share solutions with others.

Waiting for a Bulb control module seems that the lights are acting up on off when it feels like mostly when its damp and wet.

See you

You wrote, "Waiting for a Bulb control module seems that the lights are acting up...".

The Light Control Module (LKM) has a known defect in that it has bad solder joints. So if you're pretty good with soldering iron you might try to fix those joints instead of buying another module, which would have a pretty good chance of having the same problem since it is manufacturing related.

Also, tap on the "Mustard Relay" (because it's the color of mustard) and see if that helps. The "Mustard Relay" has bad solder joints as well.

Here's a link with fixes for these items: http://www.e32fixes.com/results.asp?method=show_fix&fixid=1

Also, Shogun's site has a ton of fixes for various problems here:
http://tridem.han-solo.net/auto/erich/auto.htm

thanks my good man Liberty have what could be good news for all E32
My car everything works passed th NJ Inspection today.

That is a good feeling.

As far as the light again good info I'm waiting for the weather to be upper 45-50's then I'll investigate what everyone talks about the "bad soldering joint"


The 735iL 1988 BMW runs like a champ. I knew that I could only repair so much.

Total cost to restore 5K$ which includes the sale of the car. Title feels good.

Now they're painted brother and sister 325iC 1988.

Talk to you soon. Let's see if we could share some good to others