1985 318i engine cuts out - need help

When driving for about 5-10 minutes the engine just cuts out like someone turned off the fuel. Most of the time if you wait 5-10 minutes the car will restart and run for anywhere from 2-10 minutes before doing this again.

I have checked the fuel pumps and believe them to be ok because I have fuel pessure (checked with a good guage). I also have good spark at this time too, but no signal to turn on the injectors.

I have the Bently book and have been through most everything in it with no improvement.

The one thing I have noticed is that if I pull the connector off the air flow switch unit the car will start, but runs very rough. When putting this connector back on the engine rpm increases for a few seconds and then dies and is back to the same state as before.

I am getting so frustrated with this as it's not like I have not tried to check as much as I can, but with parts costing so much I can't just start putting on new parts.

Please help!
Dick

When driving for about 5-10 minutes the engine just cuts out like someone turned off the fuel. Most of the time if you wait 5-10 minutes the car will restart and run for anywhere from 2-10 minutes before doing this again.

I have checked the fuel pumps and believe them to be ok because I have fuel pessure (checked with a good guage). I also have good spark at this time too, but no signal to turn on the injectors.

I have the Bently book and have been through most everything in it with no improvement.

The one thing I have noticed is that if I pull the connector off the air flow switch unit the car will start, but runs very rough. When putting this connector back on the engine rpm increases for a few seconds and then dies and is back to the same state as before.

I am getting so frustrated with this as it's not like I have not tried to check as much as I can, but with parts costing so much I can't just start putting on new parts.

Please help!
Dick






I am having the same problem ==did you ever figure yours out= please help!

I am not familiar with the e30 318, however, my 97 318i did the same thing. It was the camshaft position sensor. Check the mass air flow sensor and if your car has one, the camshaft position sensor. I've also heard that the knock sensor will cause the same symptoms.

MEH

There's a control unit on the firewall just in front of driver; I replaced after this problem of sudden cut-off.