Please Help Fast... Starting Problem

[Lady Jane]

Hi... my beloved 1980 528 just developed a problem -- it starts, but immediately the power falls and the car shuts off. The mechanics who I had it towed to couldn't find the problem, and as I'm on disability, I can't just tow it to mechanic after mechanic till someone figures it out. This happened once before, exact same symptoms, and it turned out to be a leak in the boot that connects the air flow meter to the intake manifold. That, though, doesn't seem to be the problem this time, at least according to the mechanics... although they also couldn't imagine that that had ever caused a problem like this in the first place. If you have any experience with such a problem or think you may know what the cause is, pleeease email me as quickly as possible at [email protected].

Again, the symptoms: I turn the ignition, the car starts, but immediately the power drops to zero. Pressing the gas pedal produces no response. BUT... several times, before I finally gave up and had it towed, it started and ran normally (twice only a hundred yards or so before stalling, and once for probably 1-2 miles). I did smell gas strongly for a small time, but that isn't completely unusual for this car. There is gas in the car, it recently had a tune-up, and when last serviced (the tuneup, 3 months ago) was said to be in apparently good mechanical shape -- I've been trying (slowly, given my income or lack thereof) to restore it, concentrating first on mechanical and engine aspects rather than cosmetic.

Thank you so much for any help... given what's happened so far, I'd really like to be able to suggest potential problems that may be sort of BMW-specific to the next mechanics who try to figure it out.

[M.S.Services]

You may have a bit of a challenge keeping a car like that on the road on a fixed income. Is the car in exceptional condition other than that issue? Please tell us it's a rust free southern car. If not don't bother keeping it. If your "mechanic" can't figure it out then get a new mechanic while your at it. Or find a mechanic who expresses interest in your type of car. If these options don't appeal to you we can walk you through some diagnostics. Something tells me that you don't perform your own maintenance, however.

[Lady Jane]

Actually, it had the least bit of rust, which I've already dealt with. I used to do much of my own maintenance (managing to earn my nickname even then!), but can't so much now. But I did manage to figure out this problem... an intermittent main relay, which I was able to fix. It was the "intermittent" part that was making it hellish to diagnose. And yes, for all her years, the car's in good shape... I was always diligent with maintenance (still am, even though now I have to hire out for it), and have kept the engine in generally very strong condition... I can still out-accelerate just about every other car on the road, to the extreme chagrin of the muscle-car drivers. The only basic problems are some cracked leather on the seats (so I use seatcovers) and the effect of time on the original cypress green metallic paint (any hints on reviving an old metallic paint, short of repainting? I'd love to keep the original paint, but a little shine would be nice). I'd never dealt with a relay problem before... much less an intermittent one... so this was a learning experience, and a fast one.

Thank you so much for responding... I truly appreciate it so much... and am sure I'll have future questions, alas...

[venzon]

I would check the fuel filter and fuel pump. Let us know how it turns out. Good luck!

[Lady Jane]

venzon, thanks so much!

The problem turned out to be the main relay... and it was operating intermittently, so it was a challenge, but it's fixed and running happily now.

Thanks again for responding...

Jane