About ready to take a sledgehammer to it!!!

[ChrisMcC]

My 94' 540ia is giving me fits. I have replaced every gasket in the top half of the engine, the fuel pump, the filters, the PCV plate and associated gaskets. I did a reboot of the computer yesterday after it warmed up and it ran perfectly. It idled better than it ever did. Today, I start the car and coded up 1222. I rebooted the car again and it runs fine again. I'll bet a dollar to a dime that if I let it totally cool down and try to start it again, I'll get 1222 all over again. It's 27 degrees here in Ohio. I don't get this problem in the summertime. I'm open to any off hand ideas of where to look for the problem.

As soon as I get the CEL, the car goes full rich and nothing brings it back to normal unless I reboot. Flip up rear seats for battery access and a battery quick disconnect are not an option. Again, educated guesses are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

[tim s]

fix the cat & never got a code since.
tim s.

[winfred]

could be a slow or bad 02 sensor, i usually find when i get 02 control codes and theres no other problem like a air leak or bad temp sensor the sensor is probably tired and getting slow, once it throws the 02 control code the computer will ignore the sensor inputs and run off a preset safe fueling map, if you have access to a graphing multi meter you can test the sensor a analog/digital meters display doesn't react fast enough, if not it would be cheeper to just replace the two sensors then to buy a meter to test and find out that the sensor/sensors are bad. chances are if they have much over 100k miles on them they need to be replaced anyway and are costing you power and mpg, the easy way to test for air leaks is spray around the intake with carb cleaner while it's idling, try it cold and hot looking for a change in the idle

[winfred]

that's another possiblity, testable with a gauge screwed into the 02 sensor hole, anything over a pound or two of back pressure at a stedy few k rpm rev is bad. v8s seem to eat cats

fix the cat & never got a code since.
tim s.

[ChrisMcC]

I forgot to mention in my previous post that the O2 sensors are new too. Less than 10k miles on them. I also had the tailpipes cut in half in front of the cats by a reputable muffler shop in my area. The cats are fine. This is an intermittent problem and only happens when it is cold outside. There has to be a common denominator that I haven't figured out yet. Is there a TSB from BMW regarding this problem?

It seems that there are a lot of people with the M60 motor who have the same sorts of problem. Are there any M60's that actually run right?

I drove the car home tonight and sure enough, the same old garbage. This time, the car shut off during the drive 2X. My 318i was the joy of my life, after I get rid of this car, I'll never own another BMW as long as I live.

[Scott H]

but take that sledgehammer to it first! It will help you get your anger out.

BMW is the worst crap out there....you need a good old American V8, not some German crap.

I had to rebuild my crappy M30 engine after 147k measly miles. I thought they went for 300k miles regularly and boy was I wrong!!!

after I get rid of mine I am going to go buy a Chevy Cobalt....I can't wait!!!

My 318i was the joy of my life, after I get rid of this car, I'll never own another BMW as long as I live.

[Jon K]

I like the new Hyundai Elantra - It ran circles around my junker!

[angrypancake]

dude I hate my car too. maybe a tree can dispatch this one too, and i'll use the insurance money to get a civic and pimp that bitch out, cause when im done with it it will smoke you guys and your stupid high mileage always breaking bmws. everyone knows that theyre total problem cars, without proper maintenence all kinds of crap goes wrong. who has time for a head gasket repair? seriously. i cant wait to focus all my attention on hating mustangs, having my grammar will turn to ****, hooked on ebonics will work for me. 535 pffff civic si baby.. and if that fails im gonna get one of these


you gotta be smoking some good ****

[HDhandyman]

Hey Chris, at least it's not a real German achievement. My wife's 73 VW Bug, now that thing truly is a piece of s**t.

[Gayle]

If this won't do the job, Dacoyote has a bigger one.