Engine severe misfiring, stumbling

Tiny
PA525I
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 BMW 525I
No idea what to try next.

(Prod. Mo. 1/92), automatic transmission, M50, non-VANOS, 243,000 miles (still usually 22-23 mpg)

Experiencing a horrible miss/stumbling pattern and I just cannot figure it out.

Started with an intermittent CEL back in the beginning of August. Code was O2 sensor. Noticed it had a slight miss every now and then, and mpg was dropping slightly over the next two weeks. Installed new O2 sensor. CEL has never reappeared, and no codes are present.

But the miss/stumbling has gotten absolutely horrible.

Following is a list of what I've changed/repaired/replaced, etc:

ECM
MAF
Spark plugs
Coil packs/boots
Injectors
Fuel pressure regulator
Fuel filter
Crank sensor
Cam sensor
TPS
ICV
ATS
Coolant temperature sensor
Feed/return fuel hoses (at the rail)
Two vacuum hoses from PCV

No vacuum leaks. Already removed, checked, replaced every vacuum hose, and even did the starting fluid spray test at various rpm's around said hoses, throttle body, intake manifold, etc.

Vehicle starts fine, idles and drives great, until it starts to warm up, then the idle becomes erratic and the missing starts. Driving at highway speeds (above sixty mph) and it is basically smooth, even when stomping it to the floor with the resulting gear range kick-down. City driving is nothing but stumbling, sputtering, chugging. It just seems like symptoms of intermittent spark and/or fuel. If I sit in the driveway with the parking brake on, my foot on the brake, put it in drive or reverse and press on the gas, it misses so badly it shakes the whole vehicle and will not get above 2,000 rpm's.
Any and all ideas are appreciated. Thanks!
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 AT 9:36 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
TWINDRAGON73
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Check your upstream O2 sensor.
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Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 AT 11:11 AM
Tiny
PA525I
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Twindragon73 As stated above, it has already been changed.

Going to drain the tank and change the fuel pump tomorrow, just because and why not. What is a bit more cash when I already have a bankroll in it.

Itbwill give me a chance to clean the pickup screen, as well.
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Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 AT 2:19 PM
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
Have you interrogated the DME memory for faults?
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Sunday, October 27th, 2013 AT 8:56 PM
Tiny
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,136 POSTS
Do not forget to check the timing belt. If it is 60,000 miles old or better it should be replaced.
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2014 AT 3:39 PM
Tiny
JNELSONMBF
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
What is the easier way to check timing belt? I know it is not easy I am meaning out of the ways to check it which is the easiest to learn/use because I have a somewhat similar issue in my 2004 525i and it is not throwing any codes.
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Tuesday, June 5th, 2018 AT 5:20 PM
Tiny
RENEE L
  • ADMIN
  • 1,260 POSTS
Hello JNELSONMBF,

Please post your new question here:

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

Thank you,

Renee
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Tuesday, June 5th, 2018 AT 6:33 PM

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