E36 compact 316i, not firing, but cranking

its a bmw 316 i fitted with a M43 motor

crank angle should be near the harmonic balancer

cam sensor near the upper camshafts






cam sensor

Check compression and timing. Then check sensors(MAF, oil pressure sensor). Don't crank engine too long. Cranking engine may pour a lot of petrol into your engine oil.

either you have a very bad battery, or your not guetting fuel for it to start.

disconnect negative battery few minutes

Should be a 318i, what is the year? Have you checked relays, and depending on the year, these cars have ews modules that is a bit tricky to bypass. Unless your experienced at this on BMWs do not bypass ignition system. Hook the system back up using the factory key and try again.

i've had similar issues with a 1999 M3. normally attributed to electrical power levels this could be a low voltage issue.

do you have error codes?

make sure the power contact at the starter motor (between the alternator and the battery) is tightened.

I have also had issues with a cranshaft position sensor. but my favourite culprit of electrical issues is a wet ECU.

the ecu compartment is under the windshield on the passenger side on E36

you gain acess to it under the hood....
this compartment gets wet, the ecu lays on a flat surface in that
compartment.

the bottom side of the circuit board gets wet and starts corrosion.

remove the ecu, take the bottom plate off, clean the bottom of the circuit
board with alcohol and a soft tooth brush.

you should be able to see the signs of corrosion or conductive build up.

this gunk bridges solder points doing all sort s of wierd things to your
car, including false sensor readings from asc/abs controllers and other
sensors....

all the way to engine failure and worst case burnt and shorted wiring
harness.

I'm on my 3rd ecu, took me and the repair boys a few years to figure this
one out.

BTW: i would get that ecu mounted above that flat surface, use some sort
of standoff to raise it so that it is not laying in the wet.

the ecu for this model on a right hand drive car, is under the glove box bottom pannel, remove this pannel and it will be up on the left hand side it will have a black plug type connector it is awkward to get to if you want to remove it though

on bm it is 1,3,4,2, or on 6 cylinder models 1,5,3,6,2,4.

The ABS relay on the E36 316 compact is the red relay in the fuse box, which as u look under the bonnet is on the right hand side towards the back of the engine bay. If that is of any help to you?

BMW CUTS OUT

A few things to check.

1. Is fuel pump delivering enough fuel.
2. Is injectors clean. Perhaps dirt in fuel. replace fuel filter
3. Air leakage at top air intake of manifold at ICV idle control valve. Two hoses inside this housing prone to perishing.
4. Throttle position sensor faulty.
5. Mass air flow sensor faulty.
6. ICV faulty or dirty. comon fault on older e36.

Havent done it yet but ICV is easy to clean according to internet. instruction available at bmw e36 blog. All off above can be tested by yourself according to manual.