So I have a 1993 BMW 325I e36 five speed manual with 160,000 miles on it. I recently went to go pick up a friend and shut my car off. When I got back in it, my car would crank, but would not start. Now prior to picking my friend up my car and just fine no knocking no noises coming from the engine. Everything worked completely fine. As I’m cranking it backfires once.We then resort to pushing the car and this successfully get the car started. Now there is no weird noises after the start. The car runs fine it idles fine everything sounds completely normal. For four days. The car works completely fine. Turning it on turning it off. Turn it on for four days. After four days I bring it to a shop to get a realignment done on it. The shop says they put it on the realignment rack four times and every single time it worked starting it and turning it off, starting it and turning it off. I come back to pick it up the next day and the car cranks, but will not start. I continue to attempt to start the car and eventually starts but before I can take my foot off the gas it dies so I crank it over and this time it starts much quicker. I drive it to the end of the lot to bring it home and it dies before I make it to the end the lot. I started up again and as previous it starts up much quicker but I don’t wanna waste time so I just start driving home. Every single stoplight and every single stop sign it starts to spot around until I give it gas so I have to push in the clutch and start accelerating. Once I get home I shut the car off now that was the last time it ran. I thought it was the fuel pump so I replaced the fuel pump. The new fuel pump works because we tested it before we put it in. I go to crank my car and the fuel pump doesn’t even prime or start pressurize in the fuel line it’s just dead quiet. Now the car cranks but it will not start. We have also tested the compression and it’s an in-line six all six pistons are within 195 to 200 psi for compression. I’m at a brick wall right now and I was wondering if you possibly be able to give me some advice on what I should do next. thank you so much.
Check your fuel pump relay. Also check that 30-year-old wiring.
Try starting it with spring starting fluid into the air intake and see if it runs and if it does then check the new fuel pump and fuses and wiring
We have also tested the compression and it’s an in-line six all six pistons are within 195 to 200 psi for compression
Impressive numbers considering age & mileage. Its a shame new ones don't hold a stone to these.
Id look over your wiring, and make sure you have good grounds everywhere (including where the fuse box grounds to the body).
It may also be a relay, either a bad relay or bad contacts inside the fuse box itself.
If youre up north like me there my be some rust around some of your grounds to the body.
Can you confirm power is getting to the fuel pump?
Im assuming the air filter and spark plugs are in good condition. I bet its wiring.
