stopped while idling

[richnoland]

'83 733. setting at stoplight, idling well at 750-800rpm and just stopped.

Finally started after half thottle but smoking blue and black smoke.

Stopped at every light, wouldn't idle, then smoking awlful.

Nursed it home in fourth gear.

Goes for a while, 5 minutes, and starts missing, then stops if coming to stop.

Will not idle.

Thoughts to mind...Oxygen sensor or idle valve.

I don't have time for this trouble, if you know what I mean.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Militant-Grunt]

That definitly sounds to me like an oxygen sensor, but you shouldnt quote me on that... Id ask someone else.

 

[richnoland]

Some Foreign auto repair man said 'mass airflow meter' was bad which is about $550 to replace. Does anyone know if the 'diagnosic connector' will tell this problem with the 'stopped while idling?'

 

[connectionsav]

Had the same problem on my 1990 VW Golf. Turns out the heat stove on my VW was to close to the O2 sensor and was over heating it. Made it give the computer false dataand cause it to run like poo poo (same as yours). Took my heat stove off as I do not drive that car in winter and replaced my O2 sensor, runs like a charm. The dealer told me it was a mass airflow sensor too. They also told me that I a noise I couldnt pin point was coming from my trans and would be a $1300 touch just to find the problem. Went to my local "worked for VW 26 years and got fed up" back yard mechanic and had him fix the real problem. A bad wheel bearing for $75 and 30min wait time. Take my advice do the O2 sensor if that is not the problem then you still have a back up one for the roadside repair when you finnaly do need it!

 

[connectionsav]

Just thought about something else. My coolant temp sensor went on my VW and the car would just turn off after about 15 min driving. Although I could just re-start it again and drive for another 15 without a problem. Sorry for all the VW realated answers but I am new to BMW and they both share BOSCH fuel systems so I thoght the problems and fixes might be the same. Try unpluging the O2 sensor and see if the car drives better. Thins puts the car into constant rich or "limp" mode. If it drives good then you know it is probably the O2. DO NOT drive the car for very long with the O2 sensor unhooked. It is meant only as a way to find the problem. Also a mechanic (I grew up with his son once and consider him one of the best German car machanics in my neck of the woods) told me that I should be able to get 10 or 20,000 more out of my O2 sensor if I let it soak in some break fluid overnight and then use a non abrasive brush on it to get off the deposits that are keeping it from send the proper info to the computer. Tried it...worked

 

[richnoland]

Thank you, connectionsav from 'stopped while idling'

My plugs were covered in black flakey deposits, since plugs were 2 years old. Put in new, soaked O2 sensor, and runs perfect.

What do you and/or your friends know about the on board computer on the '83 733i? I changed out 2 or 3 used ones but none worked. Someone said it was linked to another system near the kick panel on the driver's side but I changed it a couple of times with other used parts and got nowhere.