I have owned a 2000MY 523iSE (manual) since May 2003. I've had 30,000 miles of faultless driving since then, until last week it developed an intermittent problem...
1 in 4 times that I start the car, the start up plays up. Typically, after ignition the revs rises to approx 1500rpm, but, instead of falling to an idle revs of 700-800rpm, it stalls.
I've tried depressing the accelerator to maintain the revs, but, on leaving the accelerator it falls to 0 and engine stalls. Normally, it stats on the tird or fourth time of asking.
Anyway, after that, there is a definite power loss in low gears - flooring the accelerator just about allows me to drive along in traffic! It's as if the engine can't get enough fuel to power the engine.
Whats' strange is that the other 3 times out of 4 the car is sweet as anything - starts fine and runs with no power loss.
I confess my almost complete ignorance with cars - is this an electrical problem as it is intermittent, or is it a fuel pump problem? Is this a known E39 problem?
Bascially I'm scared of the local $tealers ripping me off for a known problem which can be repaired at a reasonable cost.
Thanks for your help
PS last service was Inspection II carried out at 69000 - no problems. Current mileage 73000.
Riz
1 in 4 times that I start the car, the start up plays up. Typically, after ignition the revs rises to approx 1500rpm, but, instead of falling to an idle revs of 700-800rpm, it stalls.
I've tried depressing the accelerator to maintain the revs, but, on leaving the accelerator it falls to 0 and engine stalls. Normally, it stats on the tird or fourth time of asking.
Anyway, after that, there is a definite power loss in low gears - flooring the accelerator just about allows me to drive along in traffic! It's as if the engine can't get enough fuel to power the engine.
Whats' strange is that the other 3 times out of 4 the car is sweet as anything - starts fine and runs with no power loss.
I confess my almost complete ignorance with cars - is this an electrical problem as it is intermittent, or is it a fuel pump problem? Is this a known E39 problem?
Bascially I'm scared of the local $tealers ripping me off for a known problem which can be repaired at a reasonable cost.
Thanks for your help
PS last service was Inspection II carried out at 69000 - no problems. Current mileage 73000.
Riz
