I have a 2001 bmw z3 2.5L with 180k miles I’ve recently experienced some problems with my engine. I’ve experienced an oil leak and rough idle that I chalked up to either the vanos solenoids or something similar. But a new problem arose this morning, when I was put my car in reverse to back out of a gas station and my automatic transmission light came on and I experienced a loss of power and the engine was running rough. I pulled over and shut off my car, when I turned it back on the light went away but when I put it in reverse to back out. The same problem arose, so I took the opportunity to level out with the road and shut off the engine. I then waited and started it again and without putting it in reverse drove off with no problem. Any advice or suggestions?
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
@Zephyr is correct, get a code reader on it, the appearance of the warning light will have set a code in there which should lead you to the cause. As you mention 'gas station' I assume you are in the USA so maybe one of our members over there may be nearby with a code reader if you don't have one yourself. Good idea to amend your user details and add your location so it appears in the left side of your posts or add it in as a signature together with the model of your Z and year. Help is usually forthcomming if there is someone near you.
My rough Idle and oil leak were related, the PCV System had failed completely causing oil laden vapors to escape and causing a vacuum leak at the same time, perished and split hoses. Vac leaks have nine time out of ten been the cause of rough idle for me, My Mazda was notorious for it..
Also a failed PCV system can cause excessive pressure in the crankcase causing leaks through any gasket or seal that a bit iffy.
I don't recall if my scanner threw any codes with Z however.
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