E30 325i running on 5 cylinders on start up.

[speedyg 16]

If I leave my car sitting for more than 2 days. It starts fine but sometimes runs on 5 cylinders for the first couple of minutes.

If I use it everyday it always runs on 6 on startup as it should.

It is parked in a garage so shouldn't be moisture or anything.

I haven't started looking for the problem yet. But it doesn't appear to have a blown headgasket, ie not losing oil or water or water in the oil and vice versa.

Any ideas?

Cheers

[*Glenn* 854]

Possibly the distributor cap and rotor

[speedyg 16]

Sorry to bring up an old post!

Have replaced dizzy cap and rotor. The old one looked shot so I thought I had found the problem.

But lately it has been startiing on 5 cylinders again. After figuring out which one is not firing (No 4) I have pulled the plug which was fouled. Not oily but black carbon on it. Cleaned it up and put it back in and it runs fine.

The car usaully runs a bit rough when first started but comes right when warm.

Anyone else had this?

E30 325i 1989

[*Glenn* 854]

Sorry to bring up an old post!

Have replaced dizzy cap and rotor. The old one looked shot so I thought I had found the problem.

But lately it has been startiing on 5 cylinders again. After figuring out which one is not firing (No 4) I have pulled the plug which was fouled. Not oily but black carbon on it. Cleaned it up and put it back in and it runs fine.

The car usaully runs a bit rough when first started but comes right when warm.

Anyone else had this?

E30 325i 1989

Have you checked valve clearances?? You might not have correct valve clearances. If not..I would do that and see if there is any change to the way the car runs

Edited May 20, 2009 by *Glenn*

[BM WORLD 1283]

valve guide seal or valve guides worn . allowing oil to run down into the combustion chamber

Edited May 20, 2009 by Brent HARTGE535i

[Guest FrantiC]

Leaky injector on #4 ? Could be flooding (leaking fuel into the cylinder when the cars sitting) and would cause the fouling on that plug.

Edited May 20, 2009 by FrantiC

[euroitalian 62]

Excessive resistance on spark plug resistor? Should be 5Kohm.

[speedyg 16]

Thanks for the replies.

The car is at the garage (BMW service centre) having the valve clearances set, new plugs and a general look over and scan.

Hopefully this finds something.