My '02 M3 broke!

dam3 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-06-2003, 10:53 PM

On Friday I was about to leave town on a trip and I lost all power. At first it felt as if the DSC was kicking in while accelerating. So I pulled over and turned off the car. I turned it back on, (it was idling fine) then coninued to drive. Above 3k rpm, it felt as if the car was missing and it wouldn't accelerate. So i pulled over and turned it off again. After restarting it idled fine (without any abnormal noise). So sitting there in neutral, I revved it and it would raise above 3k or so rpms. It seemed as if it wasn't getting any fuel and it was missing. Now it will not even start. I am having it towed into the dealer tomorrow morning. Anyone ever hear of this happening?

Should I expect to get a loaner car?

MotorWerkz · #2 (**permalink**) 04-06-2003, 11:01 PM

your cam sensor has failed

MotorWerkz · #3 (**permalink**) 04-06-2003, 11:02 PM

you'll get a loaner car, don't worry

dam3 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-06-2003, 11:06 PM

Is this a common problem?

Thanks,
Dave

MotorWerkz · #5 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 12:48 AM

yes, it's very common, my friend's cam sensor has broken twice

dj_audigy · #6 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MotorWerkz
your cam sensor has failed

damn motorwerks... you r good

Agaru_Vala · #7 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 07:48 AM

What causes it to fail ?

MotorWerkz · #8 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dj_audigy
damn motorwerks... you r good

LoL... what makes you think so?

MotorWerkz · #9 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Agaru_Vala
What causes it to fail ?

usually the owner did not properly break in the car, it fails within the first 10K miles.

if you buy a new M3, properly break it in, if you push the car too much while in break-in period, cam sensor will fail.

I hope my guess is right, because my friend was having the same problem.

vtecinside · #10 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 01:31 PM

I understand that the M3 is presently a highly massaged, edge of the performance envelope kind of car, but DAMN!!!! it seems there are way toooo many limitations on the way you drive the car to make it fun....These new fangled cars are becoming more nuisance than convenient with all the electronics and nannies...

what is the whole break in procedure and how many miles is it.....?

noel

Ximian · #11 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 01:40 PM

vtecinside:
Breaking in a car could be fun since a car is just like a chick. Sure, any of 'em could be fun, but would you rather break one in yourself, or get one that's been broken in already?

I mean, you don't know what was done during that period of time...

dam3 · #12 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 02:25 PM

I've only had the car about 5 weeks (bought it used). One of the tech's also thought that the car was simply out of gas and that the gauge had failed... He said that he had run into that problem last friday on another 3 series. They are also replacing the oil pump and connecting rod bearings due to the recall.

I ended up getting a used Maxima as a loaner car... I was hoping for a 540.

I will let you guys know what happens.

Thanks,

Dave

MotorWerkz · #13 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 02:49 PM

dam3,

1.did you properly break in the car?
2.did you push the car to the limit?
3.did you redline the engine most of the time?
4.did you use the right octane fuel for your car?

3-series and M3 is completely different engine..

I think M3 is fragile during break-in period, after that, you can trash your car all you want.. anytime you want and the engine will still be solid..

dam3 · #14 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 02:55 PM

I have only had the car for 5 weeks and the car currently has 14,600 miles on it. I can only hope that the previous owned did properly break it in as he stated...

And yes I do push the car to the limit, redline the engine most of the time, and I always use 91 octane fuel (the highest in these parts). I should be sent to hell if I didn't! It is an ///M3, and I treat her the way she was designed to be treated!

MotorWerkz · #15 (**permalink**) 04-07-2003, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vtecinside
I understand that the M3 is presently a highly massaged, edge of the performance envelope kind of car, but DAMN!!!! it seems there are way toooo many limitations on the way you drive the car to make it fun....These new fangled cars are becoming more nuisance than convenient with all the electronics and nannies...

what is the whole break in procedure and how many miles is it.....?

noel

car is like human, before you go for a heavy exercise, you need to warm-up, and if you didn't do so, you would experienced sprained ankle or muscle cramps ... car does too, it needs a proper warm-up, it needs a preparation for long term abuse of engine.

that's my opinion