Re: 528e, Sudden Loss of all Engine Power (archive)

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might cause an e28 528e to suddenly lose almost all of its power? The car normally runs perfectly. When it happens, the engine keeps running for a while, buy only at about 100 rpm, and it sounds like it is running on one or two cylinders. No power to move at all. Smells like fuel out the tailpipe, so it has at least some gas. I've swapped the coil, with no luck. Swapped fuel pump and main relays with no luck. I have what looks like a good spark when I connect a spare sparkplug to one of the wires and ground it to the engine block (I use jumper cables to ground it and don't try to hold it in my hands).
This has happened three times in the last few days, sometimes it will start running well if I try again later, but right now it won't run.

Hey Mac:

It sounds like you have at the minimal a vacuum leak, have you checked that out? The larger vacuum lines like the Positive Crancase ventalation that goes from your valve cover to your bellows before your throttle body would be the first thing I would look at. Vcauum leaks cause big problems with the runnablity of your car. The hoses are probably old and cracked, and also do a compression check!
If this does not work, I would check the regulator on the pressure end of the fuel rail, it maybe malfuctioning.

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