2003 M3 attempts to run then immediately quits

[davidf]

A quick bit of background: My son recently purchased a 2003 M3 (Carbon Black on black) and we have been refurbishing it ever since. We have replaced rod bearings and rebuilt the VANOS among many other things. The car also had a cold air intake with no MAF and some sort of sensor added into the MAF electrical wiring...all since removed. I suspect the DME has been "tuned".

Anyway, the engine ran fine after our repairs but then all of a sudden (after overnight or two) the engine will no longer start. It is not the battery or starter as it turns over fine. The issue is that it attempts to run for a second, then dies with (black) smoke coming out of the tailpipe and a fuel rich smell.

Anyone have any ideas where to start? I have INPA and plan to read any fault codes this evening. What codes should I be looking for?

[Obioban]

Generally firing up for 1 second than turning off is an EWS issue.

Slightly thrown by the black smoke as a theory, but that's where I'd start my search.

[davidf]

Thanks, I am leaning that way also. Will check codes and try to reset EWS this evening with INPA. BTW, it is an SMG car, if that matters. Also, there has always been, since purchased (about 1 month), a delay between turning key to start and the starter actually engaging.

[Keith_MN]

SMGs are slow on start compared to full manual. Someone else can probably give better context, but there's an engineered delay there from what I understand.

How many miles did you put on between removing unknown MAF replacement sensor and replacing it with the stock arrangement? My first thought is that it may have an AlphaN tune and now you're back to the factory MAF - who knows what the PO did. I would flash the DME to stock, read codes, reassess.

[davidf]

I would say we have driven the car approximately 5 miles or less. The plan is to reflash the DME to stock, but hoping to drive it to the Indy shop to do so as I am not confident I wouldn't brick the DME.

Yes, who knows what was done previously. We also replaced the straight through exhaust with the factory muffler. But, still no cats.

[xansabi]

A quick bit of background: My son recently purchased a 2003 M3 (Carbon Black on black) and we have been refurbishing it ever since. We have replaced rod bearings and rebuilt the VANOS among many other things. The car also had a cold air intake with no MAF and some sort of sensor added into the MAF electrical wiring...all since removed. I suspect the DME has been "tuned".

Anyway, the engine ran fine after our repairs but then all of a sudden (after overnight or two) the engine will no longer start. It is not the battery or starter as it turns over fine. The issue is that it attempts to run for a second, then dies with (black) smoke coming out of the tailpipe and a fuel rich smell.

Anyone have any ideas where to start? I have INPA and plan to read any fault codes this evening. What codes should I be looking for?

This may be a long shot, but before buying mine I saw a carbonschwarz/black SMG car with a shitload of problems for sale. Did you get this one from Washington?