BMW Keeps Stalling

Yup - the crank position sensor on my E39 did this when it got hot. But threw up the appropriate code.

Definetely sounds like the Crankshaft/Cam position Sensor cos I had the same problem which left me thinking the engine was about to die permanently. Very worrying though and the worst part is, it is a very very very very very common problem on some beemers. I think in the USA it was actually a recall item due to it's relation to emission standards or something, so it was replaced free. In the UK I don't know if it is a recall item or not, if it is a recall item.. I'll go kick seven seas out of my stealer..oops dealer.cos the dealer charges alot for the job, if u can get a good independent then consider it.,

Chris,

I have 97 Z3; was experiencing the same issues. Was instructed by my father, a retired auto mechanic to put 2 or 3 drops of 3-in-1 oil on the key.

I was skeptical to say the least. After doing so, my car stalling issue has not occured anymore.

I am astonished, but it worked!

Best,

jb

No proper mechanic uses 3-in-1 oil for anything. Even a squeaky garden gate.

But I do use 3-in-1 or its generic equivalent on the oilstone that I use to sharpen my plane blades and wood chisels.

:-)

Nah. It takes too long to get the stone wet each time.

I also grind plane blades close enough to 25° by eye, and I do a really mean 120 grit job on kitchen knives. Carbon steel ones, of course. There are no stainless steel knives in *my* kitchen.

Hell, it was only a few years ago that I finally accepted the synchromesh gearbox.

Not on an oilstone. A whetstone perhaps...

Dave you are a thorn in alot of peoples side.

Well, you don't oil a key. The oil gets into the tumblers and in combination with dirt causes them to stick. The correct lubricant for a key is graphite. If you haven't got the powdered type use a pencil.

But 3 in 1 oil isn't the correct *oil* for anything. Perhaps the easiest source of a good light machine oil is sewing machine oil.

Well, perhaps he is, but in this instance Dave is correct. You do not want any oil in the tumblers of a lock. It will only make matters worse in the long run. You can use a cleaner spray to get the oil out and then a dry lubricant such as graphite powder or such.

But in any case, lubricating the lock will have absolutely nothing to do with the OPs problem...