problem with my E36

[EuroB]

Hey this just happened a couple hours ago but ill explain the problem as best I can

I have a 1997 BMW 328is
this car has ran mint since I got it except for the check engine light that comes on for "Fuel Frequency" but I was told by a mechanic I know that its because of the Subs I have and that the bass messes around with the Fuel Pump.

but a couple hours ago I was parked idling and my idle just went from the normal 700 down to 400 and the car got really shaky.

I didn't think much of it just turned it off and let it cool down for a couple mins then drove 15 mins to McDonalds, after I ate and got back in my car I had a smoke and put it in reverse and started off normally and it just died on me, in the sence that I didn't give enough gas as I was letting go of the clutch...

It took about 3 tries just to get used to it and get my car to reverse then when I went to put it in first gear it died again,

and then I started it up again and it felt like it was about to die but I held the throttle to about 3000 rpm and put in first and drove home and on the ride home when ever I pushed on the gas it lagged and then had barely any power accelerating plus it sounded as if I had a Honda with a aftermarket exhaust just not as loud..

The only things I can think of is
4 days I go I went through some mud and a couple big puddles,
the Bad weather.
I just filled up 20 dollars of gas and I put in Mid grade but there may have been regular still left in the hose of the gas pump...
its been running perfect all day except I noticed that right before all this started happening that as I was driving on macloed that I lost power a couple of times and my car just stopped accelerating for a second or two.

I'm hoping it was just a minor Hydro lock and it will be better in the morning but does anyone else know what this could be.
I'm also thinking it might be the fuel pump, or mud/dirty water got into the wrong place.

[RickDaTuner]

replace your fuel pump...

[EuroB]

Thats what I didn't wanna hear...
What's The chance that it's a hydro lock and this will all be better in the morning?

[buh_buh]

hydrolock is hydrolock, there's no good hydrolock (like the good Hodgkins?). Once you get hydrolock, your motor is done for, but if that is what it was, you wouldn't have been able to drive it home. But it definitely sounds like fuel pump to me too.

[5G_celica]

I would check the idler control valve first. give it a good clean

and stop using midgrade on your e36

[buh_buh]

at this elevation, midgrade is all you need for a NA car.

[benyl]

fuel pump.

[Glenn 328is]

No sir. It has to do with your compression ratio. These cars need 91+.

I concur with the fuel pump.

Originally posted by buh_buh
at this elevation, midgrade is all you need for a NA car.

[benyl]

Originally posted by Glenn 328is
No sir. It has to do with your compression ratio. These cars need 91+.

No they don't. Not at our elevation.

[Mr_ET]

they're right at this elevation the cars make less power because the air is less dense so you can get away with less octane before it pings or detonates.

I would also agree it's the fuel pump

[canuckcarguy]

Does this car have 2 fuel pumps? I can't remember, I know some of the BMW's have a pre-pump in or right near the tank. You might want to have a friend turn the car to on (don't crank) and see if you have a buzzing near the tank, sometimes they get really loud just when they're failing. If it's really loud, or conversely you can hear absolutely nothing, that's likely your problem.

And if your subs are loud enough to impact on the performance of your car, you might be a redneck...