1988 BMW 325i - Still No Spark

Not to sound dumb, but have you checked all the fuses?

yes

Sounds like an oil pressure cutoff switch has gone south on you.

Checked the Safety cut-off? (usually somewhere near the fuel tank).

Do you have a car alarm system fitted? if there is then I would check the ignition cut-out from alarm, easy way just by pass the cut-out relay

crank position sensor failure

If you have no spark, it will also not engage the fuel pump relay. First you need to find out if you are getting power to the ignition coil. This could be done with a test light or a volt meter. If no power to the coil, look towards the main relay. If it hasn't been replaced, you might just try that. The main relay and the fuel pump relay fail often. They are both under a black platic cover in the engine compartment on the left inner fender well.

There is a round connecter under the intake manifold that screws together. You might unscrew it and see if the connecters are turning green. There is also a group of ground wires under the intake that sometimes turn green from corrosion.

And the may be a fuse in the trunk that is inline on a big red lead coming off the positive battery terminal.

Good luck!

The alternator and battery are good?

I currently am a classic jaguar owner and I have found that jaguars have 2 positive terminals at the battery, most people only change the terminal from the battery to the firewall and never change the one from the firewall to the starter causing zero to happen when the key is activated.

Also, jaguars are notorious for distributer replacements. every six months the distributer has to be replaced or the vehicle will not start no matter what. I know you have a beemer but the problem sounds the same. If the motor turns the car will start.

It died on him on the freeway! Battery is for starting and accessories when alternator is not engaged. Jaguars are nothing like beemers. The only cool thing about a Jag is the hood ornament. A distributor, every six months, don't you think there is an issue there, if everyone else is 60,000 to 100,000 miles?

Do you mean distributor, or rotor arm and/or cap ?

I have both an older BMW and an older Jaguar and they are the highest grade vehicles made. The IHS I own is also a great vehicle along with the other semi great vehicles I have parked awaiting certain repair ONE OF THESE DAYS.

I would make certain the engine is grounded out to the frame. A wire behind the engine to the firewall and also on the transmission to the frame are essential to closing the loop on the ignition. Check those first... or last it doesn't matter.

By the way.. I've never changed the distributor on my Jaguar and it runs great...
But my BMW has issues with the crank sensor quite often!

The IHS (Scout) starts and runs every time and all the time even with 8 year old gas, as does my old Range Rover... I proved that to myself just last weekend.

JL Mealer
Mealer Companies LLC
http://mealercompanies.com