I've searched but can't find anything relating to my problem specifically.
Hoping you guys will be able to help. Here is the low down:
2006 R53 with (as of 8am this morning) exactly 29,000 miles on it.

1) I put on a pulley, +1 colder plugs, and authentic JCW injectors all at the same time- NO TUNE.

2) Since then, it takes about 6 seconds of turning over to get the car to start. And you can smell unburnt fuel in the exhaust immediately afterward.

3) Car runs like a champ after starting, no big fuel economy changes or smoke from exhaust (after initial start-up anyway)

4) I changed plugs back to stock and it did not help. (both sets of plugs looked great btw)

5) I swapped injectors back to stock and the problem goes away.

6) I shipped injectors off to be tested. They checked out fine -flow great, everything is in normal operation range- all very nicely matched.

7) Decided I needed a tune anyway and hoped that it would solve the issue. I gained some really nice HP but it did not solve the issue. (the dyno tune is from one of our reputable sources and they were looking for my issue).

8) It is ALWAYS hard to start, but only rarely throws the code.

9) I have not yet tried plug wires because it runs so well once it starts.

Hoping you guys have some suggestions 'cuz I'm perplexed.

 

Sounds like a spark issue. P0302 code is a #2 cylinder misfire. Also check your ignition coil. Make sure the terminals are not tarnished or rusted. If they are, clean them up with a brass brush and/or STP Carb Spray Cleaner. If that does not help, see if someone can temporarily loan you their OEM coil. Or you can buy a new one for ~$35: http://www.mossmini.com/Shop/ViewPro...54&SortOrder=1.

 

This post mentions a bad electrical connector to the injector: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...2-misfire.html.

 

When you install JCW injectors you basically need the JCW reflash or in your case aftermarket I guess. Clearing adaptions on the DME is not usually included on the reflash so you may want the dealer to try that. Sometimes fuel pumps don t prime and cause this problem. Make sure the plugs are ok and work according to the new Tune or this could be a starting issue problem as well

 

Good thoughts. I'll try that this weekend.

 

Calz - please explain what the DME is and does. Will reseting/reflashing the DME affect my current custom tune?

 

Hey Orca.. The DME is the engine computer (Digital Motor electronics) its translated from German.. don t ask why its "motor"
Resetting the adaptions only takes 30 minutes to do on the BMW/ Mini scan tool at the dealer. It absolutely does not affect the Tune. All the software is still "written" on the DME and resetting the DME is just letting the computer know that something is changed and you want it to re learn your driving style. You won t loose any of the hard data on the DME, I promise. We reset DMEs when the fuel changeover happens because of the slightly different blends and ethanol for Summer to Winter and back

THE ONE BIG Concern I have with this setup is the aftermarket TUNE for standard injectors or JCW injectors?... this can be a big issue. JCW injectors and software go hand in hand. You can use the JCW plugs with the smaller aftermarket S/C pulleys but the injectors need the proper software to go with them. If you go to JCW software you will loose your old aftermarket tune

 

DUH! Sorry - brain fart - I just keep calling it the ECU and had convinced myself that the DME was another supporting piece. How ricer of me.

The tune was done specifically for the JCW injectors using a clean OEM JCW tune to build on. So all of the parameters would have been reset at that time. (I checked with the tuner today)
The fact that I saw no difference in pre-tune vs post-tune leads me to believe it is more of an hardware issue than a software issue.?