E30 320 i idle problem

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    Hello all,
  Having just become the proud owner of a 1990 320 i SE i thought i would say hi and join a forum. I bought the car off a mate who was using it as a second car and its in good condition. 88k miles fsh. The car has a strange idle problem though, it misses slightly, worse from cold but still noticeable when hot, after 120 miles on the motorway driving home this weekend it was barely noticeable but starting it up today revealed it was still there. The engine is lovely and smooth all the way from 1000 rpm upwards and does not misfire at all when driving, just has this idle problem. The car has had new plugs, lead set, idle control valve etc in a bid to get rid of the problem but a specialist told my mate he thought it may be an exhaust valve not seating properly? i thought this would still cause a misfire at all revs?

so i am looking for help from anyone who may have a car with similar engine who had this problem etc and may be able to help?

thanks in advance

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dlg_e30 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 24-March-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 52	Topic: E30 320 i idle problem Posted: 25-March-2003 at 00:00
	Hello all, Having just become the proud owner of a 1990 320 i SE i thought i would say hi and join a forum. I bought the car off a mate who was using it as a second car and its in good condition. 88k miles fsh. The car has a strange idle problem though, it misses slightly, worse from cold but still noticeable when hot, after 120 miles on the motorway driving home this weekend it was barely noticeable but starting it up today revealed it was still there. The engine is lovely and smooth all the way from 1000 rpm upwards and does not misfire at all when driving, just has this idle problem. The car has had new plugs, lead set, idle control valve etc in a bid to get rid of the problem but a specialist told my mate he thought it may be an exhaust valve not seating properly? i thought this would still cause a misfire at all revs? so i am looking for help from anyone who may have a car with similar engine who had this problem etc and may be able to help? thanks in advance
	David E30 320I SE

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rezaq Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 20-March-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 248	Posted: 25-March-2003 at 12:32
	David, I have the same problem on my 91 320i SE. I have changed plugs, leads, cap, arm, coil, idle control valve, airflow meter, fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator to cure the problem but it still exists! I have even changed the coolant temperature sensor but to no avail. Mine gets worse when its really hot, when you can feel the engine go out of sync. Drives absolutely pukka though. I have found that richening the mixture helps the problem. A BMW specialist told me that all 6 cylinder E30 models did it from the factory, but I seriously doubt it - I work for Ford as a development engineer and we certainly wouldn't release a car for production if it displayed the same symptoms! The only thing I can think of is a sensor failing - maybe throttle switch/cam/crank sensors? Let me know how you get on.
	Reza Q BEng (Hons), MEng, MIEE 1991 320I SE Lux coupe, 145K 1990 325I Sport Auto, 143K 1988 M3, 65K

jaseb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 11-November-2002 Status: Offline Points: 237	Posted: 25-March-2003 at 17:14
	How about inlet manifold gasket chaps? Try squirting WD40 or something similar at the joint and listen for a change in engine note, my old E21 323i did this and a new gasket cured it. Not a bad DIY job either! Good luck.

dlg_e30 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 24-March-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 52	Posted: 25-March-2003 at 22:21
	Right thanks for the replys, have some news you may want to try.... Whilst talking to a chap i work with today who was fitting me some number plates for me, he told me his 1994 318 i s had a similar problem which he cured by cleaning the inside of the throttle body. He whipped the pipe offf mine and cleaned inside which brought out some muck i must say! then we connected the car upto a diagnostic machine which revealed the HC's to be at 1800.....should be 300! the mixture being high may have been someone trying to fix the idle problem somewhere down the line maybe? anyway by adjusting the hex key adjuster for the mixture next to the air flow meter the HC's came down and the idle smoothed out, not 100% but light years better than before, the gearknob wobbles now not the whole car! so im chuffed that it may have been something simple, i will moniter the situation though cause these things are in my experience not so simple to fix. but worth a try though definatly!! cheers guys
	David E30 320I SE

kbannon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508	Posted: 26-March-2003 at 20:12
	I just cured a similar problem today - the car developed a habit of cutting out over the last 24 hours whenever I stopped (didn't even get the chance to tickover). I cleaned the Idle Air Stabiliser (as well as the rest of the air inlet system) with Carb Cleaner and it cured the problem.
	Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual

dlg_e30 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 24-March-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 52	Posted: 27-March-2003 at 08:15
	where abouts would i find the idle air stabiliser then mate?
	David E30 320I SE

kbannon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508	Posted: 27-March-2003 at 09:15
	the idle air stabiliser is a small piece that runs parallel to the rubber air inlet pipe. There is an electrical plug at one end (black end) and on the other (metal end) the air is able to pass through - on the picture below it can be seen just above and left of the red dipstick.
	Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual