1987 325ic running rough

[alami]

I have a 1987 BMW 325ic which recenley staretd running rough to th epoint that now it either dies or if it runs I hardly can rev up the engine and move . The BMW delear told me that there is a vacuum leak in the intake manifold and the oxygen sensor is bad. They wanted an arm and a leg to fix it. WhenI brought the car home
my neighbor found out that if he disables the throttle body sensor the engine idles fine.
That was after i changed the mass airflow sensor which did not fix the problem.
Does anyone have any idea what may be causing this. I can hear no leak and not too long ago it passed the emmission test. This car only has 52k miles on it and generally it is in very good shape. I tried to read the diagnostic code by pushing th egas pedal, but could not get it to work.

Anyone has seen similar problem ? help

[omw41]

Might be a stupid question but, did you change out the throttle body sensor when you did the afm?

[alami]

No , I did not change the TBS, from what I read changing it a little tricky. Do you think it needs to be changed.

[omw41]

i don't know give me a day or two to read up on it.

[alami]

much appretiated OWM41

[omw41]

When you say throttle body sensor, I'm a little confused about what you mean. the air flow sensor, throttle switch, and cold start valve all connect up to the Motronic control unit. If you can send or post a picture it would help, because when you say a Throttle Body Sensor, I'm not sure if you're talking about a harness...or what. Does that make sense??

[alami]

Attached is the picture that you asked for, When this sensor is disconnected the car idles ok.

[omw41]

ok..let me check it out on my car tomorrow and I'll tell you what kind of job I think it is... not blowing you off...the car is up on jackstands all the way around and I'm doing the guibo and some suspension work...so I'll be on the car tomorrow...I'll let you know..

[dannyb86]

sounds like the same problem im having. only my car wont run unless you constantly pump the gas. its a 87 325es. let me know what you find out.

[M-technik-3]

I would have replaced nothing.

1st I would have done a leak test with some ether spraying around the intake boot at the TB. To find if it truely was leaking.

2nd I would have pulled the ICV aka the Idle Control Valve and cleaned the inside out with some parts cleaner fluid.

3rd I would have cleaned the Throttle body itself on the inside.

Your O2 sensor can be disconnected but the car will burn rich till it's sufficently warmed up.