idle problem on my 318i

hi guys looking for some advice i just baught my self a 1991 318i i was told when i baught the car there was an idle proublem assumed it would be the leads or the plugs or something silly but i have changed them all the lead s plugs cap ect i also tryed a new fuel idle control but thats not the problem same with the airflow meter lucky my friend has 1 that we swapped to try these parts at no cost i stopped into my local bmw garage and was told its£55 to hook it up to the machine the mechanic asked me what age the car was so when i says its a 1991 the 1st thing he says was the timien has slipped i had another friend look at it butcouldnt find the point to set it up he thnk is electronic but n ot to sure the only thing i can think of now is maybe a air or fuel problem i can pull away in the car and it dies not nothing as if it going to cut out if i give it a bit more acceliration it kicks back in and runs fine same when i am moving if i keep the revs up above 2000 im realy lost with it now and cant thinkof what else it can be any 1 any ideas what to try next b4 i have to waste money puttin it into the garage when i may be some thing real silly that i have missed any help is mucch apreciated thanks in advance

Look for a vacuum leak and also replace the crankcase ventilation valve (its on the intake and a medium-sized black tube leads to it from the top of the valve cover).

thanks mate i will try that i looked b4 but could nt see anything and to be honest it does sound like its drawin in air from some were i can hear some thing sounds like there s a turbo whinen away lol

in my experience with cars, most of the time it is a leak in the intake manifold. just replace the gasket and you should be good as new. but if the manifold is warped then your talkin money.

Hey All, New to this whole thing but buddy I can relate. I own A 92 318i with around 134,000 miles and when i first got the vehicle my idle would bounce from 1,500 RPM - 2,000 RPM for a bout 4-5 secs. at first I thought the same it must be wires but then it didn't stop. by the middle of the summer it went away and I havent noticed it since then

I have the same problem. I hear a whin like a turbo also. The only difference is mine cuts off or cuts back, and when I gve it some gas it cuts back or dies. Is it a vacuum leak also?

.

I had a horrible case of rough idling I was about to order my idle control valve and have it replaced, but my transmission was also slipping so ifigured I should replace the transmission fluid first, and it fixed all my idling problems as well as the slipping, the car runs like new now, if u seem to have trouble with ur tranny replace the fluid, it helped with me!

I have a similar issue with my '92 318is, however I can only start it with a boost from another vehicle otherwise it is completly dead and, once it is on it only stays running if if keep my foot on the gas. I was told it might be the idle control but im not sure. Plus it is a stick-shift. I'm a DIY beginner. Any help will be appreciated...

As said above, vacuum leak.
When idling the pipe have to be vacuum sealed, and if they are not will cause a rough idle and sometimes cut out.
Check all the pipes AFTER the MAF, any split after that will cause rough idle and any splits on vacuum hoses will cause rough idle and cut outs (more so when cold) also check the intake manifold for splits, and check the gasket.

For those who haven't cleaned their Idle control value, it's a 20 minute job and is about 6 10mm bolts, grab some carb cleaner and do it. There are plenty of DIYs for those of you who don't know how, but it really is an easy job.

Good luck everyone

I had the same problem, before i took the idle control off, i seen the 2 hoses that go to it were not on all the way. make sure there on all the way that fixed mine. but i also cleaned it out anyway. also make the the hose that goes from the idle control to the engine is in the engine properly.

BeemaLDV, you responded to a really old thread. Check the date.

yea i know but people still lokk at these threads for help

Old thread but issue is ongoing so I guess it's ok to bring it back up.

Originally Posted by BeemaLDV

I had the same problem, before i took the idle control off, i seen the 2 hoses that go to it were not on all the way. make sure there on all the way that fixed mine. but i also cleaned it out anyway. also make the the hose that goes from the idle control to the engine is in the engine properly.

Thanks for bringing this back up. I think cleaning the ICV will be my next PM.