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Running Rough - Then OK
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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 325
Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 8:44 am    Post subject: Running Rough - Then OK Reply with quote

Yesterday I was leaving the lakeshore and I got about 200 yards and the car started running really rough and wanted to quit. I kept giving it gas and it was just chugging, like it was running on fumes or less than all six cylinders. Finally with a bit of a backfire it cleared and started running normally. We did have some rain and dew conditions but it's not like this thing hasn't sat out in the rain before. I should mention there was also an awful lot of bugs near the big lake. I thought it hesitated a bit again this AM on the way to work but I'm not 100% sure, the tach stayed steady.

Oh yeah I put in some IsoHeet last night after I got home.

Bad gas/water? Fuel filter clogged? Other? Thoughts?
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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 4:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You could always do a hot soak and that might clear things up, but it's certainly odd...
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

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m78



Joined: 14 Nov 2001
Posts: 2807
Location: In the great midwest

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 6:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cheapest and quickest fix first.

try cleaning the ICV.

check your spark plugs and clean or replace as necessary.

check your battery connections

get some fuel additive and see if it clears up.

clean the throttle housing

.

.
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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 325
Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 6:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Car is still running fine. I did check the battery and plug wires and they are good, which I wondered about because of the washboard on the dirt road. I checked all the vacuum hoses and didn't find any cracks. The intake boot is less than five years old. Maybe the IsoHeet did the trick?

Are there in instructions here for cleaning the ICV?
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Last edited by cjhsa on Wed May 30, 2012 7:49 am; edited 1 time in total
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beejay



Joined: 18 Nov 2002
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Location: Eastern, Pa

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Make sure you use cleaner specifically for MAF sensors. Otherwise you could risk damaging it.
Like this:
http://www.amazon.com/CRC-05110-Mass-Sensor-Cleaner/dp/B000J19XSA
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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 325
Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 10:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where is the ICV?

There is a valve with a screwdriver adjustment for idle that sits on top of and behind the engine. Is that it?
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m78



Joined: 14 Nov 2001
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Location: In the great midwest

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 10:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/2-doors/USA/325e-M20/LHD/M/1984/may/browse/fuel_preparation_system/volume_air_flow_sensor/

#13 in the diagram


there is no adjustment possible. But it does get gummed up with dirt etc.

It's amazing how much it can affect drivability when it becomes sticky. (and by the way it may appear for all intents and purposes clean and freely moving)

It may not be your problem, but it's easy to clean and easy to get to, so it's worth a try.
.
.
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Top Speed 220 km/h

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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 325
Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 10:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK, that's what I thought it was. Mine is a little different in apearance. It has a small cylinder on top with a standard screw in it that can be used to adjust the idle. I've fiddled with it many times.
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m78



Joined: 14 Nov 2001
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Location: In the great midwest

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 10:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cjhsa wrote:
OK, that's what I thought it was. Mine is a little different in apearance. It has a small cylinder on top with a standard screw in it that can be used to adjust the idle. I've fiddled with it many times.


I think I may have had the wrong diagram on there before, so you may want to look at the diagram I have on the link now.

I don't believe there is an adjustment screw.


.

.
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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
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Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here it is:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/545773_2879592929272_1843520137_1642164_1285249944_n.jpg

And a closeup of the adjustment screw:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/575125_2879596409359_1843520137_1642166_393220548_n.jpg
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m78



Joined: 14 Nov 2001
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Location: In the great midwest

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It doesn't look like the same part, but it's hard for me to tell from the pictures.

But the adjustment screw would have nothing to do with the internal cleanliness of the part.

Mine does not have an adjustment screw, but there is an internal valve that can get a little sticky when oil and dirt get in there.

perhaps the screw acts as the valve? Not sure. Someone with an older E30 could tell for sure. But on my model, the ICV can appear for all intents and purposes, completely normal and functioning, but a very ultra-thin layer of grime can really play havoc with drivability.

.

.
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Top Speed 220 km/h

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cjhsa



Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 325
Location: West Michigan

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I always called that thing the EGR valve, but that screw DOES adjust the idle speed.
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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
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Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A few months ago, I cleaned my ICV for the first time in my 85-325e... I was heavily grimy after 27 years, and afterwards, the idle ran much better. I used brake parts cleaner and just sprayed it in there, let it soak a few seconds, and then dumped it out. I was amazed at how dirty the thing really was.

Still not sure if that woudl cause the engine to massively fail like that for a few seconds, and then restore itself though.
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad



Last edited by 85-325e on Wed May 30, 2012 1:46 pm; edited 1 time in total
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m78



Joined: 14 Nov 2001
Posts: 2807
Location: In the great midwest

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

is this the part you're talking about?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e28-e30-Idle-air-rpm-Control-Valve-air-bypass-OEM-/230759319305?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ABMW%7CYear%3A1984&hash=item35ba53c709&vxp=mtr#ht_634wt_1141

.

.And if so, have you taken it off and cleaned it thoroughly inside the valve?

.
.
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Lachssilber Metallic 203 1988 325i sedan with 200,xxx miles

Top Speed 220 km/h

(OO=00=OO)


Last edited by m78 on Wed May 30, 2012 1:46 pm; edited 1 time in total
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idanity



Joined: 21 May 2005
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PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

stomp test ?
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