Rough idle. Help!! - BMW Forum

PhunkDJti · 05-09-2004, 11:05 AM

i have a '96 318ti. i was feeling good cuz i just got new wheels and put some springs on. few days later all sorts of shit starts goin wrong

ok well........the idle fluctuates between 600 - 1100 rpm. but even when its idling at normal speed the exhaust suddenly sounds really lumpy (best explanation of the sound i can think of) and it just feels really rough. WTF?? i should probably replace the acc. belt but i know that wouldnt have anything to do with this problem. The check engine light also came on.
i scheduled an appointment with a garage to see what fault code it spits out, but there are only a few places around here that are any good w/ bimmers, so its not until thursday.

what could be causing this problem? someone please help me out here thanx

Kevin325i · 05-09-2004, 12:14 PM

Sounds like the idle control valve is sticking. I dunno what the check engine light is from though. If the shop gets that cleared up and there's no problem but the idle is still rough. Take it for a ride on the highway, I mean like just an hour cruise at 70. There might just be some crap stuck in the throttle body you can get worked out.

Otherwise, there's a ton of stuff on how to fix the ICV. Search the forum.

Kevin

PhunkDJti · 05-09-2004, 02:12 PM

ok, i took a look and found that the breather hose connecting to the valve cover is cracked and dry rotted to hell. i would def. think that would be the problem. but not the whole problem since i wouldnt think that'd cause the check engine light to go on.

and when my idle started to fluctuate i did take it out for a while and ... nuthin.

Kevin325i · 05-09-2004, 06:15 PM

Duct tape her up, see what that does. It might be part of the reason it's on. No way to be sure till you get it read I guess.

Good luck
Kevin

ridikuledind · 05-09-2004, 09:30 PM

It could be your mass airflow sensor.

PhunkDJti · 05-10-2004, 10:21 AM

tried good 'ol reliable duct tape, really didnt do anything ....hope its not the mass airflow sensor, those f**kers are expensive. also hope its not like the cat er sumthin. i fould another place that im gonna take it to today to read it . ill see what codes she spits out

fresh328 · 05-10-2004, 12:25 PM

Did you wash your car before you have the rough idle? Cause my '96 328 started acting weird especially the idle. Found out later the water damaged the DME which will give you a "check engine" unstable idle and q false reading on “mass airflow sensor failed”. That could be your problem and this DME is not cheap to replace.