Accelleration and idle problems

[M5power]

well, i thought it was my alternator, whenever i start up my car it'll almost die when regularly idling, i have to keep my foot on the gas when i start it up in the mornings, and now in the afternoon sometimes; but even then the idle will move up and down. Then when i start to drive i'll hit the gas, i'll start going a lil bit and then my car will almost just cut off and the accelleration is gone. within a second it'll come back. any idea waht this could be? Please help. I think this other problem im having is linked to it. well whenever i try to rev my engine sometimes it hesitates too. or when i rev it my lights will start to dim; just a lil. When im accellerating my car seems to HESITATE ALOT and i lose ALOT of power. it sucks. but could my alternator cause this, i thought of it as it because whenever im flooring it its using more power and making the alternator work harder. im just wanting to make sure before i go and buy this damn alternator. others said it could be my Mass Air Flow Sensor? any suggestions on waht to try? i replaced all my fuel lines and vaccum hoses recently, and no change.

My car is a 1985 BMW 528e. thanks

[sp0rky]

My car had a similar problem, but the lights didnt dim...

it was the idle control valve...

[M5power]

well, i found out that my lights dim whenever i had my car off and my subs blaring. but you had the problem with the accelleration as well? and it was the Idle Control Valve..hmmmm. didn't know that was linked to accelleration

OHH YEAH! and i realized today, when my cars driving and idling it'll be rite about 500rpm's and just sit there and jump 100 up and down up and down whenever in neutral or regular idling..did u have that same prob?

[sp0rky]

the problem i had was the car would idle fine in park, then i'd shift into drive and it would start shuttering and dipping down to 500 rpm, back up to 1100, and continue to flutter... as I accelerated, it felt like no power and had a hard time climbing up in RPM then it was fine, but it only did this when it was cold.. most of the time it would cure itself within a minute, sometimes it lasted a little while longer.

[sp0rky]

After re-reading your post, it sounds like you should also check your AFM

[bimmer528e]

I had almost the exact same problem with a van and it was the fuel pump. But its hard to know till something goes.

[M5power]

yeah....ima take it to a BMW shop tomorrow and just say fuck it! tell me wtf is wrong with it! lol, hes a friend of mine so he'll hook me up

Thanks for all the help, and if there are any other ideas lemme know

PS: i heard u could test the Fuel Regulator? any ideas?