1985 735i Rev Problems

Hello,

I have a 1985 735i, I have a problem, basically when you first start the car the revs go mad, they keep shooting up and down like the engine can not find its idle resting point which I think is around 400 rpm , also under braking the rev's can completely drop causing the engine to stall (the car is a automatic) . I have been told this could be a problem with the solunoid and tht the could be dust on the contacts, does anyone know if this is true and if it is where the solunoid is located? Cause i cant have any fun with it at the minute like racing boy racers in they corsa's

Many Thanks
James Kimbley.

I've had similar symptoms on two occasions in one year with my '86 528e automatic. It has a smaller engine than your car, but perhaps the cause is the same. The first time it was a bad gasket, and cost about $175 to fix, because much of the engine had to be taken apart. Before fixing it, the problem became so bad that the engine would bog and stall while waiting at traffic lights. More recently, the rough idle returned, accompanied by a hissing noise which grew louder over several weeks; this time it was a vacuum leak. I suppose the problem could be related to the solenoid as well, but I don't know where it's located. You may want to purchase a Bentley or similar repair manual.

Best wishes fixing the problem.

Craig