86 325e idle problems

[civ92hatch]

i just bought a bmw project car. it stalls or just cutts out when i idle at any speed. is there anything i can do?

[jeffreyb4me]

they're are many things, i'm sure you can do, one of them probably, is fixing your car.

start by checking ALL the engine's intake air hoses, oil cap and dipstick seal for air leaks [ loud 'hissing sounds' ] when it's 'running'. likely you'll find one of them cracked badly or off completely. IF NOT post with more info and what you've checked so far....jb.

[csieminski]

I second that advice. My old 528e (same engine--automatic) would do the same thing--when cold, for the first 5-10 minutes, the idle would fall, then be "caught" and abruptly rev up, fall again, etc., until you either accelerated or the car stalled. I believe [correct me if I'm way off] it turned out to be the vacuum tube or something--unfortunately I'm hardly mechanically proficient. The problem was never entirely resolved. In meantime I learned to drive very smoothly using both feet for the first few minutes of each trip!

[civ92hatch]

i checked all of the hoses for leaks and i cant find any at all. there is not anything wrong with the seals near the oil either. surprisingly there are no cracks at all. i heard it could have something to do with my IAC or AIC or sumthin like that. and that there could be too much carbon built up. could it be that cat converter?? would that be whats choking it out?

[jeffreyb4me]

the Idle Control Valves are POWERED CLOSED hence, when they fail, tend to stick OPEN and result in a high idle speed. SEE what happens when you unplug it at 'idle', the speed should go up to the point where it starts 'bouncing' [1400-1800 ]
RPM.
A failed / clogged Cat. Conv. won't keep it from idling unless it so BAD the engine won't rev. past, say 2,500 RPM or so
You said 'project' car, is that good or bad, How does it run otherwise ? [mifiring, rough, black smoke, no-power, etc]...............................jb.

[KC Ron Carter]

Hmm,

Have yoiu met Sam yet?

He is very good on idle issues.

http://www.mesaperformance.com/faqs/idle.html

Later,

[civ92hatch]

i will try to open the idle control valves and try that. i say project car because it needs a lot of touching up, and the interior needs some work. it does not smoke, but the muffler is off at the end so its loud. it runs good but it feels and sounds like something is plugged. in my honda a while back the spark plugs got wet and it did the same type of thing. i will replace the spark plugs but i dont think that that is what it is. ill try to unplug the idle control valves and see how it idles then. thanks a bunch for all of the help.