$700 craigslist steal 1984 318i rough idle issue

[e30jake]

noob question...

could someone please explain what the penny trick is, and what it does

[Jean]

It probably needs EVERYTHING.

[dougie30]

noob question...

could someone please explain what the penny trick is, and what it does

[e30jake]

I haven't tried the penny trick but I cleaned the ICV and i could hear the valve moving. Also when it was running i unplugged the electrical connector and the idle went up so i don't think the ICV is my problem.

Same thing happened with mine when I first got it. It didn't run right until I stuck the penny in. Now I have to feather the throttle for a minute or two every once in a while to wait for it to warm up, but once it does it runs smooth. If none of the next few things work for you, I would still say at least see if it works.

[shadowbethesda]

Also just out if curiosity... Can you please post a pic on the other side of the engine so we can see that all the vacuum hoses are hooked up and hooked correctly?

[shadowbethesda]

Just bought the same car. Pics and mileage and more details?

[irish44j]

vac leak would probably cause a high idle, not a low idle/dying.

have you checked the timing?

[EmTwenty]

Tried the penny trick yet?

I haven't tried the penny trick but I cleaned the ICV and i could hear the valve moving. Also when it was running i unplugged the electrical connector and the idle went up so i don't think the ICV is my problem.

[EmTwenty]

So we did some more troubleshooting today. we noticed when you move the steering wheel left and right the idle dips down and wants to die, just like pumping the brakes. So I think just having a load on the engine at low rpms angers my m10, also inducing a misfire. I have a feeling there is a big vacuum leak somewhere. Or maybe it has a vacuum advance issue? I unplugged the vacuum advance solenoid electrical plug and nothing changed with the 2000rpm idle, you guys think maybe that's the culprit?



It's the electrical plug connecting to vacuum advance. Once again thanks for your 2 cents!

[iamsam]

needs less M10 and more M42.

[Pantless Spency]

AFM or ICV.

[e30jake]

Tried the penny trick yet?

[matt0300]

My car idle dips too when I push in the breaks. Someone should chime in on that....

[EmTwenty]

Haha I have a 1987 325is too. And for 700 bucks I could care less that it's automatic. It shifts so smooooth.

[Holland]

I think auto is more of a concern...