Problem at Idle...

[Schleckjr]

HELP!

Intermittent issue with my '89 325i. Its not Idle Air Control, MAF Sensor, timing, or anything else really obvious. Just wondering if anyone has known it to be anything else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk8p9p2SeEc

thanks!

[devon.818]

vacuum leak

[Schleckjr]

not vacuum leak. Don't hear it and would a vacuum problem always happen? it wouldn't be this intermittent.

[devon.818]

do you have a bentley?
you need to go through and start troubleshooting everything.

[BergerNJ]

you wont necessarily hear a vacuum leak...smoke test is the only way....

[slammin.e28]

you wont necessarily hear a vacuum leak...smoke test is the only way....

[MTechnikII]

sometimes wrong valve adjustment causes this too, but if you cant get a smoke machine for the leack test, get a plastic small diameter but maybe 3 foot long tube and place one end to your ear and the other end prob the locations you think might leack air, one place that goes mostly unnoticed is the "O"rings for injectors, you wont hear it when the engine running by listening to it, but with a tube you can clearly hear a hisssing noise when the engine is running.
Good luck
Henry
and I hope your plugs are not platinum Bosch

[EThirty318i]

either a vacume leak or its your MAF.

[gtdragon980]

check that intake boot. notorious for cracks...otherwise get out a multimeter and get readings from each sensor and match it up with the bentley readings to see if they're good.

[custom e30]

here is your prob, throttle position sensor

[5Toes]

Get a can of carb cleaner and go nuts

[gorilla]

have you had the intake off

[harold30]

Check this out: http://www.verrill.com/car/idle/e30_idleproblem.shtml

HTH