well, new E30 comes with new problems

[2.5-12]

Hello everyone,

I just jumped into E30s very recently but have been a strongly BMW biased person for years.

my new car is a 1987 325ic sport

the few mechanical problems I have are as follows:
1.) the car cranks for a good 10 seconds before it decides to fire and when it does fire, it starts off barely running and gradually works its way up to 550-600rpm where it will idle in neutral, drive or park.
2.) the Idle, I suspect either the 153 ECU, a intake vacuum leak or a filthy ICV because when it idles, it is rough, properly rough, it shakes the car. it will never die, but its rough in neutral or in drive.
3.) not really mechanical related but my left blinker flashes correctly except for when the brake pedal is depressed, the left tail light is out, the left brake light is dim and the TBL is completely out, common place for a wire short?

a few other things that you may or may not be able to tell me
1.) do all coupé seats bolt into a iC?
2.) how do I go about opening a glove box with a broken off handle?
3.) I think my fog light switch is dead, easy way to tell?

Thanks for any help you may be able to offer :)
-Erik

[jlevie]

(1) & (2) probably share some causes in common. Those would be intake leaks and a sticky or bad ICV. Additionally a weak fuel pump or bad FPR might also be a player in the long crank time before the engine fires.

[2.5-12]

ah, I will have to check the intake boot with carb cleaner

sometimes the car fires right up (as much as it can with a terrible idle) but sometimes its a bit cranky, I guess if I dont find a leak I can move on to fuel pump/fpr

where is the ICV on the M20? I havent dont much with these motors yet. should I use something other than carb cleaner to de-gunk this?

[jlevie]

You'd be best served by taking the car to a shop that can do a smoke test of the intake. Only a few of the possible causes of an intake leak are detectable by visual or carb cleaner checks.

On an M20B25 engine the ICV is mounted just above and to the left of the throttle body. Carb cleaner is fine for cleaning out the ICV. A search will yield more information.

[2.5-12]

I was contemplating just replacing all the rubber bits on the intake side of the block for good measure

the ICV I will clean or replace w/ a new one

is it possible that the 153 (crappy) ecu is causing this? I have a 173 on order.