How long will a ISV last

[ecsk]

My 325i has surging idle, as usual I checked air leak, throttle switch under the throttle body, they are all good, then electrical test shows the ISV is out of spec. I have a new one in part bin, swap it in, all good.
The ISV that goes back are very new, about 2 years old. Am I just unlucky to have a bad one or it's the usual life span, it's a over US$200 part !!

[AndrewBird]

Could just be gunked up. A bit of carb cleaner sprayed into it and then shaking it back and forth will usually free it up. That is, unless the coil is burnt up.

[ecsk]

Could just be gunked up. A bit of carb cleaner sprayed into it and then shaking it back and forth will usually free it up. That is, unless the coil is burnt up.

Cheers, done that already .