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BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

5349 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:31 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 240 of 536

#2387 of 5349 stalling by hodgie

Oct 17, 2005 (10:14 am)

Hi, I've just bought a 1994, 3 series bmw. Sometimes when the car is stationary with the engine running the revs drop down really low until the car is about to stall, the engine then revs itself up to about 1.5 revs. It repeats this over and over again. Does anybody know what this is and how it can be fixed? It is happening about 80% of the time now when the car is stationary. Sometimes the engine cuts out all together and takes a few turns of the key to get going.

#2388 of 5349 hodgie by div2

Oct 17, 2005 (8:23 pm)

You need to test the throttle position sensor(TPS) as well as the idle control valve(ICV). The test procedures are dead simple assuming you have access to a digital multimeter. I'd strongly suggest picking up a copy of the BMW E36 Bentley Manual if you plan to perform maintenance and repairs yourself; Threes of that vintage are actually quite easy to work on.

#2389 of 5349 330 Cia Questions by jimkim

Oct 18, 2005 (10:42 am)

I have a 2001 330 Ci automatic and have recently noticed a shimmy in the front end when making turns. I've also noticed a little rattling noise in the front end usually around the right front tire. Anybody have a clue?
 
The car has always had a tendancy to stall at times just after it's first started and in slow speed stops and starts.
 
Thanks in advance for your help.

#2390 of 5349 330i vs. 325i enginge question by timny

Oct 18, 2005 (2:18 pm)

With the displacement on the 2006 330 and 325 engines being the same, how can one tell for certain if the correct engine is in a given 330?
 
The reason I ask: I have a loaner 330i while mine is in the service center (again!) and the loaner feels more powerful (much more powerful) than my car, especially in lower gears. The same throttle pressure that would get my car off to a healthy but reasonable acceleration results in the loaner positively leaping off of the line. At 3/4+ throttle, my car feels like it hunkers down first and then gets off to a good clip; the loaner roars off without any hesitation. Both car have similar mileage (loaner = 1900, mine = 2200). Mine has a sport package; the loaner does not. Both are AT.
 
Could it possibly be the wrong engine is in my car??

#2391 of 5349 Re: 330i vs. 325i enginge question [timny] by dave330i

Oct 18, 2005 (2:57 pm)

Replying to: timny (Oct 18, 2005 2:18 pm)
"Could it possibly be the wrong engine is in my car??"
 
No. Most likely explaination is how the 2 cars have been driven. Odds are the loaner's been driven more aggressively than your car. Software adapts to driver's habit to optimize performance.

#2392 of 5349 Wiper refills - by genee

Oct 18, 2005 (4:06 pm)

Went to the local BMW parts window and asked about refills for the 2002 325i. I was totally blown away when he said they were $2.90 each. New Rain-X blades - which don't have the proper connection insert are $9 a pop at the big-box stores .. Anco about the same ... Trico doesn't list the car. So, we will try the BMW product and see (hopefully).

#2393 of 5349 genee by div2

Oct 18, 2005 (8:10 pm)

I found a similar deal with the oil filter inserts. The STP filter at Autozone was made in China and cost $10. The BMW filter cost $6.88 with my CCA discount and was made in Germany.

#2394 of 5349 Re: 330i vs. 325i enginge question [dave330i] by timny

Oct 19, 2005 (7:41 am)

Replying to: dave330i (Oct 18, 2005 2:57 pm)
Interesting ...
 
This would be consistent with another posted I read a post here a while ago about the break-in period for a previous model 5-series ... the owner had driven it aggressively from the beginning, and subsequently a technician driving the car some months later noticed it displayed considerably more power (thought the 530 performed like a 545).
So is this sort of phenomena dynamic or pre-determined by one's behavior during the break-in period? (i.e., if I start driving my car more aggressively, will it "loosen" up as well, or having been pretty mild on the petel during the break-in period have I permanently trained timidity into my car??).

#2395 of 5349 Re: 330i vs. 325i enginge question [dave330i] by timny

Oct 19, 2005 (7:43 am)

Replying to: dave330i (Oct 18, 2005 2:57 pm)
Interesting ...
 
This would be consistent with another posted I read a post here a while ago about the break-in period for a previous model 5-series ... the owner had driven it aggressively from the beginning, and subsequently a technician driving the car some months later noticed it displayed considerably more power (thought the 530 performed like a 545).
 
So is this sort of phenomena dynamic or pre-determined by one's behavior during the break-in period? (i.e., if I start driving my car more aggressively, will it "loosen" up as well, or having been pretty mild on the petel during the break-in period have I permanently trained timidity into my car??).

#2396 of 5349 Re: 330i vs. 325i enginge question [timny] by dave330i

Oct 19, 2005 (8:53 am)

Replying to: timny (Oct 19, 2005 7:43 am)
"So is this sort of phenomena dynamic or pre-determined by one's behavior during the break-in period? (i.e., if I start driving my car more aggressively, will it "loosen" up as well, or having been pretty mild on the petel during the break-in period have I permanently trained timidity into my car??)."
 
Software constantly updates so it's dynamic, but it does take some time. My car wasn't truly "broken in" until 20k or so.

Messages Page 240 of 536

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