IDLE RPM????

[AndersLS]

Hello Forum...what is the normal idle-rpm for an 320i 1988 e30??

Where do you adjust this???? M20 engine.



Thanks...Anders.

[320Touring]

for a 2.0 m20, idle should be about 700-800rpm when warm

Idle is controlled by the Idle Control Valve (on post 1988 cars)

see pic below for location



It can often get dirty, and can cause erattic idle-to clean it, remove it ans spray with carb cleaner

[AndersLS]

Hello 320touring......ok..the icv....is it really that easy?? As far as I can see from the picture..it seems as if I can do it

Thanks...

[320Touring]

yeah not too difficult dude-just dont go 'poking' screwdrivers etc into it.

you can spray in the carb cleaner then use your hands to block off both ends and shake it-that'll clean it well.

may take a few goes.

good luck

[AndersLS]

Ok...what happens when you adjust the small white plastic screw on the throttle cable? This has nothing to do with idle rpm...i guess?

So...all in all...just adjust the icv......

please confirm...


Anders.

[320Touring]

Ok...what happens when you adjust the small white plastic screw on the throttle cable? This has nothing to do with idle rpm...i guess?

So...all in all...just adjust the icv......

please confirm...


Anders.

I really wouldnt mess with the mixture screw!!

just clean the ICV and make sure the Air Flow Meter is clean and has no leaks in the piping

if the problem still persists just post up again and we'll do our best!

[AndersLS]

Ok.. the mixture is adjusted with the small white screw on the end of the throttle cable? My engine runs at about 500 rpms when idling...this seems a bit to low! I just want to adjust it to about 750-800 rpms...would cleaning the icv do this?

[320Touring]

Ok.. the mixture is adjusted with the small white screw on the end of the throttle cable? My engine runs at about 500 rpms when idling...this seems a bit to low! I just want to adjust it to about 750-800 rpms...would cleaning the icv do this?

should do-only way to find out is to have a go!!good luck

[Andy_magic]

The idle speed on motronic cars is not adjustable (unless you re-prgram the ECU with a new speed)

If it doesn't idle properly, somethin is amiss.

Check this out for the low down.

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ic&p=81184

Dont forget to vote

[psychochild187]

i adjusted my idle with the screw at the end of the throttle linkage its a stop srew. flat head and u can see all of it or well both ends ( as in it hits the trottle linkage)
the white screw at the end of the throttle cable just takes up slack not the mixture .

dosnt the icv just control the smooth idleing.

[Andy_magic]

Yeah, that sounds like it WAS setup 100%. About 500rpm without the help of the ICV sounds just right.

You through the guide and you should be running sweet.

[AndersLS]

Ok ...thanks guys.....so 500 rpm in idle is ok??

[AndersLS]

Hey andy-magic...just read your article....darn fine piece! I reckon my weekend is soughted!!

[Andy_magic]

I got myself a 320iSE that ran like a bucket of poo and had loads of running problems etc and have covered it all in that guide.

Hope you enjoy your weekend!

[hoshy]

After gettin the carb cleaner and some lube spray afterwards on my idle motor thing cleared up nicely. Also drilled a 1.5mm hole in the butterfly. raised the idle revs just a touch. stop start driving is *much* nicer now. previuosly it would sometimes stall trying to return to idle. it's sweet now though.

Dunno what the tech people will think about drilling the butterfly but it worked for me.

[Widge]

Lot's of other cars have poppet valves in the butterfly to aid idling, mostly on carbs though. Would make me suspect that somthing else is amiss if you had to resort to that though. Did you do it after cleaning the ICV and did you test the idle before drilling. May just have been the ICV - which must now be working as it will have to close up a bit to compensate for the hole in the butterfly
What's your idle speed now then?

[hoshy]

Sits at about 850-900 now. not sure what standard is. still lumpy but it's not too bad. I didn't check inbetween the idle motor cleaning and drilling so it could be purely the cleaning that's helped things. Still I guess the hole is an option if cleaning the motor isn't doing much. It really does drive nicer on the stop start runs so I'm happy.

[Widge]

That's about right. Probably cleaning the ICV that did it, but we'll never know!

[Andy_magic]

guess the car that was being worked on didn't have a throttle stop screw to set the gap to.

[hoshy]

That's about right. Probably cleaning the ICV that did it, but we'll never know!

Well, if I'm feeling particularly bored one day I could block up or replace the butterfly