e46 325i idle control valve

[Andy70]

Hello all, I think I have an iffy idle control valve on my car, seen lots of self help clips on youtube regarding removing and cleaning them, but wondered if it was worth it as you can pick them up really cheap, the revs dip a lot when i pull away and no its not my iffy driving lol, a specialist thought that might be to blame, so I was just thinking if its taken out, is it worth bothering to clean it?

Andy

[TWR]

Hi Andy
I thought the same with my driving, I am just waiting for a Tin Of CRC MAFF Cleaner, I have the CRC Carb cleaner which will not do for the MAFF due to the Electric Elements within the unit, I intend take the Maff & there T.C.V out the same time rather than do one today refit & one tomorrow, it's not a big job & should take approx. 2 / 3 hours, if you are able to do this task check the hoses for Hair Line cracks, check pipes right up to the T.C.V. the T.C.V. Clips can be a Basds to take off depending on the position of the clip, I will return on this post with the result.

[Andy70]

Brilliant, Ill be interested to find out how it goes, cheers

[sixpotter]

Will be keeping an eye out here as have the exact same issue on my 320ci which I assume is pretty much the same on the m54..

Hunts down at a stop when you pull up and dips when pulling away.

[stevesuk]

have you guys carefully checked the rubber hoses between the MAF and throttle body? My old 330ci had very similar symptoms (got to the point of stalling at traffic lights), and a large split in the rubber ducting/hose was the cause.

[Andy70]

Hoses are ok I think mine was hunting and ticking over weird when mine went, car ticks over well now, a bmw specialist mentioned that the valve could be at fault, I was just wondering if it was worth cleaning or just replacing, unless anyone thinks it could be something else?

[TWR]

Andy, taken off the MAFF & used CRC Maff Cleaner as Instructions, leave to "Air Dry" checked hoses & all ok, replaced will let you all know later, going out to try the car this afternoon.

[MTech535]

sixpotter said:

Will be keeping an eye out here as have the exact same issue on my 320ci which I assume is pretty much the same on the m54..

Hunts down at a stop when you pull up and dips when pulling away.

My 325i does exactly the same.

[Andy70]

TWR said:

Andy, taken off the MAFF & used CRC Maff Cleaner as Instructions, leave to "Air Dry" checked hoses & all ok, replaced will let you all know later, going out to try the car this afternoon.

Look forward to it

[TWR]

Although not Cured the issue is a slight improvement, the car has never stalled at traffic light or Uneven on tick over but I know it's not right, hopefully this W/End I will get to the Throttle Valve, remove check & clean out again by using CRC Carb Cleaner, I will not use any cleaner other than this product as it has a very good write up, the pipe is A1 Perfect but I suggest you check the pipe ends that go onto the Throttle valve & the one that Attaches the MAFF to the Air Filter Housing, you may think this pipe is ON but in fact it can deceive you, with the cover off the top of the Radiator, look down to your right under the Air Filter you will see if it's connected fully home, also the opposite end, I will keep you informed

[Andy70]

ok, well my story is that I bought a cheap banger that wasn't looked after and had a few running issues when I bought it which were, hunting and rough idle, not very smooth and the dipping on pull away. Now I replaced a hose which was split, cured the hunting and erratic tick over, I knew it was probably running rich (as the ecu probably adjusted the fuel mixture to allow for the split hose?)so undone the hose just behind the maff and squirted loads of carb cleaner into the air intake hose as my partner revved the engine and that seemed to make the world of difference, it was weird, I done the hose up after and started up, the tick over went berserk for a second or 2 ( I assume re-adjusting itself now it has been cleaned) then settled, so that probably dislodged something there and ran and idled perfectly since so everything cured, smooth running, perfect tick over apart from the revs dipping too much on pull away, which is when the specialist told me it probably is the idle valve, any other offers on that?

[TWR]

Hi Andy
I think you have done all that the HOME DIY can do, if my efforts don't cure it I will get my local garage to put it on the Code reader, that way my time is not wasted, it can be an expensive job with Elimination, I know the Plugs / Leads / and that area is ok as I replaced & checked the lot, it's more annoying than anything else, what I did do yesterday was to leave my Magnetised torch under the bonnet GRRRRR, one side of the bonnet locked, the other unlocked another job for me that I did not want to do lol.

[Andy70]

TWR said:

Hi Andy
I think you have done all that the HOME DIY can do, if my efforts don't cure it I will get my local garage to put it on the Code reader, that way my time is not wasted, it can be an expensive job with Elimination, I know the Plugs / Leads / and that area is ok as I replaced & checked the lot, it's more annoying than anything else, what I did do yesterday was to leave my Magnetised torch under the bonnet GRRRRR, one side of the bonnet locked, the other unlocked another job for me that I did not want to do lol.

oooh not good, my mechanic is really cheap so labour costs shouldn't be too bad, in fact he used to work for our local BMW dealer years ago, then to a reputable BMW independent garage, now has his own unit and I get all that knowledge for £35 an hour, bargain!!! even a local general mechanic is 45-50 quid an hour these days. my plugs are new, so they should be ok and coil packs generally work or they don't? I'll pick his brains again I think, any other suggestions anyone?

[TWR]

The Bonnet issue sorted, I ill not do that again, I again removed the Air Filter / pipes, had the car running & fired CRC Into the Butterfly port, the ste that came out of the back ( White Smoke)nit black, I done this 4>>5>>6 times & let the car run for approx. 5 mins, stopped the engine & replaced the MAFF pipes, I'm not trying to be a clever sod here but entering the Maff Pipe can lead you astray, you may think the basds is on but in some cases the Lower part which you can not see does not connect, the way to find it DOES CONNECT Is by the Large Jubilee clip, this clip when the BOOT ( Rubber Flex pipe)is connected should tighten seconds after turning if you see what I mean, just try a slight pull on the Filter to see if it's connected, you will soon see if it's not as the pipe will slip straight off, I'm sure this pipe causes a lot of problems as you can not SEE if it is fully home, I don't mean to be a clever arse by saying what I just said but it's very easy to think that's it's right when in fact the bloody thing is not, put everything back together & tried, it went like st off a shovel, I shall be doing this procedure every 6 six months that's how & when I service my car & each car I've had in the past, I hope my comments have help someone on here. TWR

[Andy70]

cool yes, did it help in any way?

[TWR]

When I tried the car out Andy, the problem appears to be sorted, I will add tomoro, I don't go tear asrsing with my car but I thought I will give this some stick, there was no hesitation, foot down and away it went, I'm almost positive that the cause at times is due to the reconnecting of the MAFF Pipe, It's a sod to get it right as it flexes when trying to refit, what I done is to put a very light smear of Copper Grease on the pipe & let it find it's own way, as said, the give " Not fitted Right" is when the Clip takes too many turns to tighten, any other issues with this I will put on here. TWR

[Andy70]

Brilliant, glad yours is sorted

[Andy70]

Just an update for those who said they had a similar issue to mine regarding the pulling away at low revs problem. The car was at the garage yesterday and it was diagnosed that the cam sensor is at fault and combine that with an oil breather issue my mechanic recons that could be the problem, so sorry to mislead anyone with the idle control valve problem, that was just the first thing he came up with that could be at fault, but after a diagnostic came up with that, so watch this space, when the parts are in and I have the job done i'll let you know if there is any improvement. Thank for all your help and tips though guys, advice is always welcome and appreciated.

[TWR]

HI & good morn Andy, glad your issue was sorted, although my car is a 2004 E46 Coupe it now runs / looks we'll and they are well worth looking after. TWR

[Andy70]

TWR said:

HI & good morn Andy, glad your issue was sorted, although my car is a 2004 E46 Coupe it now runs / looks we'll and they are well worth looking after. TWR

Not sorted yet he has only just got the bits so watch this space. Mine is an 01 325 ti compact. Not too many of them a out so yes well worth looking after, a come down from my v8 s4 and m3 I used to have but a great little nimble car, I love it