Higher than usual RPM at idle

Jeef Beef · 07-15-2012, 09:07 AM

My car usually idles around 600rpm. Today I noticed that at the lights, the RPM will fluctuate slightly and end up around 800rpm. Enough of a difference for me to notice the increased noise and vibration. Obviously this isn't something normal.

Thoughts?

Jeef Beef · 07-15-2012, 09:16 AM

I guess I'm gonna have to check for vacuum leaks tomorrow. When I restart the car, idle will resit at 600rpm but after driving it for a bit it'll go back up to 800.

avecta · 07-15-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeef Beef

I guess I'm gonna have to check for vacuum leaks tomorrow. When I restart the car, idle will resit at 600rpm but after driving it for a bit it'll go back up to 800.

It's normal bro, stop stressing!

kmli5 · 07-15-2012, 06:27 PM

My 130i does that occasionally as well. Like 3-4 times in the last 7 months. Doesn't seem to be something wrong.

Mechz · 07-15-2012, 06:29 PM

It will fluctuate depending on the alternator and air-con.

Anything under 1200 is normal depending on the outside temp.

Eddie135 · 07-15-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechz

It will fluctuate depending on the alternator and air-con.

Anything under 1200 is normal depending on the outside temp.

Mine's same too with air-con on

rpm will pull up to about 800 ish and drops back to 650.

Jeef Beef · 07-15-2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avecta

It's normal bro, stop stressing!

Haha man with all the little things that happen with this car, I'm always wary of any changes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmli5

My 130i does that occasionally as well. Like 3-4 times in the last 7 months. Doesn't seem to be something wrong.

Does it always return to your normal idle RPM after a while?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechz

It will fluctuate depending on the alternator and air-con.

Anything under 1200 is normal depending on the outside temp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie135

Mine's same too with air-con on

rpm will pull up to about 800 ish and drops back to 650.

Yeh I made sure everything was off and it was doing it, but it WAS extra cold yesterday.

TheRuss · 02-03-2015, 03:29 AM

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I've noticed my car doing this recently as well... it usually idles at 600rpm, but in the last week or two I've noticed it idling at 800rpms.

Today on the way to work it was at 800rpms (as it usually is at the moment) and then in traffic fell to 600rpms at one point until I next nudged the car forward in traffic a bit, then it sat at 800rpms again.

Does anyone know why it does this? To confirm - A/C was NOT on at the time. Neither were any electronics except the radio and fan blower on minimum setting. (No heated seats or rear windscreen or headlights/sidelights/wipers etc were on.)

Could it be that my battery is getting low and the car is trying to put extra charge into it? Or could it just be the cold weather? It was just below freezing today... (Car idles at 800rpms even when it's almost at full operating temp though.)

Dackelone · 02-03-2015, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRuss

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I've noticed my car doing this recently as well... it usually idles at 600rpm, but in the last week or two I've noticed it idling at 800rpms.

Today on the way to work it was at 800rpms (as it usually is at the moment) and then in traffic fell to 600rpms at one point until I next nudged the car forward in traffic a bit, then it sat at 800rpms again.

Does anyone know why it does this? To confirm - A/C was NOT on at the time. Neither were any electronics except the radio and fan blower on minimum setting. (No heated seats or rear windscreen or headlights/sidelights/wipers etc were on.)

Could it be that my battery is getting low and the car is trying to put extra charge into it? Or could it just be the cold weather? It was just below freezing today... (Car idles at 800rpms even when it's almost at full operating temp though.)

I bet you have DCT, right? There is a SW update to fix idle issues and trans gear selection issues for the DCT.

Dack

TheRuss · 02-03-2015, 04:34 AM

Nope, 6MT with an N54...

Oh, and car was in neutral with foot off the clutch, parking brake on.

7smurfs · 06-12-2015, 11:06 PM

I'm having this issue atm. Did you figure it out russ?

Mines MT and when it's cold it stays at 650rpm however when it's full warmed up it stays at 800rpm idle

TheRuss · 06-13-2015, 09:11 AM

Seems to be normal mate. No idea why it does it, but even BMW give a range that idle can exist in, rather than an exact figure.

OzJustin · 06-16-2015, 03:35 AM

Has anyone had the reverse of this? My idle dropped to about 400rpm as I came to a stop the other day. It was as if the car was about to stall. Mine is an auto & air-con wasn't on. Does a failing HPFP cause a funny idle? My upshifts also seem a bit lurchy lately.

7smurfs · 06-16-2015, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRuss

Seems to be normal mate. No idea why it does it, but even BMW give a range that idle can exist in, rather than an exact figure.

Hmm i see.. was worried it was a symptom of worse things to come

nesnah · 06-16-2015, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzJustin

Has anyone had the reverse of this? My idle dropped to about 400rpm as I came to a stop the other day. It was as if the car was about to stall. Mine is an auto & air-con wasn't on. Does a failing HPFP cause a funny idle? My upshifts also seem a bit lurchy lately.

sounds like a vacuum leak

07-15-2012, 09:07 AM	#1
Jeef Beef Lord Captain Commander 110 Rep 3,093 Posts Drives: a sleeper Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Higher than usual RPM at idle My car usually idles around 600rpm. Today I noticed that at the lights, the RPM will fluctuate slightly and end up around 800rpm. Enough of a difference for me to notice the increased noise and vibration. Obviously this isn't something normal. Thoughts? __________________ E82 135i M-sport: SGM/6MT/Black
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07-15-2012, 09:16 AM	#2
Jeef Beef Lord Captain Commander 110 Rep 3,093 Posts Drives: a sleeper Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	I guess I'm gonna have to check for vacuum leaks tomorrow. When I restart the car, idle will resit at 600rpm but after driving it for a bit it'll go back up to 800. __________________ E82 135i M-sport: SGM/6MT/Black
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07-15-2012, 06:27 PM	#4
kmli5 Private First Class 10 Rep 183 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (1)	My 130i does that occasionally as well. Like 3-4 times in the last 7 months. Doesn't seem to be something wrong. __________________ 2008 BMW M3 \| 6MT \| OEM Exhaust Mod \| Black Grilles \|
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07-15-2012, 06:29 PM	#5
Mechz Naturally Aspirated Fiend 1 Rep 153 Posts Drives: 130i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	It will fluctuate depending on the alternator and air-con. Anything under 1200 is normal depending on the outside temp. __________________ '06 130i M Sport Hatch
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02-03-2015, 03:29 AM	#8
TheRuss Lieutenant 28 Rep 408 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: South West, UK iTrader: (0)	Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I've noticed my car doing this recently as well... it usually idles at 600rpm, but in the last week or two I've noticed it idling at 800rpms. Today on the way to work it was at 800rpms (as it usually is at the moment) and then in traffic fell to 600rpms at one point until I next nudged the car forward in traffic a bit, then it sat at 800rpms again. Does anyone know why it does this? To confirm - A/C was NOT on at the time. Neither were any electronics except the radio and fan blower on minimum setting. (No heated seats or rear windscreen or headlights/sidelights/wipers etc were on.) Could it be that my battery is getting low and the car is trying to put extra charge into it? Or could it just be the cold weather? It was just below freezing today... (Car idles at 800rpms even when it's almost at full operating temp though.)
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02-03-2015, 04:34 AM	#10
TheRuss Lieutenant 28 Rep 408 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: South West, UK iTrader: (0)	Nope, 6MT with an N54... Oh, and car was in neutral with foot off the clutch, parking brake on.
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06-12-2015, 11:06 PM	#11
7smurfs Captain 137 Rep 902 Posts Drives: M3 CS Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	I'm having this issue atm. Did you figure it out russ? Mines MT and when it's cold it stays at 650rpm however when it's full warmed up it stays at 800rpm idle
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06-13-2015, 09:11 AM	#12
TheRuss Lieutenant 28 Rep 408 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: South West, UK iTrader: (0)	Seems to be normal mate. No idea why it does it, but even BMW give a range that idle can exist in, rather than an exact figure.
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06-16-2015, 03:35 AM	#13
OzJustin Lieutenant 77 Rep 541 Posts Drives: 2008 135i AT Monaco Blue Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [8.66]	Has anyone had the reverse of this? My idle dropped to about 400rpm as I came to a stop the other day. It was as if the car was about to stall. Mine is an auto & air-con wasn't on. Does a failing HPFP cause a funny idle? My upshifts also seem a bit lurchy lately. __________________ My Build Thread
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