Rough idle, finally fixed

imported_mega · 12-11-2009, 06:35 AM

My car has had a really rough idle sense day one of ownership, sometimes it stumbles so bad I thought I've been rear ended, it's that rough. An interesting side note, the really rough idle never showed on the rpm guage, it always showed perfectly steady

Fixed!

The car was in the shop for the radio, I guess they had to reflash every system, it was an all day software update, took 2 days, and most of my settings were lost, like dash light brightness.

Now that I have the car back, within 5 minutes of driving I noticed the really bad idle is fixed. I had actually taken the car in for the bad idle before, and they said it was normal.

it was not normal!

Maybe this will fix my stalling issue, once every 2 weeks the car will start up and immediately stall, the engine just shuts off, it only does this after spirited driving when the car is good and hot, and it has to sit off for 20-30 minutes. I have been blaming this on vapor lock, just like an old car or motorcycle, the fuel boils out of the fuel lines or the fuel pump, old cars have the fuel pump mounted to the engine block like our n54's are. We shall see if the stalling goes away.

escobar929 · 12-11-2009, 07:18 AM

sweet! good to know

Why Knot · 12-11-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imported_mega

My car has had a really rough idle sense day one of ownership, sometimes it stumbles so bad I thought I've been rear ended, it's that rough. An interesting side note, the really rough idle never showed on the rpm guage, it always showed perfectly steady

Fixed!

The car was in the shop for the radio, I guess they had to reflash every system, it was an all day software update, took 2 days, and most of my settings were lost, like dash light brightness.

Now that I have the car back, within 5 minutes of driving I noticed the really bad idle is fixed. I had actually taken the car in for the bad idle before, and they said it was normal.

it was not normal!

Maybe this will fix my stalling issue, once every 2 weeks the car will start up and immediately stall, the engine just shuts off, it only does this after spirited driving when the car is good and hot, and it has to sit off for 20-30 minutes. I have been blaming this on vapor lock, just like an old car or motorcycle, the fuel boils out of the fuel lines or the fuel pump, old cars have the fuel pump mounted to the engine block like our n54's are. We shall see if the stalling goes away.

I had my 135i in for occasional non-working audio system and occasional long crank times. I also got the software update and the car runs even better than before. But what is most amazing is that the oil temperature is now 10 to 15 degress lower than before. I have posted several times on Bimmerpost and BMW CCA to see if anyone knows what the software update does, but no replies to date. I'm glad you are as pleased with the results as I am.

imported_mega · 12-11-2009, 10:00 AM

I cant verify the temp change until it warms up some, mine always sits where it is in this picture, unless I can really open it up, which is rare. I will not go past 1/4 throttle until the oil temp guage is around 175-180, at least 2 lines up

Why Knot · 12-11-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imported_mega

I cant verify the temp change until it warms up some, mine always sits where it is in this picture, unless I can really open it up, which is rare. I will not go past 1/4 throttle until the oil temp guage is around 175-180, at least 2 lines up

That's where my oil temperature used to be, now it is 220 to 230. We had a couple of warm days (65 on December 3rd, 25 today; don't you love New England)since the update where I ran the A/C and 230 was the max temperature even after driving almost 2 hours. No long crank times and the audio system plays every time.

warmtoes · 12-11-2009, 02:45 PM

I really wonder what they've done in firmware updates. Mine was done last January to fix something else and it has run better ever since as well.

GotM · 12-11-2009, 05:44 PM

Mine runs a tick or 2 below where your is in the picture. Most of my daily commutes to work (8 miles) it never even gets close to the high point.

My car has a odd idle since the first day I have owned it. It is like it stumbles here and there. The tach is rock solid, but you can hear the stumble with the exhaust. No long cranks at all. What I think is long sometimes is less than 1 second.

RPM90 · 12-11-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why Knot

That's where my oil temperature used to be, now it is 220 to 230. We had a couple of warm days (65 on December 3rd, 25 today; don't you love New England)since the update where I ran the A/C and 230 was the max temperature even after driving almost 2 hours. No long crank times and the audio system plays every time.

I rarely hit 230F. I got there this past summer in over 90F ambient temps and running very hard on the turbos.
Normal spirited driving I'm around 220F, a bit cooler on the gauge that what your pic shows.
I have an 09 and the oil temp runs nicely "cool".

themyst · 12-14-2009, 10:08 AM

I saw 250F at the most during some hard WOT driving in the hot summer weather. Generally speaking 230 in cooler temperatures, 240 in the summer.

imported_mega · 12-15-2009, 10:10 AM

temp on my car is basically unchanged

Mega Man · 12-15-2009, 10:16 AM

I'm at my dealership getting my oil changed and a software update...I didn't know I'm going to lose all my settings...oh well, hopefully I'll get all the goodies and perks you guys mentioned with my upgraded software. I guess this is e82 SP1.

BrokenVert · 12-15-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why Knot

I had my 135i in for occasional non-working audio system and occasional long crank times. I also got the software update and the car runs even better than before. But what is most amazing is that the oil temperature is now 10 to 15 degress lower than before. I have posted several times on Bimmerpost and BMW CCA to see if anyone knows what the software update does, but no replies to date. I'm glad you are as pleased with the results as I am.

If you have a performance exhaust apparently there is a slightly special version of the software that gives you an extra 10-15 HP. A guy on E90 post confirmed this with a dyno run, the car with a performance exhaust (stock otherwise) was reaching 335 HP and 330 lb/ft is I remember correctly.

And the cooling thing, I took a 500 mile road trip, all steady 60-75 MPH cruising and the car didnt get above 220 F

And I had a similar issue that you did OP. My car always took 4-5 seconds to crank in the winter and I have stalled many times. Thank you awesome for the software update BMW, unlike Vista Service Pack 2... it gave me the Blue Screen of Death a mere 3 hours after I had configuered the update

JasonCSU · 12-15-2009, 10:46 AM

Those of you who have had the software update, do you happen to know the version number of it? I believe you can check this by entering the hidden menus that has been posted about before. I'd like to compare it to the version currently on my car to see if the dealer reflashed my car when it was recently serviced.

.. · 10-04-2013, 01:05 PM

If you require this update and are out of warranty, will they do it without charge?

abirmaher · 10-05-2013, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imported_mega

My car has had a really rough idle sense day one of ownership, sometimes it stumbles so bad I thought I've been rear ended, it's that rough. An interesting side note, the really rough idle never showed on the rpm guage, it always showed perfectly steady

Fixed!

The car was in the shop for the radio, I guess they had to reflash every system, it was an all day software update, took 2 days, and most of my settings were lost, like dash light brightness.

Now that I have the car back, within 5 minutes of driving I noticed the really bad idle is fixed. I had actually taken the car in for the bad idle before, and they said it was normal.

it was not normal!

Maybe this will fix my stalling issue, once every 2 weeks the car will start up and immediately stall, the engine just shuts off, it only does this after spirited driving when the car is good and hot, and it has to sit off for 20-30 minutes. I have been blaming this on vapor lock, just like an old car or motorcycle, the fuel boils out of the fuel lines or the fuel pump, old cars have the fuel pump mounted to the engine block like our n54's are. We shall see if the stalling goes away.

SMe kind of situation here. Had that bad idle and they had to reflash it last week and now it's driving like a dream. I've been enjoying it a ton since I got it back.

msthilaire · 10-06-2013, 03:44 PM

Mine had this same problem, twice actually. Cold start issues mostly, sounds like the same problem you are having, the car was just running rich. I think it may have been a valve leak. There may have even been a recall related to this if I remember right?

12-11-2009, 06:35 AM	#1
imported_mega Colonel 122 Rep 2,199 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	Rough idle, finally fixed My car has had a really rough idle sense day one of ownership, sometimes it stumbles so bad I thought I've been rear ended, it's that rough. An interesting side note, the really rough idle never showed on the rpm guage, it always showed perfectly steady Fixed! The car was in the shop for the radio, I guess they had to reflash every system, it was an all day software update, took 2 days, and most of my settings were lost, like dash light brightness. Now that I have the car back, within 5 minutes of driving I noticed the really bad idle is fixed. I had actually taken the car in for the bad idle before, and they said it was normal. it was not normal! Maybe this will fix my stalling issue, once every 2 weeks the car will start up and immediately stall, the engine just shuts off, it only does this after spirited driving when the car is good and hot, and it has to sit off for 20-30 minutes. I have been blaming this on vapor lock, just like an old car or motorcycle, the fuel boils out of the fuel lines or the fuel pump, old cars have the fuel pump mounted to the engine block like our n54's are. We shall see if the stalling goes away. __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Driving e82, e72, e85, R53 Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, many various 3s.
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12-11-2009, 07:18 AM	#2
escobar929 Brigadier General 154 Rep 4,528 Posts Drives: M2 CS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Hollywood, FL iTrader: (14) Garage List 2020 M2 CS [10.00] 2020 M240i [0.00]	sweet! good to know
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12-11-2009, 10:00 AM	#4
imported_mega Colonel 122 Rep 2,199 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	I cant verify the temp change until it warms up some, mine always sits where it is in this picture, unless I can really open it up, which is rare. I will not go past 1/4 throttle until the oil temp guage is around 175-180, at least 2 lines up __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Driving e82, e72, e85, R53 Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, many various 3s.
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12-11-2009, 02:45 PM	#6
warmtoes Lieutenant Colonel 31 Rep 1,917 Posts Drives: EBII 435i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (1)	I really wonder what they've done in firmware updates. Mine was done last January to fix something else and it has run better ever since as well. __________________ *2014 EBII 435i xDrive M-sport* Gone: 2011 TiAg F25 X3 xDrive35i M-sport Gone: 2008 TiAg w/Coral Red E88 135i Cab M-sport
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12-11-2009, 05:44 PM	#7
GotM Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ 6MT Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ iTrader: (0)	Mine runs a tick or 2 below where your is in the picture. Most of my daily commutes to work (8 miles) it never even gets close to the high point. My car has a odd idle since the first day I have owned it. It is like it stumbles here and there. The tach is rock solid, but you can hear the stumble with the exhaust. No long cranks at all. What I think is long sometimes is less than 1 second.
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12-14-2009, 10:08 AM	#9
themyst Major General 177 Rep 6,631 Posts Drives: '16 MK7 GTI Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (8)	I saw 250F at the most during some hard WOT driving in the hot summer weather. Generally speaking 230 in cooler temperatures, 240 in the summer. __________________ E90 LCI N54 6AT
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12-15-2009, 10:10 AM	#10
imported_mega Colonel 122 Rep 2,199 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	temp on my car is basically unchanged __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Driving e82, e72, e85, R53 Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, many various 3s.
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12-15-2009, 10:16 AM	#11
Mega Man エアーマンが倒せない 270 Rep 2,041 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 135i [0.00]	I'm at my dealership getting my oil changed and a software update...I didn't know I'm going to lose all my settings...oh well, hopefully I'll get all the goodies and perks you guys mentioned with my upgraded software. I guess this is e82 SP1. __________________ 1ADDICT \| Black Shadowline Grills \| KW V2 \| CP-E Tow-Hook Plate \| CP-E Catback Exhaust \| Tow-Hook \| Evolution Racewerks Intercooler \| ER Charge Pipe \| HKS SQV IV \| ER Intercooler Shroud \| BMS Oil Catch Can \| COBB Access Port \| APEX ARC-8 \| EAS OE Performance Brake Upgrade \| SLeK Carbon Fiber Hood \|
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12-15-2009, 10:46 AM	#13
JasonCSU Colonel 699 Rep 2,548 Posts Drives: '08 135i, '88 325is Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0) Garage List 1988 BMW 325is [0.00] 2008 BMW 135i [0.00]	Those of you who have had the software update, do you happen to know the version number of it? I believe you can check this by entering the hidden menus that has been posted about before. I'd like to compare it to the version currently on my car to see if the dealer reflashed my car when it was recently serviced. __________________ Delivered in Munich, broken in on the Nurburgring.
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10-04-2013, 01:05 PM	#14
.. Lieutenant 62 Rep 581 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (0)	If you require this update and are out of warranty, will they do it without charge?
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10-06-2013, 03:44 PM	#16
msthilaire Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 135i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Aliso Viejo, California iTrader: (0)	Mine had this same problem, twice actually. Cold start issues mostly, sounds like the same problem you are having, the car was just running rich. I think it may have been a valve leak. There may have even been a recall related to this if I remember right?
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