BMW E36 Blog

I know that some of you will say to this post, I thought this is a BMW E36 blog not E90 blog. I hope you won’t say that because after you check out the photos below, you will be more than happy with this post. When I saw those photos, I thought you will like them ( I hope I was right ). So, enjoy and lets see your comments.

BTW, I kinda hate the rims. what do you think?

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best regards,

Tony Sticks.

Hi Guys,

Car hesitation and RPM bouncing are the most common problems between the BMW E36 cars. It seems that many cars have the problem and the problem is very hard to fix. I recall that even my previous E30 used to have the problem, but some how, the problem was solved. Maybe with something that I did and didn’t notice it fixed the problem.

Now my E36 318is is having the same symptoms and it gets very annoying especially when I turn my A/C on.

I started looking for a solution to this problem and it seems that cleaning the ICV (Idle Control Value) is one of the most obvious reasons for the problem, so I looked for a DIY about it and found one. The DIY is for M42 engines. I will be writing another post to fix same problem for the M50 engines. Please notice that I didn’t try this DIY myself yet, but I’m going to do it very soon.

Please notice that that cleaning the ICV will not always fix the problem, but it’s a very common reason, so if it didn’t totally solve your car’s problem, then you have other issues, but since the procedure is very simple, I guess everyone should start with it. Please follow the steps below and see if this fixes your car’s RPM bouncing problem. Enjoy 😉

Disclaimer: Use this info at your own risk!! I’m not responsible if this didn’t work for you.

This DIY / write-up will require the following tools/supplies:

Flashlight would be helpful.

11mm socket

Flathead screwdriver

Throttle body (TB) cleaner

OEM hoses if in need of replacement

Throttle body gasket and intake manifold gasket (not technically necessary, but a good idea)

 

It took me about an hour to remove, clean, and put back the ICV. Plus I let the hoses dry (while out of the car) for about 20 minutes on top of that.

 

First, start by opening the hood with the engine off and hopefully not too hot, as you will make contact with the block and the intake manifold.

 

You will take off the intake tube, shown below, by loosening the screws at the blue arrows, and pulling off the hose at the red arrow. Then pull the intake tube off completely.

 

 

Next, you remove the throttle body, by four 11mm bolts. The top two are shown with red arrows below. The bottom two are on the bottom of the TB, in the same position as the top two.

 

 

Move the throttle body off to the side, to gain access to the upper intake manifold, like this:

 

 

Next, we’ll disconnect the hose connecting the manifold to the ICV we wish to remove and clean. Behind the manifold, at the back of the engine bay, is the hose. Just twist it off, as shown by the red arrow.

 

 

Now it’s time to remove the upper intake manifold. Undo all 5 of the 11mm nuts attaching it to the lower manifold. The nut locations are highlighted below with red arrows. The nut in the rear of the engine bay is hard to get to, but a small 11mm socket and 1/4″ drive ratchet should get it out.

 

 

Next, carefully remove the manifold, by slowly lifting it up. I pried it off woodworker style using the backside of a hammer against the block. Be sure to remove it evenly though, lifting it up equally on all sides. Otherwise it will get stuck on the bolts on the manifold’s drivers side. It is easiest to place it as shown:

 

 

Now we have acces to the ICV. As shown below, it is attached with a rubber strap at the point shown with red arrows. The blue arrows indicate the electrical connection, which pulls of when you press down a wire clip. They also point to the hose connections, which you will also want to remove. Note the arrow on top of the ICV. It points TOWARDS the block. The part label with Bosch and the BMW part number written on it also face the front of the car. This is important. You want to put it back facing the correct direction.

 

 

Now, take the ICV and clean it. The image below shows the ports into which the tubes were plugged, and air flows, with a blue arrow. You’ll want to hit it with an old toothbrush and a gratuitous soaking with the TB cleaner. You may choose to clean the throttle body itself while at it with some paper towels and the cleaner.

 

 

Let everything dry, and clean off the hoses if you’d like. One of mine was cracked and therefore replaced, but washing the oil and grease off of them will help them last longer. Replace any that are cracked! They will make your idle worse and allow unfiltered air into the engine = bad. Be sure to let everything dry, especially items that were cleaned with water (hoses.) Installation is the reverse of removal. Be sure to connect ALL the hoses – double check!

 

Are you looking for more do it yourself procedures (DIY) ? I recommend the Bentley BMW 3 series service manual for you. I got it and I think it’s a gold mine for us -BMW E36 Owners-. If you didn’t grab your copy yet, get it right now! I’m sure you’ll find this book worth every penny you’ve paid for. Get the Bentley BMW 3 series service manual

Wait for more from BMW E36 Blog.

Best regards,

Tony Sticks.

Hi Guys,

I’ve found this thread about some of the funniest and embarrassing moments for BMW E36 owners. I hope you like it.

Enjoy…

 

• When your passenger asks you why your car has no cup holders…and you answer “because it’s an extra $90 at the dealer.

 

• Out on a first date with probably the hottest girl to date, 2 things happen:

  • Car overheats in traffic 🙂

   

  • Just got new rims didn’t think about my CAI, turned a sharp corner and the tire caught my filter, ripped it right out and i ran it over! i had to pull over and run on the street to pick up the pieces. LOOOOL!

 

• This was when i first got my car. Sitting at a red light, looking all cool. then i couldn’t get into first (common problem) and stalled it when everyone was checking out the car.

 

• One day into driving stick, I am in traffic and stall out and the guy behind me in the smallest Hyundai you can buy is beeping at me and giving the finger.

 

• At Bimmerfest, My battery died after a group of us stopped. Then me and my friend had to go into a Church to ask for jumper cables. Worst thing is… 2 mins later a bride and groom came out of the church and Im standing there trying to jump my car.

 

• When I act cool at the school when i get dropped of at and everyone is looking i go to put my window up it decides to go down then i put it up and it goes down and looks like crap.

 

• When I installed my battery incorrectly and reversed the terminals. My friends truck was dead so I took the battery out of my trunk and used it to start his car since we didn’t have cables. When I put it back in I reversed the terminals. Now, one is bigger than the other so it didn’t fit right at first. So what do I do? I take a hammer (which I happen to have in the trunk) and hammer the terminals on incorrectly. Well there were sparks and then a man walking by tells me there’s smoke coming out of the engine. Well, I fried my alternator and killed the battery. I was able to drive home just on battery power and now I have a new battery and a used ’98 M3 alternator instead of the

 

• Once I tried to impress a group of girls. I tried starting my car, oblivious that I set the Code feature, and the engine just turned over. I tried again and it just turned over. I saw the girls start to laugh, so I tried a third time, not understanding why my baby won’t start, and the alarm goes off! By the time I shut the alarm off and start the car, the girls are already walking away laughing.

 

• I had just rented a car to drive up to NC to get my 328i and i went to the gas station to fill it up and the pump was going kinda slow, so i just used the lil locking thing so it’ll pump w/o me holding it and i walk in the store to buy a lil snack and come back out, hop in the car and drive off. i got a few feet and hear a clunk and see about 50 people stopped at a red light pointing and laughing… i just drove off with the hose still in the gas tank, it disconnected it from the actual gas pump, so i just had the f*ckin hose hanging from my gas tank…

 

I hope you liked these, lets see your comments. . .

Wait for more from BMW E36 Blog.

Best regards,

Tony Sticks.

Hi Guys,

   This is a new video of a BMW E36 burnout! It really made feel dizzy just from watching it. I wonder how the driver felt while he’s doing all these crazy donuts and burnouts. The only thing that I’m almost sure of it is that you will definitely like this very much.

Take a look . . .  

I hope you liked the video . . . if not, come on let’s see your videos 😉

Wait for more from BMW E36 Blog.

Best regards,

Tony Sticks.

Hello guys,

This is Miss June BMW E36. I’ve found her photos on Flickr here and I thought you should see. She’s a nice babe. I hope you like it.

enjoy the photos . . .

Wait for more from BMW E36 Blog.

best regards,

Tony Sticks.