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Thread: Dreaded vibration and low rpm at idle in drive/reverse

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    San Jose, CA
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    11
    My Cars
    2001 325i

    Question Dreaded vibration and low rpm at idle in drive/reverse

    Hey guys. I've done tons of research on this, seems like a common problem with no real answers.

    Car - 2001 325i automatic 140k miles

    Problem - In drive or reverse at idle the rpms sit at 550ish and a vibration is felt throughout the vehicle. Turning on the AC increases rpm, makes the vibration go away. In park or neutral its smooth. Maune a little power loss under 3k rpm although maybe I just got used to the car. The second I tougtouch the throttle the vibrations go away. Or shift to park or N.

    I have no CEL on (although one time I left the car off for 10 days and when I came back and started it the car shook violently, misfiring, which went away with warm up, only happened once)

    Tried - replaced VANOS seals, clean ICV, air filter/spark plugs, sprayed brake cleaner around intake (no obvious vacuum leak), changed exhaust cam position sensor, clean DISA, cleaned MAF, and will be changing my fuel filter this weekend.

    I know many people in the past asked about this, so I was wondering if any progression has been made in finding an answer? Any other ideas I can look into?

    Thank you very much

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    United Kingdom
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    101
    My Cars
    E46 330Ci Sport
    Camshaft position sensor would be my guess, or the pressure regulating valve (no. 1 in the diagram, BMW part number 11617501566):


    Was a common problem on my old E38, can you hear a whistling sound when this happens? And if you blip the throttle does it stop the rough idle? If so I would definitely change the pressure regulating valve...
    Last edited by e38marc; 04-17-2015 at 08:45 AM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
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    San Jose, CA
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    11
    My Cars
    2001 325i
    i hear a whistle at a high rpm when I accelerate. Ive changed the cam position sensor already. That pressure regulating valve sounds good though. I wonder if theres a way to test it before changing it? Is it easy to replace? Btw is that also called a ccv

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Springfield, MO
    Posts
    16
    My Cars
    2005 330i ZHP
    #1 in Marc's diagram is the CCV, yes. It's probably not a camshaft position sensor if you aren't getting a SES light. The whistling can be from that CCV, or from one of your pulleys. My alternator whistled a lot when the bearings inside went. Something else you can check is to make sure the two pistons just inside of the solenoids on your VANOS aren't frozen up. Over time, this can happen. Usually you just need to tap it to get it loosened up again, but I went ahead and replaced both of mine. I bought an expensive socket to do it, but ended up hardly using it as I already had the VANOS back on the car and it barely fit.
    -Nate


    2005 330i zhp


    8.2004 Production / Leather Seats / 6MT / 18x8.5 VMR V703s wrapped in 225-40zr18 Conti DWSs / AST 4200 Coilover Kit / Vorshlag Camber Plates / Audiovox Mediabridge / Black Cube Trim / Matte Black Kidney Grilles / Amber Free Front Corners - Side Markers - Tail Lights

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
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    San Jose, CA
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    2001 325i
    Ok that sounds good. I will check the solenoids out tomorrow and change fuel filter and report back.
    Last edited by KornevE46; 04-18-2015 at 12:58 AM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    San Diego, CA
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    86
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    2004 BMW 325i
    I had all symptoms, except whistle, turned out to be Vanos.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
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    San Jose, CA
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    2001 325i
    I thought it was Vanos too. I replaced the seals 2k miles ago so im sure they are broken in, did not make any difference.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Medicina
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 316ti Compact
    Almost same symptoms, I've changed all the CCV including hoses, terrible mounting place under air-intake. After a few months symptoms are back again. Guess what ? OIL TAP. Was breathing under the seal of the oil tap. Since then all good.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    San Jose, CA
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    2001 325i
    Quote Originally Posted by neohunter View Post
    Almost same symptoms, I've changed all the CCV including hoses, terrible mounting place under air-intake. After a few months symptoms are back again. Guess what ? OIL TAP. Was breathing under the seal of the oil tap. Since then all good.
    Can you describe what you mean with the oil tap? What fixed the issues when they came back months later?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Delray Beach, FL
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 325i

    Following up on idle problem

    Quote Originally Posted by KornevE46 View Post
    Hey guys. I've done tons of research on this, seems like a common problem with no real answers.

    Car - 2001 325i automatic 140k miles

    Problem - In drive or reverse at idle the rpms sit at 550ish and a vibration is felt throughout the vehicle. Turning on the AC increases rpm, makes the vibration go away. In park or neutral its smooth. Maune a little power loss under 3k rpm although maybe I just got used to the car. The second I tougtouch the throttle the vibrations go away. Or shift to park or N.

    I have no CEL on (although one time I left the car off for 10 days and when I came back and started it the car shook violently, misfiring, which went away with warm up, only happened once)

    Tried - replaced VANOS seals, clean ICV, air filter/spark plugs, sprayed brake cleaner around intake (no obvious vacuum leak), changed exhaust cam position sensor, clean DISA, cleaned MAF, and will be changing my fuel filter this weekend.

    I know many people in the past asked about this, so I was wondering if any progression has been made in finding an answer? Any other ideas I can look into?

    Thank you very much
    I have exactly the same problem with my car, and just wanted to know if you have resolved the problem?
    Thank you
    2001 BMW 325i 125k miles

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Lawrence Kansas
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    1,236
    My Cars
    2004 325XI/2008 GL320
    Engine and trans mounts.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Norwich, Connecticut.
    Posts
    486
    My Cars
    E46 wag. E36 convertible
    Would it not be unreasonable to question both 'engine mounts' and..also transmission mounts... as a source for your vibration.....as you described...? I have also very similar experience with same circumstances...

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Lawrence Kansas
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    2004 325XI/2008 GL320
    Quote Originally Posted by Eaglesail View Post
    Would it not be unreasonable to question both 'engine mounts' and..also transmission mounts... as a source for your vibration.....as you described...? I have also very similar experience with same circumstances...
    There are a few critical areas of concern when addressing unwanted powertrain to chassis vibration when in gear on an XI.

    Engine mounts
    Transfer case mount
    Vanos
    Both camshaft sensors (even if there is no CEL)
    Front axles (vibration felt through the steering wheel)
    Vacuum leaks

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