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Thread: It cranks, starts, and runs

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee
    Posts
    497
    My Cars
    '81 320i, '05 Scion

    It cranks, starts, and runs

    Question:
    I have my engine assembled and running. No test drive yet.
    It idles quite high. About 1750 cold, 1500 warm.
    It may have been like this before.
    It it as simple as adjusting the idle speed control screw on the throttle body? (I may have eliminated a vacuum leak it likely had before)

    IMG_7300.jpg
    My Car Blog:
    http://motoluvr.blogspot.com

    My current cars:
    '16 Fiat 500e (electric)
    '92 Honda accord
    '05 Scion xB
    '81 BMW 320i
    '12 Toyota Prius

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    908
    My Cars
    G05, F15, E46, E21 (x2)
    Yes, turn idle air screw clockwise to slow down the idle. Aux air bypass should be closed (i.e. fully warmed) before you make this adjustment. Good job on getting it to run.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,102
    My Cars
    BMW 320i ('83), BMW 318ti ('98), BMW 3.0 CSi ('72)
    [QUOTE=DavidF--Good job on getting it to run.[/QUOTE]

    Yes, agree with what DavidF said. I bet you learned a lot through the process and have a great sense of satisfaction as well.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Trinidad, Colorado
    Posts
    33
    My Cars
    1983 320is
    It really is SO rewarding to get these things to run after they have set for a while. I know I learned a lot working on mine!! Congrats!!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    331
    My Cars
    1980 E21 M10
    Great to hear. I know you put a lot of effort into this, congratulations indeed.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee
    Posts
    497
    My Cars
    '81 320i, '05 Scion
    Thanks for the support y'all.
    My Car Blog:
    http://motoluvr.blogspot.com

    My current cars:
    '16 Fiat 500e (electric)
    '92 Honda accord
    '05 Scion xB
    '81 BMW 320i
    '12 Toyota Prius

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    ct
    Posts
    111
    My Cars
    1978 320i
    Looks great, congratulations!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Sacramento, California
    Posts
    4,704
    My Cars
    1980 BMW 320i E21 M10B18
    Congrats on getting your car up and running, the hands on experience you got saves a lot money and builds a valuable skill set.


    Randy

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    monterey, ca.
    Posts
    14,486
    My Cars
    e21, e30 m3. e46 330ci
    ^ yup, what he said.

    although I don't know about the money part, in my youth I broke more parts trying to fix broken parts, which I broke in the first place.
    Tom D

    77 e21 - m42
    88 e30m3
    04 330 dinan3
    84 r1000rt
    02 r1150rs
    all of them gray
    14 f800gsa - red headed stepchild!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Santa Monica
    Posts
    60
    My Cars
    1981 BMW 320i
    Quote Originally Posted by Tom D View Post
    ^ yup, what he said.

    although I don't know about the money part, in my youth I broke more parts trying to fix broken parts, which I broke in the first place.
    I guess I'm still in my youth even though I am as old as this car.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee
    Posts
    497
    My Cars
    '81 320i, '05 Scion
    Took it for a test drive, seems all good!
    I adjusted the idle down. about 1.25 turn of the idle air screw dropped it to about 950 warm.

    My hood is off currently so I'm hearing the engine loud and clear.
    I feel like I'm hearing a fair amount of clickety-clack from the valve train, but that could be normal.
    I did adjust my valve clearance to within spec as far as I can tell.
    My Car Blog:
    http://motoluvr.blogspot.com

    My current cars:
    '16 Fiat 500e (electric)
    '92 Honda accord
    '05 Scion xB
    '81 BMW 320i
    '12 Toyota Prius

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Sacramento, California
    Posts
    4,704
    My Cars
    1980 BMW 320i E21 M10B18

    Cool

    The valve train on these does make some noise, it will quiet down some by running Mobil 1 20w-50 full synthetic, yet when it is cold the car will crank over much more slowly to start up.

    Randy

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