Bouncy Idle... Worth Diagnosing?

vdubturbo · 05-04-2012, 07:28 AM

Car was purchased on Halloween 2011 and has exactly 3,502 miles on it now. Ever since I bought the car I have had a bouncy cold idle. Lately, it does it on warm restarts too... and it seems to be getting a little more pronounced. The idle will fluctuate +/- 500-700 RPM while in park. I haven't noticed any movement when the car is in gear.

So here's the question. My dealer said, "yeah, bring it in. But you'll have to wait 1.5 hrs for the diag. No loaners for that stuff." Only issue is the dealer isn't very conveniently located to me. So I'm inevitably going to waste 4hrs total with this... Which begs the question, if the car runs fine overall, should I even bother bringing it in???

I mean, I hate to say it, but if I keep driving it and the vehicle eventually throws a code or fails, then they'll have to be more accommodating (tow/loaner/etc...).

Amleto63 · 05-04-2012, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdubturbo

Car was purchased on Halloween 2011 and has exactly 3,502 miles on it now. Ever since I bought the car I have had a bouncy cold idle. Lately, it does it on warm restarts too... and it seems to be getting a little more pronounced. The idle will fluctuate +/- 500-700 RPM while in park. I haven't noticed any movement when the car is in gear.

So here's the question. My dealer said, "yeah, bring it in. But you'll have to wait 1.5 hrs for the diag. No loaners for that stuff." Only issue is the dealer isn't very conveniently located to me. So I'm inevitably going to waste 4hrs total with this... Which begs the question, if the car runs fine overall, should I even bother bringing it in???

I mean, I hate to say it, but if I keep driving it and the vehicle eventually throws a code or fails, then they'll have to be more accommodating (tow/loaner/etc...).

This is not normal but you can survive till the first programmed service

BigKutta · 05-04-2012, 08:16 AM

I would get it diagnosed, but again, you can wait for your first service and have it looked at then.

JNoSol · 05-04-2012, 08:23 AM

I would take it in. My 535i had similar issues, it was a leaky vacuum hose. Now at 30k miles, no other issues (crossing fingers).

vdubturbo · 05-04-2012, 10:25 AM

Hmmm, all good points. I'm normally not one to let an issue linger but I'm not one to waste time on stuff either. Urgh

valcor535 · 05-04-2012, 10:30 AM

This issue was disucussed before (see link below) mine does the same thing and dealer says it is "NORMAL", mine does it specially when warm and parked for more than an hour....

http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=550378

Chili Palmer · 05-04-2012, 03:55 PM

Does it sound or feel like it's loading up. If you rev it up does it clear out? My wife's 06 550 did that and the dealer said to try another brand of gas. We were using Mobil and went to Chevron and 76 and it stopped doing that the next tankful. Stay away from Arco and other off-brand gas and stick to a Top Tier Gas. Hopefully that'll take care of your problem.

marcielago · 05-04-2012, 05:55 PM

RPM fluctuations and shivering does not sound like a good thing (hopefully not). Maybe you should take it to dealer and not risk major problems.

05-04-2012, 07:28 AM	#1
vdubturbo Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 299 Posts Drives: E90, E36, 997 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	Bouncy Idle... Worth Diagnosing? Car was purchased on Halloween 2011 and has exactly 3,502 miles on it now. Ever since I bought the car I have had a bouncy cold idle. Lately, it does it on warm restarts too... and it seems to be getting a little more pronounced. The idle will fluctuate +/- 500-700 RPM while in park. I haven't noticed any movement when the car is in gear. So here's the question. My dealer said, "yeah, bring it in. But you'll have to wait 1.5 hrs for the diag. No loaners for that stuff." Only issue is the dealer isn't very conveniently located to me. So I'm inevitably going to waste 4hrs total with this... Which begs the question, if the car runs fine overall, should I even bother bringing it in??? I mean, I hate to say it, but if I keep driving it and the vehicle eventually throws a code or fails, then they'll have to be more accommodating (tow/loaner/etc...).
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05-04-2012, 08:16 AM	#3
BigKutta Brigadier General 3901 Rep 4,047 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C, 2019 330xi, 2017 Q7 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington DC Burbs iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 330xi [0.00] 2017 Audi Q7 3.0 [0.00] 2020 M2C [0.00]	I would get it diagnosed, but again, you can wait for your first service and have it looked at then.
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05-04-2012, 08:23 AM	#4
JNoSol Brigadier General 1381 Rep 3,834 Posts Drives: 750 MSPORT & E90M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (0)	I would take it in. My 535i had similar issues, it was a leaky vacuum hose. Now at 30k miles, no other issues (crossing fingers).
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05-04-2012, 10:25 AM	#5
vdubturbo Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 299 Posts Drives: E90, E36, 997 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	Hmmm, all good points. I'm normally not one to let an issue linger but I'm not one to waste time on stuff either. Urgh
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05-04-2012, 10:30 AM	#6
valcor535 Private 7 Rep 99 Posts Drives: 2011 535I X-Drive Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	This issue was disucussed before (see link below) mine does the same thing and dealer says it is "NORMAL", mine does it specially when warm and parked for more than an hour.... http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=550378
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05-04-2012, 03:55 PM	#7
Chili Palmer Master Of My Domain 89 Rep 669 Posts Drives: 2015 650i Gran Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SoCal iTrader: (3)	Does it sound or feel like it's loading up. If you rev it up does it clear out? My wife's 06 550 did that and the dealer said to try another brand of gas. We were using Mobil and went to Chevron and 76 and it stopped doing that the next tankful. Stay away from Arco and other off-brand gas and stick to a Top Tier Gas. Hopefully that'll take care of your problem. Last edited by Chili Palmer; 05-05-2012 at 12:29 PM..
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05-04-2012, 05:55 PM	#8
marcielago Private First Class 12 Rep 177 Posts Drives: SG F10 550i MSport, CB E39 M5 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Abu Dhabi iTrader: (0)	RPM fluctuations and shivering does not sound like a good thing (hopefully not). Maybe you should take it to dealer and not risk major problems. __________________ F10 550i M-sport: Space Grey/Oyster Black E39 M5 : Carbon Black/Caramel E39 520i : Titanium Silver/Beige (Sold)
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