hard starting 325is

[535iracer]

Hello there...

My 1989 325is starts really hard when it is cold, it probably takes 10 seconds for it to finally crank, sputter for a while and get going... every once in a while it will start right up cold, but it is rare. When the car is warm it starts up just fine. does anyone know what may be causing this? I thought it may be the idle valve, but i'm not sure. Thank you for your input...

 

[epj3]

Mine will do that too sometimes. I believe it has to do with the idle control system. Mine won't necessarily sputter, but I have to sit there and let it crank and crank and crank, and eveuntally it'll come to live slowly (not sputtering though).

I think it is the idle control valve too... which in my opinion is a very weak point in bmw's engine management system. If you turn on your air conditioner and BARELY press the gas pedal down... will your engine race to like 3,500 rpm...with the gas pedal pressed down to the point where normally it'd be at 1000 rpm?

 

[535iracer]

I havent tried that... but it probably will act that way, your problem sounds exactly like mine. the car runs smooth when it finally gets going the idle sensor is the only thing i can think of.