Annoying vibration at idle

[jizhachok1]

Last week my 2004 325i had the first scheduled oil service, and after that I noticed annoying vibration at idle. I don't notice it when driving, but when I stop I feel that the whole car vibrates .

How steady should the RPMs be at idle and what is the normal range after warm up? My idle is 500-600 RPM, often fluctuating.

Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks for any ideas or suggestions.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

The 600rpm idle is normal for the 2.5 and 3.0 engines they all do it...

As for the vibration a while back when I had an 03' 325i after a 375 mile trip to PA, I had filled up with "gas port" gas, the cheapest premium I had seen in a while before the trip with 14 gallons. Then after the trip I went back for 15 more gallons of that stuff and ever since that when I had came to a stop it would vibrate so much that I could feel it in the headrest. But that was the least of it's problems as I eventually got rid of it a few months later.

Maybe it's a bad coil, bad gas, or you may have broken it in wrong, or they did a sloppy oil change (highly unlikely). Either way I would take it in and complain to the SA about the vibration, but make sure you're nice about it. Sounds to me like another quirky 2.5 engine...

 

[jizhachok1]

Thanks for the advice, I'll try to take it in, even though most likely they will say it is normal. I followed break in guidelines, changed oil at 8K at the same dealership, and the problem started or became noticable after the 2nd oil change at 13K. I guess it could be many things...

Or maybe I am too picky? but my Corolla is rock solid compared to the 325i :-(.
Do you guys feel any vibration at idle in your steering wheel or seat?

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

The steering wheel always vibrates a tiny bit if u squeeze it hard and try and listen, but the seat shouldn't vibrate noticeably or the wheel to a point where it becomes irritable. Take it in and be nice about it, see what they say.

Try www.dealerrater.com to see who has good service in your area, maybe a drive to reading for service would be worth looking into if the philly dealers just suck... Goodluck.

 

[Harman1]

I had a vibration come on sudden a few month ago. It was the ignition coils, they had to be replaced. that fixed the problem and it runs as new again. They replaced the original ones with Bossh, hope this helps.

 

[northyork]

I had a similar experience with my 5er. It turns out that it was the oil return valve that was mucked up.

 

[jizhachok1]

So, I took the car to the dealer, they did not find anything (no fault codes) and said they would need the car for a couple of days to run more tests, I took the car in again, got a loaner, 2 days later they reported happily that they fixed the problem by replacing a fuel return valve, I got the car, and the problem is still there...

BTW: I get this vibration only in D or R (the car is fine in P or N) and it seems to be linked to RPMs: when I stop, the RPMs will fall and stay at around 600-650 for a few seconds without vibration, then RPMs fall again so the needle touches 500 mark and the car starts to vibrate. The dealer said RPMs can not be adjusted in this model (2004 325i), is that true?

 

[epj3]

Its a car and has 6 pistons moving up and down very very fast. You're complaining about vibrations? Use a better gas and maybe it'll go away...but I wouldn't worry about it to much, just learn to deal with it.

 

[jizhachok1]

Does anyone know if idle RPMs can be adjusted (raised) in 2004 325i auto?

 

[Average Jae]

Andrew: i was just gonna ask if the issue comes up in an auto or manual. in my older talon, which is an automatic (i kno, i kno...) it does that sometimes, when i'm at a stoplight and in gear. put it in neutral and the rpm settles and the car stops vibrating.

i just put it down as an old car issue, and just put it in neutral when it acts up. (i'd guess its got something to do w/ the drivetrain's engagement?

 

[epj3]

When I go over pot holes, I think I can feel them in my butt :-(

 

[epj3]

BTW the vibrations happen when in drive becuase the engine is NOT a perfectly smooth machine, so now it's transferring that vibration into the torque converter, which is then transferring that vibration into the transmission and the rest of the drivetrain. You have a good 1,000 lbs of equpiment getting that very minor vibration.

I'd say your motor mounts/tranny mounts are bad (but i'm sure your muffler bearings are fine)

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

BTW the vibrations happen when in drive becuase the engine is NOT a perfectly smooth machine, so now it's transferring that vibration into the torque converter, which is then transferring that vibration into the transmission and the rest of the drivetrain. You have a good 1,000 lbs of equpiment getting that very minor vibration.

I'd say your motor mounts/tranny mounts are bad (but i'm sure your muffler bearings are fine)

I'd say BMW built another POS with quirks, and he should trade it in and never buy another one ever again.


btw epj, those are nice shinny new muffler bearings on your e34 How much were they?

 

[epj3]

I'd say BMW built another POS with quirks, and he should trade it in and never buy another one ever again.


btw epj, those are nice shinny new muffler bearings on your e34 How much were they?

Didn't install them yet - my power window hoses are messed up and require my attention first.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Didn't install them yet - my power window hoses are messed up and require my attention first.

Don't forgot to top off the blinker fluid, it seems like your front-left is a little low, maybe it's just my eyes.


In all seriousness when you move the wheel and the car is in Park the revs dip to 500 and it tends to make a different sound probably because it doesn't run that smoothly on low rpms, or the balance which offsets the vibration might be off. It is not entirely impossible that he has bad engine mounts, but then the car would shake and vibrate when you shut it off like BMW of Manhattan's trademark loaner. All of the above is why I don't like BMW's lousy 2.5 engine... (notice they made both a 3.0 this time, since even Munich knows the truth about that 2.5 I6)