Normal RPM when a car is at a stop

[wootang]

When your car is at a full stop, what should your RPM be. I just recently purchased a 2000 328I and I'm not sure if it's running right or not. My reading is around 7 or 8 hundred RPMs when I'm at a complete stop. Does that sound right? When I put it in 1st gear the RPM seems to dip lower before it starts to goe up when I press on the gas. Does anyone have any insight? Does this seem normal? [???1]

 

[bmwrocks]

7 to 8 hundred seems normal to me when stopped and in gear. But it should be constant, not varying. Needle should be still, engine should be idling at a constant speed.

The dipping does not sound normal. Although I don't know what causes that symptom.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

For my auto 325i 600rpm is the idle, and the step always starts in 2nd so about (-)600 apparently is normal for the 2.5 engine.

 

[epj3]

Mine idles at about 600 rpm, just above the 500 rpm line.

 

[Average Jae]

do you have a manual or a steptro? if you have the latter, drop the car into neutral to see where it idles.. i think anywhere btw 600 to 8-900 is normal, after the car is warmed up.

sounds ok to me

 

[wootang]

whew! I was getting worried there. maybe I was just being parranoid. Thanks for all the input. I love this site everyone's so helpful.

 

[mscoins]

600 to 700 RPM depending on it's mood for the day. [fake]

 

[snowsedan04]

I find my car idles around 700, but gets a bit uneven when the fog lights are on. Must be some electrical surge or something. I originally though that was being caused by dirty injectors or maybe water in the tank, but it actually is the fogs. Turn them off, and the idle is "sewing machine smooth".

Go figure

 

[Kirby]

Snowsedan, you're correct in the assumption that the fog lights affect the idle. The additional load that the lights put on the battery causes the voltage to drop so the alternator compensates. At low RPM the extra energy required can noticeably load the engine down. But that's completely normal, it's working as designed.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

The FOGS??? You mean those two puny lightbulbs which provide more "show" than light put that much stress on the engine?

*Btw, I just noticed I got 325 posts for my 325i

 

[Bimmerlife]

The Engine should have exactly 850 RPM at idle.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Nice sig..... Bimmerlife

Even I like the new M5, that sure is something after my initial reaction to the new 5.

 

[Bimmerlife]

Oh thanks, I appreciate that.