I have a 2001 3.0L X5 with 195,252 miles. Lots of repairs and $$$
so I"ve gotten more into fixing it myself. These sites are great, have
saved tons of $$$. Many of the repairs are so simple that you owe it
to yourself to learn a few.

I started to have a rough idle. Looked all over for info and advice and
this site suggested idle control valve may be broken or needs cleaning.
So with the excellent pix from DIY article I started the job.

Slight detail. First step is to remove the black box which I later find out
is called the "Adjuster". It has one electrical connection and two easily
accessed torx screws. When I removed the screws the unit would only
come out an inch or so. I twisted every way thinking this was another
one of those "secret elf" things that BMW does with parts removal. No Go.
So figuring it was supposed to come out no matter what I resorted to
brute force.........pow, snap, crack.......it came out in pieces!

Turns out the offender is a butterfly valve that I surmised had broken off
it's shaft and was out of the U shaped holder. By forcing it I broke the
top yoke and it came out.

Went to BMW this am, idling rough, but OK at speed. $277 for part, put it on in
the parking lot........maybe 2.7 min...........and wha la! Smooooooooooth
idling, just like a BMW......

The parts counter guy was impressed that I was able to diagnose this. Says
they sell a lot to indy garages and their own use. BMW dealer cost for diag, labor and
part? About $800..........

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