E90 owners: Am I asking too much?
 

The 325i is really gettin on my nerves. So to all you '06 325i or 328i owners, when the motor is warmed up, does the whole car vibrate when you're stopped at a stoplight?

I mean, it can't be too much to ask of a BMW. I just want the car to sit still. Like my X3, or the 335i, or most other cars. But everytime I stop at a light, after 4 or 5 seconds, the revs drop a tad.........and everything. The steering wheel, the seat.......it all vibrates ever so slightly. It's not terrible, but it's there alright. It's on the verge of giving me a headache because the headrest obviously vibrates as well. But it all goes away if I slightly touch the throttle to raise the revs a tad. So now I sit at stoplights with my left foot on the brake, the shifter in N, and the right foot slightly on the gas pedal. :thumbdown

The tech noticed this as well, but was unable to offer a solid explanation. He says they can't adjust the idle speed. The motor mounts are solid. The tests came up clean. So I'm stuck because I dunno what to ask of him............I'm not going to ask him to replace the whole motor.

So, perhaps its too much to ask of BMW to make the car idle smoothly thesedays. :tantrum:

Was it always like this? I found out one time that if the oil cap wasn't tight that the idle speed would drop and my car would vibrate. This was on an E36. Maybe the same thing happening on your car.

Always has been like this in my memory. The vehicle was purchased CPO last Sept. I mentioned it in January, and again at the service two days ago, and it can't be related to the oil cap because the problem existed before the oil was changed each time.

I did not think there was a 328i in '06? Only 325i and 330i.

Anyway, my 330 purrs like a kitten. No vibrations at all. Have you tried switching gas? Go get your gas from a different station for the next month or so... Also, why can't they adjust the idle? :dunno:

Juan

I don't think its the fuel........especially if it's lasted this long. We change gas stations frequently, but always stick with the big names most of the time. The 3 has seen stations from NY to NC.

I dunno why they can't adjust the idle. At first, the car idles at ~670rpm, but after a few secs it drops to ~640rpm which then causes the vibration.

you can also try slipping it into neutral, that should minimize the vibrations a bit if it bothers you that much. Also turn off the A/C.

N does not improve things that much. The tech put it in every gear: P R N and D. He hit and released the brake pedal, to see if the hydraulic power brake assist had anything to do with it. Vibrations persisted.

Turning on the AC actually makes it slightly better. He concluded it's a normal thing, where the alternator has to try and cope with different electrical demands.

Thankfully, I shut the engine off at longer red lights (>45sec) thesedays due to higher cost of fuel in order to minimise fuel consumption. That puts a definite end to the vibrations.

mine doesn't. All I notice at stop lights is that the exhaust sounds nice at idle. :bmw:
BUT
the 335xi loaner I had a few weeks ago did. go figure.

good luck figuring it out :thumbup: