[johnny bravo]

Hi to all,
looking for help with my 318i coupe. Recently started to have a laboured idle speed for a few seconds then revs will flick up to around 2500rpm and then fluctuate like this whilst stood at idle. This i believe is hunting, the local garage had a quick look today and they suspected an air leak, which they checked with a flamable substance ???
They were not able to detect a leak and advised i take it for diagnostics at a BMW main dealer.
If there was a air leak, would the idle speed hunt all the time as mine seems to be an intermittant prob ?
The garage that a purchased the vehicle from also suspect an air leak and can carry out a test which fills the induction system with pressurised smoke and therefore makes a leak easier to detect. Would this be worth a try or are they barking up the wrong tree looking for a leak.
Many thanks for any suggestions.

Also was tested today with a scanner which did not pick up any engine management faults.
J.B.

 

[Ronnie]

Testing with the smoke is a good idea, expensive bit of kit if it's the proper machine as well.

Regarding the codes, was it read using a BMW specific scanner?

 

[johnny bravo]

Not specific BMW Ronnie, think it was more of a general type of thing.
£50 for the smoke test or there is a specialist about 20miles from me, QUARRY MOTORS in Sheff.
They seem to have all the right BMW diagnostics and specialise in BMW so im tempted to try them, do you have any former knowledge of how good they are.
Many thanks
J.B.

 

[Ronnie]

Not specific BMW Ronnie, think it was more of a general type of thing.
£50 for the smoke test or there is a specialist about 20miles from me, QUARRY MOTORS in Sheff.
They seem to have all the right BMW diagnostics and specialise in BMW so im tempted to try them, do you have any former knowledge of how good they are.
Many thanks
J.B.

Quarry motors are OK, I would go with them, we have had a few members say they were impressed, tell them we recommended you so you'd better do a good job