Will This Distributor FIX My Idle Issue? - BMW E30 Build

Welcome back to another episode on the E30 Build!
If youve missed any of the prior episodes, heres the link! Check em out.
• 1984 BMW E30 318i
In this episode we find out if the new distributor will fix my dreaded rough idle issue! This BMW M10 did not pass smog the last time I attempted, it failed miserably. I must say, its running much better already.
I also re set the ignition timing, fiddled around with the throttle body clearance, cleaned and actuated the ICV, and ended up deleting the idle control valve completely!
I hope you enjoy this episode on the 1984 BMW 318i.
If youd like to support the channel consider becoming a member!
/ @dayoffdiy
Or if Patreon is more your speed, we have one of those too!
/ dayoffdiy
Tools used:
Autoline Pro Ventus Smoke Machine:
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Autoline Pro Intake Adapter:
urlgeni.us/amazon/dayoffdiy-b...
Timing Light:
amzn.to/3FzOp4T
Feeler Gauge:
amzn.to/3FCKuVc
Sil-Glyde Lubricant:
amzn.to/3L82cmC
30MM socket for the Crank:
amzn.to/3L3103K
32MM fan Clutch tool:
amzn.to/3PnHtxI

[@buster8295]

Sage is the quietest pup I have ever seen. What a sweetheart.

[@DayOffDIY]

She rarely makes a peep, I’ll try to get some noise on video 🤣 I got real lucky with her.

[@benrambow144]

Best shop dog on KZbin, no contest

[@DayOffDIY]

thanks guys! means a lot!!!

[@hustlemechampion5778]

This dude is so cool and really knows his work, really wish there were more people like him you can trust your car with.

[@DayOffDIY]

Appreciate the kind words friend! Great lookin dog in your profile pic. This car makes me feel like a less capable mechanic but I sure am learning a lot!

[@haroonzangana8489]

Perfect way to unwind after my Saturday morning class. Thanks for all your hard work man

[@DayOffDIY]

Glad I can be your source of entertainment my friend! That’s my goal. Hope you have a great weekend 👍🏻

[@asimpleton2.0]

3 out of my 4 E30’s had the same problems pretty much, no vacuum leaks a clean throttle body and a fresh ICV made em run nice and sexy! Finding ICV’s that work is a PIA and new ones costs as much as a kidney! Great video buddy I enjoyed watching it 🙌🔥🙌

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks for the comment! You know the struggle… I have a used ICV from eBay on the way! Almost time for another update. hoping to get this idle cleaned up and get her sold soon 🤞

[@Toolsinaction]

Nice meeting you at SEMA 👍🏻

[@DayOffDIY]

Great meeting you too dude! Cant wait too see that short in action. I’d love to get my hands on it too for a repost on my channel and Autoline’s. Your channel is great! Thanks again

[@joshdevdoss9041]

Its nice to see someone work on these Classic Beemers... Most would just not bother and Junk them because they're too much work. These E30's and the prior generations are a classic.

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks Josh! It’s been a great learning experience so far, especially with trying to revive the stock systems. There’s something special about em! They just need a little extra attention

[@16vPete]

Great stuff, I'd love an E30 someday and it's great seeing such a good, thorough explainer on figuring out their gremlins

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks Pete! I try! I’d love to revisit an E30 build in the future, when I can dedicate more time to it

[@DaSixSixOne]

I knew you were going to get tacos, lol! Thanks for another great episode!

[@andrewgarcia3136]

he runs on street tacos

[@DayOffDIY]

Always!!! It’s a part of the channel now lol Gotta support your local taco truck. Good to see you guys again!

[@LastChanceFossil]

My new fav channel ❤

[@DayOffDIY]

Thank you Iverson! Appreciate the support my friend!

[@midwestmutineer7675]

As a Jeep Wrangler lover - its always that mechanical IAC. ALWAYS lmao

[@DayOffDIY]

LOL! I think ill be ordering a new ICV this week.

[@Theartofprogramming]

I have the same car as you

[@DayOffDIY]

Good call! It was within spec before but now that I have it idling off of the throttle body I should re adjust it. Awesome to hear you have the same car! And thanks for the info on the cooling system!

[@stephencooper5040]

10:21 if you didn’t want to worry about smog you could move to a state that’s not run by people who hate you (a small business owner.)

[@thiagocars]

Awesome man! It’s getting very well. Love the 🐶!

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks Thiago! We’re celebrating sages birthday today!

[@robsweekendgarage]

Getting all the lil gremlins out! Now you can see why I think I’m just gonna ditch the M10 and drop the M54B30 in it. More than double the power - so much more modern and maintainable. If someone wanted to keep the M10 - they can go megasquirt and ditch the junk-tronic fuel injection that no one supports and little info about. Awesome work and content Alec. 🎉🎉🎉

[@DayOffDIY]

Rob!!! I feel your pain dude. An M54 would be a perfect swap, although I have to deal with BS California emissions… can’t wait to move out of state further into the PNW. Washington and Oregon are much more loose for enthusiasts like us.

[@DayOffDIY]

I’ll have to look into this megasquirt system! I’m a fan of the m10 mechanically, but this outdated fuel injection can be problematic from what I’ve seen so far

[@DayOffDIY]

Great to see you as always Rob!

[@AproposAndy]

I'm no expert but that smog report did have me thinking the engine was being choked out and running rich leaving a lot of unburnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust. The experiments in this episode definitely help validate that but sadly you can't just run adaptations on the rest of the system when you make an adjustment so that factory perfect idle is gonna remain illusive. Your patience is commendable! I hope you manage to make sense of it eventually!

[@DayOffDIY]

I’m no expert either! 🤣 You sound right, I had the nickel in the ICV when I smogged it last too… That factory perfect idle is what I’m after, I want it for all of my cars! This E30 though… I’ve never seen more of a common issue when researching a car as I have with this engine and high or sporadic idles with almost everyone. Sounds like every m10 owner goes through this same problem

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks for the support!!!

[@rossparkes]

That idle issue looks like a real ballache, fair play for persevering! I would love to own one of these, but to get one that runs relatively reasonably over here is north of £8k. $2500 was a bargain!

[@DayOffDIY]

This idle problem sucks lol Should be able to tackle it once I’m done with SEMA, but I agree, still a great deal on an E30! Hopefully we find it’s next owner soob

[@DayOffDIY]

Good to see ya dude!

[@mtamomoo550]

Alec thanks for the respond into email that I send to you about torque Converter. I've ended up buying second hand gearbox. Much love 💗 from South Africa Pretoria.

[@DayOffDIY]

Awesome!!! Hope the repairs go well, appreciate the support friend!!!

[@VNEMUS]

Has the bird taken permanent residence? 😁

[@DayOffDIY]

Lol I left the garage doors open overnight with the lights off so I think it made it out. Haven’t found the body yet so that’s a good sign 🤣 Good to see you my friend!

[@stuartbear922]

Don't feel bad. I remember in the 80s, mechanics couldn't fix these cars. All European cars were a headache back then.

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks Stuart, I’m happy with the progress I’ve made on the car so far, but I have other ideas in mind that need to take priority over a longer E30 project. Can’t wait to show you guys

[@No_Life_Liam]

Finally caught up to the recent vids! Excited to see what is coming next (if you eventually sell the car). I just bought a new car myself, took it home and changed the oil (which I've done a bunch of times), and all of the oil shot out of the bottom and the oil light came on, so I'm devastated! Praying I didn't damage anything. I had only had the car for 5 hours. Towing to shop this week, so I'm out another few hundred bucks. The pain of working on cars, lol.

[@DayOffDIY]

Noooo! Brutal! Any word on the engine yet? Hope things are okay.

[@No_Life_Liam]

@@DayOffDIY I managed to get it running without leaks again - popped the old filter back on and she's OK now but has a bit of a noise (doesn't sound like a knock, thank the lord). Dropped her off to the shop this morning. Will let you know the outcome if you're interested!

[@No_Life_Liam]

@@DayOffDIY For what it's worth, she's running great. Didn't run long enough to do any crazy damage. Phew!

[@DayOffDIY]

real happy to hear that Liam! also, thanks for becoming a member of the channel! I really appreciate your support!!!

[@No_Life_Liam]

@@DayOffDIY No worries at all, happy to! Really enjoyed the content thus far.

[@Mommyhas2smokefirst]

😂Sage ain’t bout to do nothing😂😂😂

[@DayOffDIY]

We’re celebrating her birthday early today before I go to Vegas! She has presents and we’re looking at the DNA results for her breed testing!!!

[@Mommyhas2smokefirst]

@@DayOffDIY yay!!!!!🆗😁😁😁 Happy Birthday Sagieee!!!!🦮

[@zildog]

LOL!!! "Let's do this!! LLLLLLEEEEROOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYY.... NNNNJYYYEEENKINNNNNNNNZZZZ!!!" Hahahahah!!!

[@DayOffDIY]

Someone gets it!!! I’m an OG World of Warcraft fan and player, gotta sneak it in where I can 🤣

[@deanirwin3645]

The way it's idling reminds of how those 80's car were when started cold... they'd rev high then eventually settle down to normal idle. I'm wondering if there is a cold start "valve" or circuit somewhere that causing the issue - ie the car "thinks it's cold?. You may want to see if you can score a Bentley manual for the car and check

[@DayOffDIY]

I have an electric copy that an awesome viewer named Patrick sent over to me! I need to do some testing on the cold start valve, I’m going to pull it and see how much fuel it’s squirting on cold start

[@DayOffDIY]

It could be leaking too

[@niros9474]

Hello, you need to disconnect the wacum line when you are timing the distributor. Because wacum will auto adjust will you are adjusting.

[@DayOffDIY]

I disconnected and plugged the vacuum line to the distributor when I was timing it 👍🏻

[@ericschlener7748]

I have a 2007 530i that had a flooded ECM... I had one cloned so that's fixed. The sunroof was leaking. I cleared the leak. Biggest problem is the drivers seat won't move forward or backwards. I can't remove the two back bolts to remove it because the seat won't go forward... the battery is a year old. the car was detailed except for under the drivers seat. normal BMW power steering hose leaks. Top of the engine is leak free. I'll have to crawl under to look at the oill pan and tranny. let's trade!

[@DayOffDIY]

Sounds like a clean car! I’d be interested in an E60 soon no doubt! For right now I think I need cash for this one though

[@billfly2186]

I have an 83 320i with an m10 and k-jetronic. Is there no idle screw on the throttle body like mine? 83 doesn't have an icv. There is a company that rebulds these k-jetronic systems for a reasonable price. People complain about the kjet, but they're 35-40 years old. Plenty of 911's are running kjet. Mine has 80k mile and runs like new. Good luck with yours.

[@DayOffDIY]

Hey bill! No idle screw that I can find, just the idle stop screw shown in the video. Interesting that you don’t have an ICV! I think 83-85 had 3 different ignition/ fuel systems, they must have still been working out the kinks. I can see how it’s a great system! I just have a gremlin hiding in there still

[@JSarmiento.]

Did you max out the idle control screw??? that is probably why it is dying...

[@DayOffDIY]

Idle control screw on the ICV is completely closed, if it were to be any more open idle would increase too much. Are you referring to when I sent 12V to it and closed it?

[@monsterscan]

Sad to hear you didn’t enjoy the e30 but electrical issues on any of them are never fun but what I would do is smog it without IDCV and see if it’s high if it’s high it seems like it’s an 02 sensor would cause the car to dump fuel and air into the car to keep it alive . I thought you would of done more of a custom e30 as in wheels new engine and stuff like that but I get that your channel is more of oem fixes but it will help you with e30,e36,e46 understanding how the old cars were built they built them same during them year just with more stuff ontop bmw small engine were never good in my opinion also the fuel for the car might be the issue because they’ve released new fuel called e10/e5 which old cars don’t take in EU so dunno if it effects America

[@DayOffDIY]

I still totally love the car no doubt, it’s just diagnosing without OBD2 capabilities is not my forte. I would absolutely go down the route you described with new engine, new wheels, but to be honest I don’t have the cash for it atm. My goal is to sell this one and re invest the money into another project through the channel that will help grow my business. I can’t unveil it yet but you’ll love what I have in mind I guarantee it. The biggest issue with this entire build is budget, and with these older BMWs, a small budget can be a big issue Thanks for the support friend!

[@monsterscan]

@@DayOffDIY any bmw that’s been sitting for time will cost big money no doubt mine was sitting 6 years and I had to replace most seals and did the whole front end and brakes, it’s just more of a passion thing with the new engine and wheel and stuff but generally I look to see what others have done custom to there e46 but some definitely need to know how to replace stuff as most bmw ain’t been looked after that are cheap . Diagnosing without obd is hard but what it will give you is an understatement of the engine so on newer builds you’ll already be able to tell what’s wrong most times without obd.money is always the issue just depends how crazy you wanna get but be defo cool to see you custom an e46 or bmw even on the cheap /practice painting the bonnet or cut vents in it just fun stupid stuff give people an idea of what’s hard and easy todo just ideas

[@monsterscan]

@@DayOffDIY I’m currently working on bmw f80 brembo 4 pot conversation on an e46

[@DayOffDIY]

sounds like an epic project! good luck with the repairs my friend! and thanks for the comments!

[@xxxxx2147]

Do you think you could of get away with old distributor by deleting idle control valve just can’t remember if you’ve already tried it in previous episode

[@DayOffDIY]

Haven’t tried deleting the ICV before, I could go back to the old distributor but the IGNITION feels more responsive with the new one, and the old distributor noise is gone, which could’ve been an issue too, so I’ll just include the old one as a spare when I sell the car

[@JSarmiento.]

Cup holder question? Have an answer. The Germans, until recently, believed that cupholders were a distraction and distractions are dangerous while driving on roads. They believed that drivers needed to just drive and nothing else. Drivers doing other things besides driving is frowned upon and a reportable offense. E46's cup holders were either not available on some MY and in some MY there were optional.

[@DayOffDIY]

great bit of knowledge J! I was just telling my brother that the other day. they sure do know how to build a smooth car

[@JSarmiento.]

@@DayOffDIY I still drive my wife's E46 Touring 320D daily. It feels and sounds like a gasoline car on the inside and has the right amount of power that inspires confidence when passing and handles so well. A fuel tank can net you well over 1000 km in range if you know what you are doing when conservatively driving. After all these years and all the BMWs I have owned, I still think this is the best chassis BMW has ever made, and when it is healthy and well-maintained, nothing can beat it.

[@stuartbear922]

Sounds like you have a bad coolant sensor. When the car goes from closed loop to open loop, is when its acting up. It's a $20 part.

[@DayOffDIY]

It’s possible! I need to do some testing on it. After SEMA 👍🏻

[@user-hc1mq3ub3s]

Hey this is jhoan I will like to ask you for the price of the E30 I will buy it form you.

[@DayOffDIY]

Hey Jhoan, shoot me an email at [e-mail]

[@Mommyhas2smokefirst]

You said this car makes me feel stoopid😢 No Alec, it’s cuz we don’t like this car as much 😂😂 I broke my wrist so no working on any cars for me rn😢. I have to make myself pay attention when u work on this car for some reason. 🙄 I feel bad for not liking it as much as Brenda or the rest. I’d rather watch the chickens than u dump money into this one. You should sell it out of state to a first time driver. It’s not a bad car, just not this channels vibe I don’t think. ❤ let’s all eat tacos today for sure. Have a great weekend Alec & the gf we still don’t 😢 know her name😂😂😂

[@DayOffDIY]

Hahahah I love your perspective Brandi, you’re right on the money. I agree, I don’t know if it’s my vibe either, but it’s been a fun project and I’m excited to find the next owner!

[@DayOffDIY]

Hope you have a great weekend too, and btw, her name is Marlen :)

[@Mommyhas2smokefirst]

@@DayOffDIY Marlene 🆗♥️♥️♥️

[@DayOffDIY]

No E at the end, just “Marlen” :)

[@Mommyhas2smokefirst]

@@DayOffDIY 🆒👮🏻‍♂️I got it now!😁

[@UanMe4coffee]

heyy lmk if you're willing to sell it, i'm over in jersey and with bmw for 15yrs. will take care of her properly

[@DayOffDIY]

I am definitely interested in selling it! Send me an email at [e-mail] and we can chat! Appreciate the support

[@No_Not_Tyler]

How much do you think you’re gonna sell it for

[@DayOffDIY]

I’ll probably list it local for 7k, but I’m open to all kinds of offers! Big discounts for KZbin viewers of course.

[@andrewgarcia3136]

i'm a bit surprised no one has made an enticing enough offer yet. i feel like there is a lot of fomo in the e30 market. if it were a 5 speed 325i people would be going crazy

[@DayOffDIY]

i think the right buyer will come along soon! especially if I get the idle fixed up!

[@lieutenantdan8170]

M50 swap would've been easier

[@DayOffDIY]

I think so too. I really wanted this m10 running perfect, but the fuel injection system is finicky. Seems like a bullet proof engine when it is dialed thoufh

[@adasterdezaster2865]

You know you can't delete the idle control valve permantly right? The car will never idle right depending on the air temp.

[@DayOffDIY]

I’ve read of people deleting them permanently and saying all is well long term. It’s not my ultimate plan but I figured give it a shot so I could rule out the ICV being the issue, but as of right now things are pointing towards the ICV / ICM

[@tehedx]

Always those chicks that want attention on camera.

[@DayOffDIY]

Hahaha they always want in the garage!

[@E90s65]

What’s your email. I doubt you will have to put in fb market. Alec you rock man

[@DayOffDIY]

Hey man! Email is [e-mail] 👍🏻