Idling speed

[kiwiland 3]

Anyone know the ideal idling speed for an E39 530 Auto (2001). Mine seems to be set at 700 rpm and when waiting at the endless traffic lights you can almost watch the consumption reading rise. With the cost of 95 being what it is seems a waste to have the engine idling at that speed

[Creaver 55]

700 is about the average for nearly all cars isnt it?

[Yuen 16]

700 is about the average for nearly all cars isnt it?

Yup

[BMW012 1]

My car idles at 0kph...

hahaha

[Yuen 16]

My car idles at 0kph...

hahaha

So does everybody else's. We're talking RPM.

[allan 295]

Found this in the Bentley service manual on idle speed

Idle speed control valve. This regulates the idle speed by re-directing air around the throttle valve. It is mounted on the under side of the intake manifold adjacent to the dip stick tube. The idle speed control valve incorporates a two coil rotary actuator and the ground side of each coil are pulsed simultaneously by the ECM . A faulty Idle speed control valve sets a fault code and the MIL is illuminated when the OCB11 fault criteria is exceeded, Bentley service manual. I have read on an American forum also of these seizing up and coursing problems maybe yours is sticking slightly and could be giving the symptoms you mentioned.

Cheers Allan

[hotwire 352]

700 sounds about right (as already said) It is predetermined by engine management system, a fault in the system would generally give a sporadic uneven idle.

Even if you were able to slow it down - it would only be by 50 -100 rpm max - which would have an absolutely negligable effect on fuel consumption & at which time you would probably introduce other issues.