DIY: Cleaning/Replacing Idle Control Valve (ICV)-

[tdwyatt]

As this is the ICV, I would not spray Silicone libe into it for a libe of the valve flp, as this does directyu into the intake for the vehicle and may affect the O2 sensors in the vehicle. It might even be insignificant, but at $400 USD to replace 4 of them in the majority of the 96-99 M3's, any little helps should be appreciated...

[Julz69]

So in doing this on my 97, do you guys think it will help my random missfire also?

[bigmansM]

needs to point to the manifold

Can anyone confirm this? Please

[bill k]

Nice thanks

[Perculator00]

Is this the exact same for an OBDII?

[Patrick33]

Is this the exact same for an OBDII?

No. The ICV is on the backside of the manifold, so you do NOT need to remove the intake manifold to get to it. All you have to do is remove everything up to the throttle body, removing that as well. Clean that while you are there as well. There are 3 bolts total that you remove at that point, you will find them by the oil dipstick, as the bolt that attatches the dipstick to the motor is one of the bolts you remove. At that point you just wiggle the ICV down, and then remove the computer plug and the vacuum hose line.

[Perculator00]

Thanks

[eXpLiCiT]

Damn, wish I had seen this before I did my M50 conversion. Does this only affect idle?

[Patrick33]

Damn, wish I had seen this before I did my M50 conversion. Does this only affect idle?

idle, smoothness of engine idle, and if you also use the carb cleaner on the throttle body, throttle response is greatly improved.

[TXBDan]

just did mine.

i took off the TB and the dipstick bracket and i was kinda like wtf. hrmm looked a little intimidating spacewise. but then i just yanked the ICV down and the hose that plugs into the intake mani popped and the whole thing came out. the hose that goes downward from the ICV just goes to the intake elbow/tube so you can disconnect it at the intake tube to gain some flexability.

the idle is now more 'robotic'. when i rev it and it falls back to idle, it sort of hesitates for a split sec at 1000rpm, 800rpm, and then finally to 600rpm whre it rests. maybe thats the computer learning.

[TXBDan]

the computer learned i guess and now it falls quickly all the way back to idle at 600rpm from a blip. nice

[Makster]

Nice write up ! ! !
I was just askin for this info too

[CorbanTek]

Hey my '99 M3 has been starting and idling like crap for a while, so I finally bit the bullet and decided to remove the ICV valve and clean it. Overall it wasn't too bad. I had to remove everything up to the intake manifold inorder to get to it. After I cleaned it (and I cleaned my TB while I was at it) and got everything back together my car starts up great now and idles about 150 rpm higher. So overall great project and I probably saved a ton of money instead of bringing it to the dealer.

Anyway, I have a 99 M3 and it seems all the instructions online show the ICV in a different place. Mine was way in the back under the maninfold and behind the dipstick, and plugs directly into the manifold on the top end. The other hose goes to the intake right before the MAS.

I even took pictures... But this silly forum wont let me post pictures or links... So if someone could message me and post the link for me or get some admin to give me access that would be great.

Hope it helps everyone with a 99 M3.

[CRYPTiC]

Can't PM you. PM me and I'll post post the links.

[CorbanTek]

Here are my DIY Pictures of my ICV Removal on my '99 M3 (I couldn't find anything on the net for that year)

Before:
<img src="http://www.corbantek.com/PhotoAlbum/2006-Photo-Album/10-07-2006-M3-IC-Valve-Fix-And-Car-Wash/20061007-1322-Before.jpg">

Removal of Airbox and Alternator Ducting:
<img src="http://www.corbantek.com/PhotoAlbum/2006-Photo-Album/10-07-2006-M3-IC-Valve-Fix-And-Car-Wash/20061007-1323-AirboxRemoval.jpg">
<img src="http://www.corbantek.com/PhotoAlbum/2006-Photo-Album/10-07-2006-M3-IC-Valve-Fix-And-Car-Wash/20061007-1323-AirboxRemoval2.jpg">

Removal of MAS Assembly:
<img src="http://www.corbantek.com/PhotoAlbum/2006-Photo-Album/10-07-2006-M3-IC-Valve-Fix-And-Car-Wash/20061007-1330-MASRemoval.jpg">

Throttle Body Removal and ICV Location:
<img src="http://www.corbantek.com/PhotoAlbum/2006-Photo-Album/10-07-2006-M3-IC-Valve-Fix-And-Car-Wash/20061007-1340-TBRemoval.jpg">
<img src="http://www.corbantek.com/PhotoAlbum/2006-Photo-Album/10-07-2006-M3-IC-Valve-Fix-And-Car-Wash/20061007-1340-TBRemoval2.jpg">

ICV:
<img src="http://www.corbantek.com/PhotoAlbum/2006-Photo-Album/10-07-2006-M3-IC-Valve-Fix-And-Car-Wash/20061007-1341-EurekaIVCOut.jpg">

I cleaned my ICV and now my car idles great and its fixed all my cold start problems. Good Luck all you 99 M3 people...

[BMDubalew]

thanks for the detailed pics. very helpful. how did you remove the icv? just yank on it?

[Makster]

thanks for the detailed pics. very helpful. how did you remove the icv? just yank on it?

I did mine with WD40 plus i didn't take the throttle body out just the air box...

[CorbanTek]

thanks for the detailed pics. very helpful. how did you remove the icv? just yank on it?

Yeah unlike previous years, our ICV actually plugs directly into the bottom of the intake manifold. There is only the one hose going to the air intake that you see in the final picture. I had to un bolt the oil dip stick and move it aside and then I simply just pulled down on the ICV and it popped out. Actually easier than other ICV instructions for previous years. I cleaned the entire ICV with TB Cleaner and I even got a damp rag of TB cleaner and reached underneith and cleaned the port going into the manifold.

I also cleaned my TB while it was unhooked.

Doing this yourself can save you tons of money and you'll know it was done right...

[wheresmym3]

I did this about a year ago but my ICV was filthy!! I ran TB cleaner through it over and over but kept coming out black so ran some light mix citrus cleaner. Bingo all gunk gone then ran TB cleaner through several times to clean out citrus and car ran rough at first. After a few blocks around the neighborhood good as new!

[BMDubalew]

just finished doing the cleaning! again thanks for the pics Corbantek they were very helpful.

when i first finished, the car would start and die. figured out it was because the icv came loose when installing the other hoses back on.

heres some pics of the icv

dirty



getting shinny!



the revs stayed high for a bit then settled back down. it feels a lot smoother at idle now. tomorrow morning will be the true test. i also did the fuel filter today. hope that helps.

[BMDubalew]

well its a couple of days after the clean. and ive got to say the car feels alot smoother in the morning and doesnt need me to hold the revs up so it doesnt burble and put. the car never used to hold the revs up around 1k for a couple seconds and then settle down, but now it does. it could be smoother but im happy.

anyone with high mileage and unstable cold starts should def clean their ICV!!

[chandlerseattle]

just an FYI. I found this thread after having a rough idle problem and printed it out and took it to my buddy/mechanic. He got the ICV out in about 15 min with only removing the cooling duct for the alternator. Pics to follow. but it can be done. and again it only took him about 15 min to get it back in after cleaning it. So before ripping out the entire intake manifold and fuel rail, you may want to just get a friend to hold a flash light a be a little ambitious.

But I really do appreciate the write and was prepared to follow it today but found we could manage with out the headache. keep in mind this is a 95' M3 07/94 build date. 86k on the clock and the ICV was pretty gunked (technical term) up. idle is much smoother and stable now. Cheers.

[chandlerseattle]

wow. I just noticed the thread date. sorry to dig this up..

[m3j0n]

thanks for the writeup.

[ZLUJ]

its good to bump old threads, i attempted this a while ago but failed, i need to try it again.