Classic symptoms of misfiring, check your Ignition coils/spark plugs first step.
If it happens on cold starts (only as mine did last week), problem is just beginning and will get worse over time, not sure how much time but when its not misfiring, its fine to drive.

 

Spark plugs were replaced at recent Inspection 2. Ignition coils would still be the same ones though.

If it's misfiring, wouldn't this throw a code?

But I hope you're right, coz that's a fairly simple fix then

 

I had a misfire on ignition coil 5, would only wobble and sputter on cold start ups. I replaced all my spark plugs and 2 ignition coils (just incase 1 more was faulty) and problem went right away.

 

What's about your coolant level?

 

sh1t, good point, check your brake fluid also!

 

mine has always had a bit of a wobble at idle when dead cold but settles down after a few seconds to normal,when you say you borrowed a scanner,what kind? I use pa soft bmw scanner on my laptop to scan my car,gives pretty comprehensive data but did not show any errors for this problem either could very well be a coil

 

Hi there. It is a MaxiScan MS509 OBD2/EOBD scanner.

 

My car can sometimes do the same, IF I try to start it as soon as I put the key in. My procedure on cold mornings/long periods of no use, is to turn the key to ignition, wait until its done its routine, primed the SMG pump, all the check lights that will go out actually go out, airbag check etc, and then when she's all happy and settled I actually start it. Only takes 5 seconds with the key at ignition to go through its routine. Never misses a beat...
Are you SMG or manual?

 

It is Steptronic.

I have also tried giving it that delay in the ON position before actually starting, intermittently with the same result I'm afraid.

 

Sorry, not sure then. I've changed coils about 20,000kms ago just because I was being obsessive, plugs every 10,000 or so. I still do the same routine, its habit now. Not for much longer, car will be gone in a few days...

 

My car gets that odd idle/miss if I leave it for a week or so. I've had the ignition coils replaced and the spark plugs too.


One of my ignition coils let go a year ago and I could barely get it out of the street.

 

But yours wouldn't stall like that the first time on a cold start though, right?

 

On a cold start my car starts and idles smoothly for several seconds. If I do not take of and start driving the idle gets rougher and rougher as the OP describes. If I just go as soon as I start the car I have no problem. On a warm start it does not matter.

I have had the plugs and coils all replaced. Made no difference.

The car runs absolutely smoothly as long as I take off as soon as I start the engine.

 

I had (have) this exact same problem. When I took it in for inspection II no fault could be found. Anyway, as crazy as this sounds, from my experience, I only get it if I fill up with Caltex 98. If I use BP 98 (these are the main two I use due to proximity) the car starts fine. It took me a while to notice this and it's too consistent to be a coincidence. I have no idea what would cause it, but this may be something to try?

 

Hmmm!!!!!!!! The plot thickens, you may be onto something.

I've been using Caltex 98 as it has always been good in my previous car (a Honda). It's almost due for a refill so I will try the next closest servo that takes supermarket discount vouchers and that is Shell - which is a tank of V-Power 98. The previous owner always used V-Power 98 and never experienced this issue.

I hope this is all it is!!! :banghead:

 

I'll certainly be interested to know if this fixes the problem for you. I suspect it's probably a combination of factors... something our cars have and the fuel. Otherwise everyone would be complaining about the Caltex 98 (which used to be fine in our golf). If the Shell 98 doesn't help, in the interest of science maybe try the BP?

 

I've used nothing but Shell V-Power 98 from the day I bought my car. Its also had a few bottles of Liqui Moly fuel injection cleaner. Some say its snake oil, I'd say I think that stuff actually helped smoothed things out a bit. Shove a bottle of that in as well, you can get it at supercheap

http://www.liqui-moly.com.au/products/fuel-additives/

 

Fuel injector cleaner is one of the only anything-additives that actually does something.

 

OK, I've refilled with almost a full tank of Shell V-Power 98. Took it for a bit of a burn to start getting the V-Power circulating. Will see how it goes this week! Wish me luck...

I'll also look into getting some of that fuel system cleaner stuff too. What is the difference between the Liqui Moly FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER / CONDITIONER and Liqui Moly FUEL INJECTION CLEANER?

 

Not sure, but I'd try the just the injector cleaner first. Seems as though it actually seemed to make the car run a bit smoother/more responsive. I put 2 cans in over 2 separate fills. Whack it in with your full tank of Vpower

 

hey mate, did you fix the problem? i had the same problem. i replaced all my plugs & ran a bottle of injector cleaner and problem was gone. i had a mechanic look over it and it was either #1 dirty injectors #2 coils #3 plugs

 

I only put V-Power 98 in it yesterday, so still too soon to tell. I plan to pick up some injector cleaner tomorrow as well and pop it in. I will know during this week if it has made a difference.

 

Im keen to here about this. As I've experience the same problem as well. I've change my Head Gasket Valve rubber (was missing a corner of it) thinking that this could of cause the problem. But I've had it happen a couple of times but can't remember what fuel I was using. There's a BP, Shell, Apco and Caltex all close to home.

Located in Geelong so not all that big of a town.

 

Mid-week update:

Car has started perfectly from cold every time so far this week! Still a very slight wobble on idle when cold (which I think has actually smoothened out compared to before) but it has not stalled immediately like my video shows.

All I have done is stopped filling with Caltex 98 and instead filled with Shell V-Power 98, and poured in a can of Liqui Moly Fuel Injection Cleaner two days later.

If the car continues to behave for the rest of this week then there is definitely something about Caltex 98 which my E46 does not agree with!! The Liqui Moly perhaps helped abit as well.

Will continue to monitor how it goes for the rest of this week.

 

Run it to empty again, give it another full tank of Vpower and at the same time add another can of Liqui-Moly injection cleaner. That should sort it...

 

Thanks for the update. I'm glad I've (hopefully) helped and glad that I'm not the only one (nor going crazy)! I haven't run injector cleaner through but may after some of the comments here.

I wonder why some people have no problem with Caltex 98 and we do... whether it's that we're both in Brisbane (same fuel), or something wrong with our cars? I tried googling for it a while back and it didn't seem to be common at all. Anyway, as long as it's resolved, that's the main thing!

 

Yeah, thanks for your help!

It still beats me why it should matter though, and why our cars should be so sensitive to it, coz it shouldn't be.

Which Caltex service station did you fill up at?

 

One week update:

Still continues to start perfectly fine when cold whilst on V-Power 98. The previous symptom as shown in the video would have surely occurred by now. I'm sticking with V-Power!! Still beats me why it would be so different though, but whatever works works.

 

could be more that the injector cleaner has done its job,and seeing your video our cars both have similar k's on the clock so I will be trying some of that injector cleaner to see if that fixes my cold wobbly idle,incidentally,changing the subject,did you ever fix your dynavin problem?,if I remember correctly you had some sort of wiring issues with it a while back.

 

That's a good result.

 

I would go with MAF or ignition coils. Have the coils ever been replaced?

 

My car had the exact same problem as yours for quite some time. Every now and then it would stall when I tried to start and the whole car would wobble around while idling.

I would say with certainly it's time to replace your camshaft position sensors. Do both the exhaust and intake sensors, pelican parts has them for really cheap. You can do it yourself quite quickly, though access can be a pain. Do this before you spend money on anything else.

 

Just found this post, have identical issue from cold start. Will try V-Power and injector cleaner! Did your start up vibrations also get better? Also live in brisbane.

 

What petrol are you using currently? Caltex 98 by any chance?

I would say the start up vibrations improved a little bit, but it is still present. I can live with that as it's only for a very short while. The main issue was the complete stalling upon a cold start, which bizarrely V-Power 98 and injector cleaner seems to have resolved for me.

Good luck with yours too, let us know how you go.

 

Wow quick response! I use either 95 or 98 BP. Just filled with V-power and about to drop some cleaner in! Also noticed what I think was the same slight rattle and buzz in your vid... Not sure if I imagined it or not? Disappears after 20 seconds or so if left to sit at idle. Will let you know in this post how things go! Thanks for your reply!