BMW Repair: Starting/cutting off., 325i cabrio, court judgement

Question
Josh,

I have an 87 325i cabrio in excellent condition. 140,000. I drive an @ 15-20 miles per week in the car. Daily driver. I am close to work.

Lately, car will crank run, then I go a mile or so, it stalls, cuts back in (sometimes) and stalls then it will not start. I go back within hours and it cranks. In my driveway it will crank one day and not the next. No real pattern. It does not missfire at all when driving but idle is erratic between 500-1000 rpm sand it sound like it is missing. When throttled to at least 2500-3000 rpm it is a smooth idle.I have spent 1500.00 and now got a court judgement against some fools that threw parts at it trying to fix it. New coil, wires,crank sensors, mortonic unit is good (after we, they bought a new one, they still owe on that)A/c does not work as I have not had it charged I live so close to my school. Have I got a fuel pump problem and how do I check for that or the idle control? Many thanks Josh.

Answer
Ray,
 Consider yourself lucky.  I drive 82 miles per day (round trip) in my '87 325i.
 
 Sorry to hear about the legal problems, but that's what you run into from guys who dont know what they are doing.  They just say "oh yeah, this is your problem, give me $500".

 I would have the Idle Control Valve checked.  The ICV is a small cylinder on the intake boot that has a wire coming out of it.  It adjusts air flow to help smooth out the idle.  Sometimes it becomes gummed up and needs to be cleaned out (10 minute job).  You can remove it, then take some carb/choke cleaner and spray into the openings and hopefully it will clean it out.  If it still doesn't work, you may need a replacement (ebay).

 Good luck,
 Josh