E46 M3 - trouble starting
Discussion
my M3 has been a bit temperamental for the last few weeks. sometimes i get in, and it starts first time, others it wont even turn over.
turn key back to 0 then round to start and off it goes.
noticed yesterday, after driving for about half an hour, that if i stop for a minute and turn the car off it wont then start on the first try. makes no noise at all - all lights on dash as supposed to be but not turning over.
3 or 4 tries later, it turns over and it seems fine.
its becoming an issue - i don't want to get stranded anywhere.
seems a bit odd - could it be the battery?
turn key back to 0 then round to start and off it goes.
noticed yesterday, after driving for about half an hour, that if i stop for a minute and turn the car off it wont then start on the first try. makes no noise at all - all lights on dash as supposed to be but not turning over.
3 or 4 tries later, it turns over and it seems fine.
its becoming an issue - i don't want to get stranded anywhere.
seems a bit odd - could it be the battery?
Does sound odd, can you hear any clicking as if the starter was trying to engage, my TVR occasional does this and on the 2nd attempt it always fires up.
I did have an issue on my old 330d that would take ages to start in particular when warm, i changed both the crank & cam sensors and that sorted it out.
Have you got a scanner to check for codes ??
I did have an issue on my old 330d that would take ages to start in particular when warm, i changed both the crank & cam sensors and that sorted it out.
Have you got a scanner to check for codes ??
NotNormal said:
Had exactly the same issue. Starter motor is the culprit.
If you do the work yourself, bit of a faff to change as you need to remove the inlet to access but plenty of guides on the net if you need them.
Me too. New starter motor was needed.If you do the work yourself, bit of a faff to change as you need to remove the inlet to access but plenty of guides on the net if you need them.
Edited by NotNormal on Thursday 7th May 18:16
Hi Pidsy
I had a very similar problem with mine that turned out to be annoyingly simple after I'd already replaced the battery and had various diagnostic advice. It turned out the positive extension terminal in the engine bay had worked loose. Only found out when the mechanic touched it with the engine running and discovered it was hot!. A quick turn of a spanner and all was well.
Might be something else but definitely worth checking.
Cheers
Richard
I had a very similar problem with mine that turned out to be annoyingly simple after I'd already replaced the battery and had various diagnostic advice. It turned out the positive extension terminal in the engine bay had worked loose. Only found out when the mechanic touched it with the engine running and discovered it was hot!. A quick turn of a spanner and all was well.
Might be something else but definitely worth checking.
Cheers
Richard
Turned out to be an expensive day.
Problem was the starter motor.
Had a slight knock on the drivers side front suspension too so had that looked at. Turns out I needed a lower control arm too.
Just had my wallet drained of a little over £1k.
I'm going home for a sit down.
It does now start on the button though.
Problem was the starter motor.
Had a slight knock on the drivers side front suspension too so had that looked at. Turns out I needed a lower control arm too.
Just had my wallet drained of a little over £1k.
I'm going home for a sit down.
It does now start on the button though.
Tbh, the starter motor wasn't the bulk of the cost, it was the suspension work to both sides. One arm was completely knackered and the other one was tired so had both done.
Still painful.
There was a guy there who had to have all new brakes on all corners. He was up for a bigger raping than me.
Still painful.
There was a guy there who had to have all new brakes on all corners. He was up for a bigger raping than me.
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