Hope it's not the starter motor. E46 M3

[pidsy]

Got in the car after work. Turn key, electrics come on, turn key to start:

Click
Click
Click

Bugger. Called George at technosport for some advice and I'm hoping it's the battery - tested with a meter and it's only showing 10v.

Worst way out it's a starter motor @ £550 plus labour.

[Hainey]

Did the headlights flash on attempting to crank? If they did its the battery.

[Smuler]

pidsy said:

Got in the car after work. Turn key, electrics come on, turn key to start:

Click
Click
Click

Bugger. Called George at technosport for some advice and I'm hoping it's the battery - tested with a meter and it's only showing 10v.

Worst way out it's a starter motor @ £550 plus labour.

Sounds like a battery, sounds like what happened to me the other day. When it was replaced, I asked to see the date on the battery (wondering how old) and it said 3704. I thought, either I've been asleep for a long time or I'm missing something,
It was week 37, 2004. car was on it's original battery

Good luck, my car's previous owner used technosport.

[tomtom]

At 10V it does sound like the battery..! When my alternator was failing my battery died pretty quickly but without the alternator warning lamp on the dash. Replaced the battery and the alternator died a few weeks later.

Once you get it started, check the voltage through the OBD menu system on the dash - I had the button press sequence for voltage memorised after changing the alternator and being paranoid, but I've forgotten it now!

[pidsy]

Got a Bosch s5 being dropped to me today so here's hoping.
Thinking about it last night and I think the fact that the car only gets used for short journeys coupled with my dashcam (which is always on) might have killed the battery.
I've had the car 4 years and not changed the battery.

Everything is crossed that the s5 will sort it.

[Hainey]

It will. Keep us posted

[pidsy]

Old battery:



New battery:




And...

Success!

Phew.

Thanks for your help all. Nice when PH is here to show you it's not always gonna be as expensive as it could be!

[nevm3]

where did the £550 + labour come from, dealer price for starter motor would only be @£350, but would easily pick one up for £100

[pidsy]

nevm3 said:

where did the £550 + labour come from, dealer price for starter motor would only be @£350, but would easily pick one up for £100

dealer price (from Spire in borhamwood) is £540 inc vat. plus fitting.
ive just called them this morning to make sure the price hadn't dropped sharply over the last week.
M3 starter motor for £100? off a breaker? second hand? - no thanks.

[klan8456]

I know this is an old thread, but I want to ensure no one in future considers paying 550 GBP for a starter from BMW. That is completely INSANE money. With just a 10 second search I found a Valeo one (remanufactured)

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/valeo/1082169?tduid=50ca...

If you spend more than 10 seconds I’m sure you could find a NEW Bosch or Valeo item for far, far less than 550 GBP. Remember that BMW doesn't make these parts themselves, and if you buy Bosch or Valeo you're getting the exact same part, with the BMW logo removed / ground off.

https://www.startermotor-alternator-store.co.uk/bm...

Don’t be conned into paying dealer prices for parts.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/e46-m3-part...

Edited by klan8456 on Thursday 11th April 14:18