E46 320i won't start

E46 320i won't start

Author
Discussion

Panayiotis

Original Poster:

503 posts

209 months

Thursday 30th June 2011
quotequote all
All,

I am taking care of my mum's car whilst she is on holiday, driving it every so often car is fine and has about 80k miles on the clock. The other day I started her, moved the car in and out of my driveay as I needed to move things in the garage and then drove it back in. No issues there. 2 days later I go to start it, it turns over, but no start. The lights, stereo and alarm all work it just doesnt want to start.

As it is not my car I'm not in a great position to start taking it apart and figuring it out myself, and frankly I know nothing about these cars so it is better that I don't start experimenting.

What I would like to know is if there are any common issues on BMW's of this vintage that would cause this so at least I get some idea before I end up calling a BMW main dealer to tow it and look at it only for it to be something minor! There are no BMW specialists that I know of in my area.

By the way I'm in Australia, so the weather is pretty cold here, not blighty cold. It's not all sun and sand here!

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 30th June 2011
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Do you mean it turns over and over and doesn't fire or it doesn't turn over at all?

Panayiotis

Original Poster:

503 posts

209 months

Thursday 30th June 2011
quotequote all
It turns over and doesnt fire.

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 30th June 2011
quotequote all
In which case it could be a multitude of things, but quite likely a fuel problem. Turn the ignition on to position 2 and see if you can hear the fuel pump priming.

Panayiotis

Original Poster:

503 posts

209 months

Thursday 30th June 2011
quotequote all
It primes, I can definitely hear that and you can smell the fuel after trying to crank it over. Its very odd, as the last time it was driven it was smooth a silk. I think I jinxed it when I thought, even with this mileage, this car drives and feels brand new!

I appreciate it can be anything, just thought that maybe these cars have any niggles that are common and can be rectified relatively easily.

Its got fuel, battery isn't gone (well at least the lights and stereo work) and it had a bmw service not even 6 months ago.

Head being scratched!

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 30th June 2011
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Hard to diagnose a car from a different hemisphere!!!! May be something wrong with the ignition system, or possibly the immobiliser, but I'm not aware that these are "common" problems on the e46. Hope you get it sorted

fixedwheelnut

743 posts

232 months

Thursday 30th June 2011
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Bet it's flooded.
Starting them up cold they run rich and soot the plugs, not a problem if left running it burns off, but switch it off cold that soot sits there then next cold start it soaks up the rich mixture wetting the plugs and there you have it non start.

Try pulling the fuel pump fuse out and crank it until it starts firing and put it back in or remove the plugs and dry them out.

Panayiotis

Original Poster:

503 posts

209 months

Thursday 30th June 2011
quotequote all
fixedwheelnut said:
Bet it's flooded.
Starting them up cold they run rich and soot the plugs, not a problem if left running it burns off, but switch it off cold that soot sits there then next cold start it soaks up the rich mixture wetting the plugs and there you have it non start.

Try pulling the fuel pump fuse out and crank it until it starts firing and put it back in or remove the plugs and dry them out.
We have a winner!

I cranked it for nearly a minute and it finally started. Thanks for your help guys.

kyle1988

1 posts

174 months

Sunday 18th March 2012
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hello. can any one help me, i have e46 318ci lately ive been having problems in the morning when trying to start it. it turns over but wont start, i have replaced fuel pump and still it continues. i have have read on about it and im hearing it could be Crank shaft/ Crank sensor or relays. if any one has had this problem and has been fixed please contact me on kyle_stanford1988@hotmail.co.uk so i can resolve this problem.

Many thnaks

BE57 TOY

2,628 posts

147 months

Sunday 18th March 2012
quotequote all
kyle1988 said:
hello. can any one help me, i have e46 318ci lately ive been having problems in the morning when trying to start it. it turns over but wont start, i have replaced fuel pump and still it continues. i have have read on about it and im hearing it could be Crank shaft/ Crank sensor or relays. if any one has had this problem and has been fixed please contact me on kyle_stanford1988@hotmail.co.uk so i can resolve this problem.

Many thnaks
You don't ask for much