Trouble starting E36 328i ???

[lou556]

Good afternoon fellow Pher's,

So today's new problem is the fact that my e36 328i will not start. The story is as follows.

Car has been sitting for 5 months.
Car has been started once every 2-4 weeks without fail.
The battery has never had to been charged the car has always started on the turn of the key
3 weeks ago I took the battery from the BMW to use in my Fathers XJ6 for a short period of time.
I placed the battery back into the BMW -
3 weeks go by I go to start the car, Will not start just a clicking from the engine bay.
So I grab another car and attempt to jump start the car - No luck the car will not start just clicking again.
I take the battery out and place it on charge over night, place the battery back into the BMW all the lights come on just fine, the instrument panel shows no faults etc... it appears that the battery has a full charge.
So I attempt to start the car - Once again just a clicking sound as If the battery is drained.
Battery is tested no faults found.
Car is then bump started with the same battery installed - The car starts.
Car is run for 30 mins and then switched off
I attempt to restart the car just to return to the clicking syndrome once again.

So what do you technically minded people think the issue may well be with my car.

I am thinking that it may be the starter motor; but why after 5 months of consistent successful operation does it now decide to stop working ??

Could it be a ignition switch ??

Or something else ??

Lewis

[LawrenceF]

What killed the battery in the XJ6? Are you sure it hasn't killed this battery too? ie will the battery start the Jag?