130i N52 starting issue

[swampy442]

My 130 has been flawless since Ive owned it, until yesterday. Id just driven about 30 miles, stopped at a garage. Got back in and attempted to start it and it turned over once, like a dead battery then the start cycle stopped.
Turned it off, on and started it again and although slow it started fine. Drove home and check started it again and it was fine.
Battery is showing 12.8v, no error codes stored, it's never happened before, symptom of a failing starter motor? Something else?

[helix402]

I’d test your battery, with battery tester not just voltage. . If ok check starter works. It only has two +ves to check, switched and permanent. The N52 starters do fail with age.

[JakeT]

As helix said, could be the starter. I replaced the one on my 2005 330i with 162,000 miles on it last November.

It did a slow crank, and then sped up a bit but was very slow. New one spins the engine like a top.

[swampy442]

Brilliant, thanks. Ill look into a starter then

[Mr Tidy]

My 2nd Z4Coupe did the same.

Started fine from cold, but 30/40 miles later when up to temperature it cranked slowly - a few months later an Amber EML appeared and the battery died while the fault codes were being diagnosed.

New battery then all sorted!

[bodhi]

Mine did similar over Xmas during the cold snap - would turn over eventually but never sounded particularly good. Fitted a new battery, and whilst it takes a couple of cranks when starting from cold, it's generally much better.

That's on a 2008 125i with 156k on the clock.

[swampy442]

Thanks again for the suggestions, Ill look into batteries, take it you have to have it coded in?

Since that event its been just fine.

[Court_S]

swampy442 said:

Thanks again for the suggestions, Ill look into batteries, take it you have to have it coded in?

Since that event its been just fine.

It just needs registering. I used Carly on my other half’s car when that needed a new battery.