M5 E39 Starter motor

[mthornton]

Got a full service from BMW last week. Collected the car and couldn't start it, there was oil on the roof and windscreen and they'd left the bonnet open, Thanks!

Anyway, since then I've been stuck twice unable to start the car, it just clicks? Is this coincidental? Do I need a new starter motor or is there some other trick I'm missing as I've only had the car a few weeks.

MT

[Ritchie335is]

It could be the starter.
How do you get it started when it has let you down?
Its probably the battery I would think.

[DVandrews]

mthornton said:

Got a full service from BMW last week. Collected the car and couldn't start it, there was oil on the roof and windscreen and they'd left the bonnet open, Thanks!

Anyway, since then I've been stuck twice unable to start the car, it just clicks? Is this coincidental? Do I need a new starter motor or is there some other trick I'm missing as I've only had the car a few weeks.

MT

Just happened to me on my E39 M5 for the first time, unbelievably when showing the car to a prospective buyer.. It had just started 5 minutes before and has never shown any symptoms before. Wife reckons it's an omen not to sell the car. It's not battery, but the starter just spins without engaging so my guess is the the yoke on pinion/solenoid is not pushing all the way out.

Problem went away after 10 minutes.

In being looked at right now.

will let you know what they find.

Dave

[Hedgetrimmer]

DVandrews said:

mthornton said:

Got a full service from BMW last week. Collected the car and couldn't start it, there was oil on the roof and windscreen and they'd left the bonnet open, Thanks!

Anyway, since then I've been stuck twice unable to start the car, it just clicks? Is this coincidental? Do I need a new starter motor or is there some other trick I'm missing as I've only had the car a few weeks.

MT

Just happened to me on my E39 M5 for the first time, unbelievably when showing the car to a prospective buyer.. It had just started 5 minutes before and has never shown any symptoms before. Wife reckons it's an omen not to sell the car. It's not battery, but the starter just spins without engaging so my guess is the the yoke on pinion/solenoid is not pushing all the way out.

Problem went away after 10 minutes.

In being looked at right now.

will let you know what they find.

Dave

Listen to Babs as she is right. I think your car is too good to let go.

Carl

[DVandrews]

Ayup Carl,

Decision made, will be keeping the car for two more years.

Dave

[mthornton]

Thanks guys, I think it must be the battery as I didn't have to rock the car and it just started. I've had the car on trickle charge now on a battery less than 6 months old and it still hasn't charged! Maybe the phone, alarm, Ipod etc drain the battery too quickly. Any of you use a booster?

[DVandrews]

mthornton said:

Thanks guys, I think it must be the battery as I didn't have to rock the car and it just started. I've had the car on trickle charge now on a battery less than 6 months old and it still hasn't charged! Maybe the phone, alarm, Ipod etc drain the battery too quickly. Any of you use a booster?

Mine went through 2 batteries in 4 years as it was not used that regularly, I bought a *large* solar charger from Maplins which occupies the whole of the rear shelf and plugs into the cigarette lighter. since installing this the battery has been fine..

Dave

[scampbird]

Mine used to sit on an Optimate when it wasn't used, which seemed to help. They're not expensive.

[mthornton]

Thanks so much to all for your input.

MT

[DVandrews]

Report.. crap on pinion scroll causing the pinion to stick, simple and inexpensive fix.

Dave

[Hedgetrimmer]

DVandrews said:

Ayup Carl,

Decision made, will be keeping the car for two more years.

Dave

Good man! I drove a e90 M3 and decided to keep the M5 on the basis that the M3 was less fun IMO and a lot more expensive!

Edited by Hedgetrimmer on Thursday 14th October 16:22