Urgent please: E39 530i won't turn over

[Origin Unknown]

Went to start my E39 just now and it does nothing other than click, click, click repeatedly.

Tried to jump it from my wife’s car but didn't help (with hers running). Now since being disconnected, the dash hardly lights and it thinks it -40degrees outside and the fuel gauge won't move.

Battery dead? I assume my wife’s x-type doesn't have the oomph to assist the bwm?

Advice please guys given I have until 4PM to grab another battery.

[Matt UK]

Well a battery is not an expenisve item, so I would try that first.

[Ricky_M]

Certainly sounds like a dead battery.

Did you have a good connection when you were trying to jump start it?

ETA
Is it manual or auto? Could you try bump starting it if it is a manual?

[_Al_]

Check that you have a good connection and have the terminals on the right way. Also give the wife's car a few revs (2,000rpm ish) before you try to start the BMW.

[Origin Unknown]

Yea, connection looked good to me. And the battery IS fairly expensive for these so before throwing money away, thought I would double check with you guys.

[Origin Unknown]

Let me try the jump again....

[anonymous-user]

Sounds like your battery is knackered. Have you got any where you can bump start it and leave it running to see if it charges?

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 2nd May 12:35

[Ricky_M]

When connecting the jump leads, give them a good wiggle on the battery terminals to make sure it scratches away any dirt and gets a good contact on metal.

You should hear and see it sparking when it makes a circuit.

[matt21]

Washed my 530i last month and left keys in the ignition for 30mins (no power on) and it wouldn't start.

Tried jumping it off a couple of cars still wouldn't go (this was off terminals in front). I then connected jump leads to actual battery in front and it eventually kicked into life....been fine since!

if you not tried it make sure you try jumping from the battery itself.

was the same when i tried to jump an RX8 at xmas, would only work off the battery.

good luck!

[P I Staker]

Ricky_M said:

When connecting the jump leads, give them a good wiggle on the battery terminals to make sure it scratches away any dirt and gets a good contact on metal.

You should hear and see it sparking when it makes a circuit.

I wouldnt recomend sparking the terminals on the battery unless you want a face full of acid and plastic.

You should connect the positive lead to the battery and the negative to the engine block or somewhere suitible to move any sparking away from the battery.

[Origin Unknown]

Cheers chaps. New battery installed and operating perfectly fine now. Proof in the pudding will be if its ok tomorrow morning as I'm hoping I don't have a drain on the battery.