Starting issue once warm

[joepope7810]

Of recent my M has started playing up. when the engine is cold it fires up fine let it get up to temp as usual and go for a drive, say for example petrol station where I’ll be starting it shortly after stopping it. When I come back to it it won’t start just a single click from the startermotor. If I leave it a while it’ll generally fire would this suggest a knackered starter motor? If so how hard are they to change yourself? Any help appreciated

[ph001]

I would say starter motor defo the most likely. Ignition switch is other possibility but I don’t think you get a click from the starter solenoid when that plays up. Not sure how easy it is to change on the M though. Must be a guide somewhere. Maybe check youtube and include e46 m3.

[T1berious]

I had a very similar issue. Would start fine from cold but restarts were a pain. In the end it left me stranded (kind of) at the gym, AA later said the battery wasn't holding enough amps to start the car (had dropped to 11.7). He popped the battery on started straight away.

I got a new battery and service all fine.

[joepope7810]

Thanks for response, now that’s interesting as I did have the battery tested when it first did it a while back and guy who tested it said it was charging fine but machine said it was only at 57% charge which is odd

[joepope7810]

I would say starter motor defo the most likely. Ignition switch is other possibility but I don’t think you get a click from the starter solenoid when that plays up. Not sure how easy it is to change on the M though. Must be a guide somewhere. Maybe check youtube and include e46 m3.

thanks I’ll look into how they are to fit. Just a pain like it is a the moment! Leave it a while and it does start which does seem ever so odd