Car won’t start (any ideas)

W

wayne

Member
Car won’t start (any ideas)

I drive a 2004 Alpina Roadster S and have never had a problem with it whatsoever until recently. I stopped for petrol last week and when I come to start it there was nothing, just like a flat battery. I was convinced it was the battery despite having no warning, but taking into consideration the original battery was some 7 years old I thought it highly likely to be the battery. The thing that was throwing me a little was the fact that the green health light was still on. However, a week later I decided to take the plunge and purchase a new battery for the stricken Alpina. When I went to obtain the details off the battery I noticed the health light had turned black. Now I felt certain it was the battery and subsequently purchased a new one. I set about changing the battery over and when I tried to start it, absolutely nothing not even a click. I am able to put everything on like full beam, blowers etc. but can’t even get the starter motor to turn. I’m sure there are no loose connections to the starter etc. so I thought I would post my disappointment on here in the hope someone points out something obvious that I’m missing. HELP.

Wayne
 
Now there's a thought bel;ieve it or not I haven't and if it does turn out to be a fuse I won't kick myself I'll cheer believe me.
 
Latest update

I managed to access the fuse box and conducted a bell test across all the fuses and they all checked out ok. I also charged the battery dispite it being brand new. This time when I tried to start the car I could hear the starter motor solenoid clicking but the engine did not crank suggesting that the starter motor isn't engaging the flywheel.
 
I was thinking the starter. Just had mine go out (not an Alpina) with 96K miles on the odometer. Roughly same situation. Car was starting slow, figured it was the battery (battery was very old - and had started to leak). Changed battery and about 10 starts later the engine stopped turning to over. But my solenoid wasn't clicking to start :(
 
I'm going to give the starter motor a good old fashioned bump with a hammer and see what happens. I was going to remove the starter motor and investigate but I can't due to not having a socket to fit those inverted torx nuts.
 
Sounds like the starter could be stuck in the flywheel. Is there a bolt on the end of the starter? If so give a quarter turn and try to start.
 
I had a similar issue with mine, car would not start, then I could not even get the dash lights to come on. It turned out to be the ignition switch, I had a BMW mechanic out and he cleaned it and it's been ok since. Hope this helps
 
Turn the lights on (full beam) then have someone try to start it while you watch them. If they dim a little (may not be much if battery is in good shape) then that would indicate that the starter is drawing some current (but for what ever reason is not able to crank the engine).

You could try cleaning the contacts where the red wire is bolted on the back of the starter (if you can reach it). Disconnect the battery first so that you don't risk any sparks. I'm suspecting a problem with the starter itself though. Tapping the solenoid as you suggest may help but if you can hear it clicking probably not.

Incidentally you could get someone to give you a push to bump start it to get down to the garage. (I drove for a year like this as a student :( )
 
carlosfandango said:
I had a similar issue with mine, car would not start, then I could not even get the dash lights to come on. It turned out to be the ignition switch, I had a BMW mechanic out and he cleaned it and it's been ok since. Hope this helps
Click to expand...
Dash lights not coming on is an indication of an issue with the ignition switch. This seems to be a common problem on many BMW's and the ignition switch used on the E-85/86's is common to a number of other BMW models.
 
I am leaning towards the problem being the starter motor. When I attempt to start the car the starter motor solenoid can be heard to click but theres no attempt for the starter motor to crank the engine. I have put the car in gear and rocked it incase the bendix is stuck in the flywheel, but no success there either.
 
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