Intermittent Starting Issue

[WilReeves]

Hello,

I have a 2004 3.0 Z4 (e85) and have had an intermittent starting issue for some time now. For the last few months, I would go to start the car and sometimes it would fire up straight away with no issues. However other times, it would take a few goes to start the car, usually 2 or 3. With each of these, the car's electrics would turn on with no probelm and then as soon as i turned the key to crank it, there was nothing, then on the 3rd and final try it would start no issues.

I am now at a point where the car wont start at all. The battery is fine, I have replaced the ignition switch and so I'm not to sure what else to do. When the car starts, it fires up first time with no issues, so i dont want to jump to replacing the starter motor striaght away. I was thinking maybe the starter relay, but have read in other forums that this z4 dosnt have one??

What would you all do in my situation?

Cheers!

 

[enuff_zed]

If it were me and you've already changed the ignition switch I would be doing that 'jump' to the starter motor.
Yes it may start perfectly sometimes, but it is just as likely the issue is within its solenoid.

 

[WilReeves]

Cheers enuff_zed!

Do you know if there is a starter relay on these cars?

 

[enuff_zed]

Cheers enuff_zed!

Do you know if there is a starter relay on these cars?

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[colb]

Starters are renown for failing without advance warning had it with mine, also worth scanning the car for fault codes, camshaft and crank sensors failing can affect starting if they go bad, they should set codes if its them causing the issue. Not difficult to change the starter motor, disconnect battery before taking the power leads off the starter motor then two bolts that gold it in and wrangle it out. Put the new one in connect it and put the battery lead back on. I fitted a RTX starter from Carparts4less on and its been fine for 2 years now, that was on a 2.5

 

[MikeyH]

Starters are renown for failing without advance warning had it with mine, also worth scanning the car for fault codes, camshaft and crank sensors failing can affect starting if they go bad, they should set codes if its them causing the issue. Not difficult to change the starter motor, disconnect battery before taking the power leads off the starter motor then two bolts that gold it in and wrangle it out. Put the new one in connect it and put the battery lead back on. I fitted a RTX starter from Carparts4less on and its been fine for 2 years now, that was on a 2.5

I put a RTX on mine just after I bought it, 3.5 years ago and it's still fine Am I tempting fate