What's with my starter motor? Do I need a new one?

[Thadeus1991]

Hey everyone,

First of all, I've had so much help from everybody here in the forum answering my questions in the last few weeks, it's fantastic - so thank you!

Secondly, I think I might have an issue with my starter motor (or maybe not?)...
When I bought my Z4, upon start-up the starter motor would sometimes make the typical screeching sound that usually indicates it's on the way out. The person selling me the car, however, was adamant that the noise only developed as the rod moving in and out of the starter motor got slightly corroded (as he rarely drove it - 3000 miles in 1.5 years) and it would go away when I'd drive the car more regularly. I naturally put this down to the usual BS that people would say when selling their car and booked it in with my local garage to get the motor replaced at the end of this month.

The thing is, since I bought the car 3 weeks ago and started driving it, the noise seems to actually have disappeared. I just went outside to check whether this was just my imagination but, even on a cold wet morning when starting the car half a dozen times I did not get the noise once.

So my question is: what's up with my started motor? Does the explanation of the seller actually make sense?
Most importantly: should I get the motor swapped now or is that ~£200 I don't need to spend right now?

Any thoughts and comments would be much appreciated!

 

[enuff_zed]

I don't see how mileage could affect it as it only operates at start up. However, I guess if it hasn't been started for a long while then it could be a little sticky and slow to disengage.
It may well be that regular use is freeing it up.
As far as I'm aware, the starter motor is easy to source, so if it were me I'd let sleeping dogs lay for now. I'm sure it won't just fail, but give you due warning.
Maybe start putting away a few quid every now and then. If it doesn't fail then you still have a little car fund. (Which will come in handy for the new battery if you keep nipping outside to do a test start )

 

[brillomaster]

if the starter motor starts the car and doesn't make any noise now, then i'd leave it. keep the money aside for if it does break.

if its hardly been driven the last couple of years how are the tyres looking? a decent set of boots will make a huge difference if the car is on old rubber.

 

[enuff_zed]

if the starter motor starts the car and doesn't make any noise now, then i'd leave it. keep the money aside for if it does break.

if its hardly been driven the last couple of years how are the tyres looking? a decent set of boots will make a huge difference if the car is on old rubber.

This is what I love about this forum!
Not only do we tell you how to save your money, but then go on to explain a different way to spend it.

 

[bigwinn]

Morning

Agreed- if the starter will fail it will give you fair notice- mine struggled to turn the car over for a few weeks, then failed but still turned after a sharp tap with a BFH

Easy fish job to swap out too- I think after I got my deposit on returning the old one it was no more than £50- I did a write up on it on here a few months back

Cheers

Stuart

 

[Sludgepump]

Yes - echo what Stuart said

If you're handy with the spanners replacing the starter motor is not a difficult job. You don't even have to get under the car.
I was experiencing similar problems, and being an automatic I knew that if the starter motor failed a long way from home it would not respond to being bump-started.

 

[Andrew Sheldon]

if the starter motor starts the car and doesn't make any noise now, then i'd leave it. keep the money aside for if it does break.

if its hardly been driven the last couple of years how are the tyres looking? a decent set of boots will make a huge difference if the car is on old rubber.

This is what I love about this forum!
Not only do we tell you how to save your money, but then go on to explain a different way to spend it.

 

[maxman]

The seller was correct in what he was saying,save your money to pay for the roof motor to be relocated to the boot.

 

[Thadeus1991]

Thanks so much for all the tips! I was going to follow the advice and leave it but when I started it up earlier the noise came back, so I suppose it's actually on its way out.
I'd love to fix it myself but I'm not very versed with repairs and also don't have a drive way (parked on the road in London), so I don't think that's really an option :-/

About the other things:
- Tyres are still good but are budget, so will be changed at some point in the summer/autumn
- Roof motor will be relocated in a couple of weeks at RBM Hampshire

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks so much for all the tips! I was going to follow the advice and leave it but when I started it up earlier the noise came back, so I suppose it's actually on its way out.
I'd love to fix it myself but I'm not very versed with repairs and also don't have a drive way (parked on the road in London), so I don't think that's really an option :-/

About the other things:
- Tyres are still good but are budget, so will be changed at some point in the summer/autumn
- Roof motor will be relocated in a couple of weeks at RBM Hampshire

Ah, you tempted fate by mentioning it. :wink:
Maybe it will hang on long enough for Ross to do it while you're at RBM?

 

[parabolica]

Hey OP, if you ever need to replace your starter motor drop me a PM; I had to replace mine a few weeks ago and out of interest I took apart the old one - the brushes had completely worn down. Ended up getting replacement brushes for a few quid and put everything back together and now the old s/m is working fine again. Happy to sell it on for a few quid; not really any point in having a spare one sitting around!

 

[Thadeus1991]

Hey OP, if you ever need to replace your starter motor drop me a PM; I had to replace mine a few weeks ago and out of interest I took apart the old one - the brushes had completely worn down. Ended up getting replacement brushes for a few quid and put everything back together and now the old s/m is working fine again. Happy to sell it on for a few quid; not really any point in having a spare one sitting around!

Sent you a PM