96 328is electrical problem, need help

[AU fan 06]

Since about Thanksgiving all the electronics in my car will randomly flicker sometimes. A few times my cd player and radar detector even shut off and came right back on. I thought it was my alternator and got it checked over Christmas but they said it was good. So its still been doing it and then today I got out of the car and tried to start it about 1 minute later and it was completely dead, it wouldn't even turn over. Some one came to jump me off but that still didn't work it would try to turn over but after 10 minutes we gave up and push started the car. So I went to have the alternator checked again and it is still fine supposedly. The car has started the past two times I've tried but I'm afraid to drive it anywhere. Does anyone have any clue what this problem could be? My car is a 1996 328is. Thanks for your help

[MisterBimmerMan]

I have no idea. What is the mileage on your 328? At 183K, I have electrical gremlins out of the ass in my 328 but it has never not started (knock on wood).

[AU fan 06]

138k

[someguy79]

Let's start with the low-hanging fruit. Check that the battery terminals are clean and tight. If not, make them so.

If that doesn't change anything, more info will be needed about what electrical items do or do not function, when, and how.

[AU fan 06]

Battery terminals are clean and tight. What other info is needed?

[richbarn2]

Chassis end of the battery ground?

[someguy79]

Which electrical items work, and which do not?
Do your interior/exterior/head-lights work?
when you try to start the car, do you hear the starter solenoid click? (you said it doesn't turn over.)

It doesn't sound like your battery or the alternator is an issue. The alternator was 'tested' as okay, and the battery shouldn't cause a flicker, unless you had a loose connection somewhere.

[richbarn2]

Chassis end of the battery ground?


Which electrical items work, and which do not?
Do your interior/exterior/head-lights work?
when you try to start the car, do you hear the starter solenoid click? (you said it doesn't turn over.)

It doesn't sound like your battery or the alternator is an issue. The alternator was 'tested' as okay, and the battery shouldn't cause a flicker, unless you had a loose connection somewhere.

After you check the basic connections, inspect your fuses and relays and connections there, hows your ignition switch?

I would remove the chassis ground and scuff it up and reconnect it, apply some dc4 or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to prevent corrosion. You can apply some to your batt terminals too. Keeps them clean believe it or not.

Take a look at your alt connections while you are there as well. You can turn the key to on and wiggle suspect wires/connections to check. A helper is nice to monitor electric systems operating and or flickering.

Good luck and let us know what you find...

[AU fan 06]

Yeah I plan on checking all the connections this weekend. All the electrical items work and only once has it not started. Its just sometimes when I'm driving the lights will flicker bad and a few times the radar detector and cd player have cut off and come right back on. Today when it wouldn't start before we put jumper cables on it there was no click whatsoever but after we connected it it would click one time but we were still never able to get it to start

[jager305]

check battery acid levels, most likely they're dry...add distilled water to top off, either trickle charge battery or drive 30mins or longer. Should solve problem, but may have to buy battery soon.

[ekib]

have you checked that infamous trunk wiring? That's known to cause all kinds of electrical weirdness...

[doogee]

have you checked that infamous trunk wiring? That's known to cause all kinds of electrical weirdness...

+1 dooo this

[amancuso]

I vote for trunk wiring or ignition switch.

[AU fan 06]

Please elaborate as to how I would check the trunk wiring. What wires exactly and what would I be looking for?

[ekib]

Please elaborate as to how I would check the trunk wiring. What wires exactly and what would I be looking for?

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79896

[AU fan 06]

I just checked those wires and they were all good

Is there a DIY for the big 3 on our cars? I haven't really messed around with the stereo or anything on this car so I don't really know where any of the ground points are or anything. I'm going to work on cleaning all of them up this weekend.