Starter Solenoid Help

[NoNothing]

Hey everyone!

So I'm replacing my starter solenoid (coil is bad, no continuity between the smaller posts), and I'm having trouble releasing the screws from the backplate. Anyone have any tricks as to removing these without stripping them?

[Tom D]

impact driver

[Layne]

I tried the same nonsense way back when I was a noob. It's impossible to remove in the car, and very nearly impossible to remove anywhere else. Not widely available as a spare part, and your starter is going to wear out soon anyway. Just get a rebuilt starter and be done with it.

[tlapham]

I tried the same nonsense way back when I was a noob. It's impossible to remove in the car, and very nearly impossible to remove anywhere else. Not widely available as a spare part, and your starter is going to wear out soon anyway. Just get a rebuilt starter and be done with it.

+1- half the time on those old starters, the head just breaks off the screws, anyway.

[Somjuan]

A new starter is the single best investment I've made on this car. If you do plan on servicing it, I'd take it out first

[epmedia]

impact driver

Aye, a vice and overnight penetrant.

impactdriver_114.jpg

[Tom D]

anybody that ever owned a pre 80s british motorcycle also owned an impact driver. i still have both the bike and the tool.

[epmedia]

I also became familiar with the 'impact driver' when I had my first motorcycle (used it alot on the case covers). I still have an old impact driver but it's worn out (needs new ball bearings).

[NoNothing]

Thanks all! I took the starter out and got it tested. It was "deadskis", the lady at my local auto parts store said. Went ahead and bought a rebuilt one, but I'm having some problems installing it.

Removing the starter itself was easy enough, I went ahead and gave the bracket that mounts on the starter and the intake manifold a good cleaning and repainting. However, I got my rebuilt starter from AutoZone (I know, I know, but I'm a broke college student!) and it doesn't seem to fit right. From the pictures below, the mounting bracket is flush with its mate on the intake manifold, but there's about a half-inch gap between the mounting holes to the starter and transmission. If i could get the bolt through both holes I would just tighten it to fit, but I can't. Is it possible I have the wrong size starter? It looks exactly the same as the old one but I didn't think to measure it before I traded it in. Am I missing something, or should I bite the bullet and wait a month for a new starter from realoem? Thanks for your help, everyone!
Starter.jpg
Starter Bracket.jpg


-NoNothing

[Layne]

Realoem doesn't sell parts, they only give you the part numbers. You don't buy genuine BMW parts for something like a starter, it would probably be $500. But you DO buy good brands like Bosch. Autozone is not good, but it'll work for now.


Try taking the bracket off the back. The starters evolved a lot over the years and the brackets don't fit and aren't needed on all of them. It needs to go into the hole straight, and right now you've got it at an angle. If it's not the right starter though, it will tear up the teeth on your flywheel, which means you have to remove the transmission, and spend a lot more money. So don't turn the key unless you're sure. Does it have a part number on it? I assume you gave back the box. Could probably go back to the store and ask them which part number you bought. The Bosch number is most relevant. Should be SR40X.

[NoNothing]

Realoem doesn't sell parts, they only give you the part numbers. You don't buy genuine BMW parts for something like a starter, it would probably be $500. But you DO buy good brands like Bosch. Autozone is not good, but it'll work for now.


Try taking the bracket off the back. The starters evolved a lot over the years and the brackets don't fit and aren't needed on all of them. It needs to go into the hole straight, and right now you've got it at an angle. If it's not the right starter though, it will tear up the teeth on your flywheel, which means you have to remove the transmission, and spend a lot more money. So don't turn the key unless you're sure. Does it have a part number on it? I assume you gave back the box. Could probably go back to the store and ask them which part number you bought. The Bosch number is most relevant. Should be SR40X.

I actually kept the box so I will check when I get home from work today. I don't want to tear up my precious Getrag 5-speed thats in the car right now (thanks, PO!) so if this starter is wrong, where would be the best place to get a nice Bosch starter?

[Layne]

I actually kept the box so I will check when I get home from work today. I don't want to tear up my precious Getrag 5-speed thats in the car right now (thanks, PO!) so if this starter is wrong, where would be the best place to get a nice Bosch starter?

Rockauto has one for $90. AutohausAZ has them for $115.

[NoNothing]

Layne was right! Its a Bosch rebuilt starter, but the numbers are all wrong, as you can see:

Starter Body.jpg

To RockAuto I go.

-NoNothing

[Layne]

Layne was right! Its a Bosch rebuilt starter, but the numbers are all wrong, as you can see:

Starter Body.jpg

To RockAuto I go.

-NoNothing

Slow down, that Duralast number (16362) does appear to cross reference to Bosch SR40X.

It's not a Bosch rebuild, it's an original bosch that has been rebuilt by Duralast. The Bosch number there is not the rebuilt part number, I dunno what it is, nothing comes up for that.