2001 X5 starter 1 click then nothing

[Racingmoka]

2001 BMW X5 3.0 with dead battery. I charged the battery for several hours, turn the key, lights come on then try to start the car and get 1 click, lights dim and that is it. Starter does not turn. I have now had the battery checked and they say it is OK. I charged it over night and tried jumping the car but get the same thing. How can you check to see if the starter is bad? I have reached underneath the manifold and loosened the wires on the starter then re-tightened. No help. Do I have to reset any computer thing or do anything because the battery was low? Do I get a bigger battery with more juice? Problem is that you have to remove the intake manifold to get to the starter and that is a pain in the butt. Any advice would help, thanks

[bmwdirtracer]

Make sure the engine main ground wire at the passenger side engine mount is clean and tight both sides. Make sure the jump start terminal's bolt underhood is clean and tight. Go buy a cheap multimeter, and test the battery's voltage for yourself. It should be 12.6 volts or 12.7 volts. Many of the people who work at auto parts stores think that 12 volts is a good battery, but that is 90% discharged.

It sounds to me like your battery is dead, although certainly it could be a locked-up starter. Is there anything you haven't told us about the car? (Like that it was just fished out of a flood, or has been sitting for years?)

[jclausen]

Did they load test the battery

[Racingmoka]

Car has been sitting since jan but I had it started last week. I also just put in a new thermostat and drained the cooling system for that.

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I took it to Les Schwab and they said they did a load test.