2002 M Coupe. Started the car, moved it, turned it off. 10 minutes later it would not start - lights on dash strong, but nothing from the engine, not even clicking. Had AAA come out, they tested the battery (1 yr old Interstate) and it was good. We pushed the car, popped clutch, it started. Now it continues to start just fine. Shop looking at it and can find nothing. Battery and starter seem fine. Looking at anything electrical that could be loose, but that seems to be needle in haystack. Would starter continue to work like this if it was just beginning to die? No codes.
Starter was last replaced Jan 2015 - OE Valeo
May 2015 had ignition switch replaced.
Suggestions appreciated.
Bill
Bill
2002 M Coupe. Steel Gray/Black.
Maybe jammed starter drive hence no "click"? Are there shims installed on our starters ? You may need to remove / add one if it repeats
Last edited by z3forlife; 07-19-2018 at 08:02 PM.
Unfortunately Bill, you "destroyed the evidence" with it now starting again. Things I look for when one won't crank is if there is a light click, heavy click, or do the dash lights dim ever so slightly when the key is turned. You have the ignition switch, EWS system, clutch switch, and starter solenoid all in series for the low current side, and various battery cable connections, both feed and ground, on the high current side. Plus the starter itself.
I will say that the pattern of failure I've seen from these starters is you will get a click/thunk from the solenoid. And we're at the age where the starters are starting to fail. I've lost the one in my roadie, the wifes coupe, and now the daughters E46 in the last year.
And as Randy said. No shims. As far as I know, only one manufacturer had such astoundingly poor dimensional repeatability in their casting and machining that they designed adjustability into the starter mounting.
Last edited by rf900rkw; 07-20-2018 at 08:08 AM.
/.randy
When my S54 starter failed it did so in a very gradual way. A no start once (but would work on consecutive attempts)... Then again a month later... Then a week later until it took a few cranks any time I needed to start it. Been fine since I replaced it. Without knowing anything else going on in your case though I would just drive it for now until symptoms come back. YMMV but when my S54 starter was dieing it never actually left me stranded. It embaressed me when it took like 5 attempts to start it but it always did eventually start.
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Thanks guys. I’m going to take the wait and see approach. Good news is most of FL is flat enough to push it.
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