2008 bmw 535 won't start

[Kman1]

Hello, i have a 2008 bmw 535i that won't start .i took it to my bmw mechanic and he said it was the starter he put in a new one .it drove fine on the way home but as soon as i got home i had the same problem it wouldn't start! My car has a new battery and also a new alternator and it still doesn't do anything. Please help me someone

[pbonsalb]

There was a recall on the ibs — the negative battery cable. Also beware these cars are known for sunroof drain leaks that puddle water under the trunk floor and short out some electronic modules.

[aaron07]

Try to disconnect the IBS cable and then run direct power to the starter solenoid.

[White94RX]

There was a recall on the ibs — the negative battery cable. Also beware these cars are known for sunroof drain leaks that puddle water under the trunk floor and short out some electronic modules.

You have a bulletin number to back that up? I've been with BMW for 13 years, and to the best of my knowledge, there's never been a recall on the IBS cable.

You may be thinking of the positive battery connection where it goes under the floor of the E60. There was a recall to check the torque, add some grease, and replace the plastic cover.

[pbonsalb]

I must have been thinking of the battery cable recall. But I also have some recollection of an ibs cable being replaced under warranty. Maybe that was on my 08M3.

[joey88]

Did they install a factory starter or pepboys?

[MauiM3Mania]

Moved from BMW General Discussion sub-forum.

[bmwdirtracer]

I'm going to have to ask for the codes in all the computers. Voltages would be good, too. It's comforting to hear that you have a new battery, new starter, and new alternator, but really, that doesn't tell us whether they're any good.

If, for instance, the mechanic installed an Autozone rebuilt alternator or starter, it's as likely as not that it's bad, right out of the box.

AND, we really don't know how good your mechanic is, either. Maybe he threw a starter and alternator at the car without ever checking the codes in every computer, or checking whether the engine main ground was tight?

Your car has many on-board diagnostic capabilities, and it takes a quality BMW specific diag computer to read them. Then, it takes a good BMW tech who thinks, to interpret what he sees, and do some testing to confirm, before throwing parts.

That IBS mentioned above is a wonderful thing. Coupled with the car's computers, there will be a record stored, which ISTA (BMW's own diag computer) can read and interpret, of "Energy Diagnosis". This can tell you the particular culprit, if there's unauthorized parasitic drain after shut-off.

I'm not going to tell you your mechanic is bad, because I don't know what information he's had, which caused him to throw a battery, alternator, and starter at the car. Can you give us more information, from past receipts? Is this a BMW / Euro specialist shop? Do you have a record of codes from the computers?

And, very importantly, where were the alternator and starter purchased, and were they brand new, or local rebuilds?