Starter intermittent

[michaelph]

My 2006 325i doesnt always want to start. Sometimes it starts firt time, sometimes, I'll push the start button and it clicks, push few times and it sometimes starts, most of the time after startgin adn stoppign it takes a lot of pushing multiple times to get the solenoid to engage and crank.

is the solenoid on this starter rebuildable or should I replace the whole starter? Car has 180K miles on it.

Thanks in advance,

[J306TD]

I'd replace the entire unit. You might be able to rebuild but not 100% sure

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[marvinstockman]

More likely worn starter brushes.

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Also, when it won't start, whack it with something like a broomstick.

[Codes2]

I'm not familiar with the 325i starter location, vs. the 335i (which i have), however...

I'm in favor of replacing the unit, after testing
If the starter is as hard to get at (not brutal, but not convenient), then you don't want to pay for labor twice, (or likely even a DIY twice)

If you can measure that the signal is going to the starter (to ensure it's not upstream), then yes, replace.
If the signal is not always there, then focusing upstream is required (significantly less likely).

[JDStrickland]

It's difficult to judge what your trouble is, it sounds like you have not isolated the START button yet. That is, you have not decided that the START button is working right. Also, the car has to be in P or N and the brake pedal depressed before the button will even try to turn the starter on. There are many "moving parts" that must be happy before the starter will turn on, the key fob has to be inserted (this makes the chime turn on), the Brake pedal has to be depressed, the gear selector has to be in P or N (you can change from P to N without changing anything else to see if this helps), then finally the START button has to work. And. all of these conditions cause a relay to operate. I suspect one of these "moving parts" is the actual source of your trouble, the starter itself is going to be okay.