n52 long crank from cold start?

wolfe · 09-26-2012, 01:49 PM

I posted this on the 1-series board but hoped to get some more input here since the 328i is more popular.

Starting a few months ago, when my car's been sitting overnight, it takes longer to fire than normal. If I start it up again mid-day it's fine. It's nowhere near as bad as the long crank N54 problem, but it's definitely taking a couple more revolutions to fire.

Here's a video of a cold vs. warm start:

Pretty sure it's not bad gas (refilled the car several times and it only ever gets shell v-power), and I've charged the battery fully with no change.

Does anyone else's car do this?

jc5988 · 09-26-2012, 02:26 PM

looks normal to me, it takes even a bit longer for me when mine is new.

Tim M · 09-26-2012, 02:28 PM

I have the same occurences, almost always on cold mornings. I wouldn't worry about it.

benzo23 · 09-26-2012, 02:50 PM

I would probably trade it in. Doesn't sound good.

Route 16 · 09-26-2012, 03:08 PM

Looks fine, happens to me too, especially in winter.

wolfe · 09-26-2012, 07:36 PM

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info. I know it's subtle but I don't recall it always doing this. I'm not going to worry about it though since it seems to be normal.

MaximusJ · 09-27-2012, 11:21 AM

Test your battery.

Even if fully charged, doesnt mean its fully powered.

mike-y · 09-27-2012, 01:16 PM

yeah, probably your battery, since it happens when you let it sit overnight. When I let my car sit over the weekend without driving it, on monday morning, it takes a bit longer to crank, but then it's fine for the rest of the week.

wolfe · 09-27-2012, 02:39 PM

I have the BMW charging system. I charged the battery to 'full' over the weekend, and decided to hook it up last night (wednesday). The green light wasn't flashing immediately, which supposedly means the battery is under 80% charged. Left it charging overnight and it was 'fully charged' the next morning. I'm not sure how accurate this system is but it seems that it lost significant charge in the space of three days.

The car did seem to start a little better.

The battery is 2 years old (original battery) - to test it should I just be looking at it's resting voltage?

thanks for the help.

jzxi · 09-27-2012, 06:58 PM

As others have stated check the battery power and grounds. It did not seem like that "long" of a crank though IMHO. When a back flow valve fails in the pump, the crank time is usually alot longer.

cheers
jz

Rotorocious · 09-29-2012, 08:21 AM

Do you smell gas anywhere?

Could be leaky Injectors and the car having to build up fuel pressure.

Try priming the fuel pump as few times before starting it by putting the ignition to on without starting the engine. Then see if it starts faster.

wolfe · 09-29-2012, 05:06 PM

Nope, no gas smell that I've noticed. First used oil analysis did show some fuel in the oil though so I should probably keep an eye on that. That was about 15k miles before this starting quirk started showing up though.

I put it back on the battery charger and the lights indicated that it was less than 80% charged again despite being charged to 'full' a few days earlier. Charged it up overnight and it started up normally the next day.

09-26-2012, 01:49 PM	#1
wolfe Captain 134 Rep 613 Posts Drives: e82 / e70 / r56 / r60 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	n52 long crank from cold start? I posted this on the 1-series board but hoped to get some more input here since the 328i is more popular. Starting a few months ago, when my car's been sitting overnight, it takes longer to fire than normal. If I start it up again mid-day it's fine. It's nowhere near as bad as the long crank N54 problem, but it's definitely taking a couple more revolutions to fire. Here's a video of a cold vs. warm start: Pretty sure it's not bad gas (refilled the car several times and it only ever gets shell v-power), and I've charged the battery fully with no change. Does anyone else's car do this?
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09-26-2012, 02:26 PM	#2
jc5988 Captain 91 Rep 611 Posts Drives: 2010 328i 6MT Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	looks normal to me, it takes even a bit longer for me when mine is new. __________________ N51- PI - PE - ESS Tuned - SSK - CDV Delete - AFE Header - B12 - Mfactory LSD
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09-26-2012, 02:28 PM	#3
Tim M Just a regular guy. 60 Rep 514 Posts Drives: Alpine White M3 Sedan Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (2)	I have the same occurences, almost always on cold mornings. I wouldn't worry about it.
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09-26-2012, 02:50 PM	#4
benzo23 Colonel 74 Rep 2,848 Posts Drives: 14 F30 AW MSport Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: FL iTrader: (1)	I would probably trade it in. Doesn't sound good.
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09-26-2012, 03:08 PM	#5
Route 16 I got lei'd 844 Rep 7,593 Posts Drives: '10 E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Dark Side of the Moon iTrader: (62)	Looks fine, happens to me too, especially in winter.
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09-26-2012, 07:36 PM	#6
wolfe Captain 134 Rep 613 Posts Drives: e82 / e70 / r56 / r60 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	Thanks guys, I appreciate the info. I know it's subtle but I don't recall it always doing this. I'm not going to worry about it though since it seems to be normal.
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09-27-2012, 11:21 AM	#7
MaximusJ Colonel 303 Rep 2,485 Posts Drives: 340Xi MG 2017 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Quebec, Canada iTrader: (21) Garage List 2017 BMW 340XI (F30) [9.00] 2006 BMW 325I (E90) [7.44]	Test your battery. Even if fully charged, doesnt mean its fully powered. __________________ Mineral Grey '17 F30 340XI [Garage] // [Build Journal] Jet Black '06 E90 325I [Garage]
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09-27-2012, 01:16 PM	#8
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	yeah, probably your battery, since it happens when you let it sit overnight. When I let my car sit over the weekend without driving it, on monday morning, it takes a bit longer to crank, but then it's fine for the rest of the week.
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09-27-2012, 02:39 PM	#9
wolfe Captain 134 Rep 613 Posts Drives: e82 / e70 / r56 / r60 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	I have the BMW charging system. I charged the battery to 'full' over the weekend, and decided to hook it up last night (wednesday). The green light wasn't flashing immediately, which supposedly means the battery is under 80% charged. Left it charging overnight and it was 'fully charged' the next morning. I'm not sure how accurate this system is but it seems that it lost significant charge in the space of three days. The car did seem to start a little better. The battery is 2 years old (original battery) - to test it should I just be looking at it's resting voltage? thanks for the help.
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09-27-2012, 06:58 PM	#10
jzxi Enlisted Member 0 Rep 39 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Gunnison, CO USA iTrader: (1)	As others have stated check the battery power and grounds. It did not seem like that "long" of a crank though IMHO. When a back flow valve fails in the pump, the crank time is usually alot longer. cheers jz __________________ Sparkling graphite, Cold, Premium, Sport, 6MT, 35% tint, Eibach pro, 17" 159's with studded Gislaved winters. 18" AG 310 with Michelin PSS summer. Magnaflow cat-back and charcoal filter delete. Led angel eyes coded for DRL.
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09-29-2012, 08:21 AM	#11
Rotorocious Lieutenant Colonel 103 Rep 1,520 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (3)	Do you smell gas anywhere? Could be leaky Injectors and the car having to build up fuel pressure. Try priming the fuel pump as few times before starting it by putting the ignition to on without starting the engine. Then see if it starts faster.
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09-29-2012, 05:06 PM	#12
wolfe Captain 134 Rep 613 Posts Drives: e82 / e70 / r56 / r60 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	Nope, no gas smell that I've noticed. First used oil analysis did show some fuel in the oil though so I should probably keep an eye on that. That was about 15k miles before this starting quirk started showing up though. I put it back on the battery charger and the lights indicated that it was less than 80% charged again despite being charged to 'full' a few days earlier. Charged it up overnight and it started up normally the next day.
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