My car won't start start, help please

rcl · 01-10-2015, 06:29 PM

I have a 2011 328i coupe 6mt with 62k miles. I drive the car everyday so it does not sit for extended periods of time. Last night I went to leave work but car did not start. I have been noticing for the last couple weeks that the engine has taken progressively longer and longer to start(by tenths of a second, not whole seconds) than typical.

When I put the key in the ignition and pressed the "start" button the dash lights rapidly flickered and turned off. I attempted to start it several more times to no success. Some of the times I tried to start the car a "key" light popped up on the dash. I used my spare keyfob in the car and still no change. I went to the dealer and they said my keys were fine.

I tried to jumpstart the car from the hood using the posts but that didn't work either. I then took the battery out, took it to Autozone, let it charge for 2 hours and got it checked with the verdict as being good, and put it back in and still no change.

So here I am stuck, I just put the key in the ignition, the car doesn't make any noises, yet I have power. I am thinking it's the starter, but I wanted to get advice from the knowledgeable people here please!

The dealer has been quoting expensive repair costs and towing is not cheap either. If I can get this issue confidently addressed as a starter issue I'll just get it towed home and change it myself.

Soul_Glo · 01-10-2015, 11:20 PM

Do you have any fault codes?

mike3000fl · 01-11-2015, 12:56 AM

what happened when you tried to push start the car? you did try that right since it is a manual transmission.

turn on ignition, push that thing down the road in neutral, put it in 1st and drop the clutch (with the ignition on still), if it fires up and continues to run, chances are your starter is bad.

Nordkeyz73 · 01-11-2015, 10:56 AM

Number of possibilities:

1: starter
2: coils
3: spark plugs
4*:battery

* If you have battery that was not reprogrammed at the dealer when installed, the charging cycle will be incorrect, prematurely wearing the battery.

631twentyeighteye · 01-11-2015, 11:57 AM

Sounds like a dying battery.

If it doesnt have enough juice to get the computer on and reading than it won't start. Or is it not cranking what so ever?

paulm3251 · 01-11-2015, 02:58 PM

Starter dude...I was you sitting in a BJ's parking lot about two months ago with the same shit

rcl · 01-12-2015, 08:36 AM

Thanks for the help guys!

bgagnon · 01-12-2015, 08:55 AM

Hi RCL,

Please dont forget to post what the fix was.

Thank you,

rcl · 01-13-2015, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgagnon

Hi RCL,

Please dont forget to post what the fix was.

Thank you,

I will!

kisho · 01-13-2015, 02:42 PM

Did you try unplugging the IBS?

rcl · 01-13-2015, 11:40 PM

I didn't, the car's now at a shop because I just don't have the time to diagnose and fix the problem.

rcl · 01-15-2015, 02:51 PM

It ended up being a dead battery. The shop replaced it with a BOSCH battery that's supposedly identical to oem and the car runs fine now. I guess BMW's are tricky...I never would've guessed it was the battery after jump starting the car failed, clutch starting it failed, and it tested fine at autozone.

J-Spec Dan · 01-15-2015, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcl

It ended up being a dead battery. The shop replaced it with a BOSCH battery that's supposedly identical to oem and the car runs fine now. I guess BMW's are tricky...I never would've guessed it was the battery after jump starting the car failed, clutch starting it failed, and it tested fine at autozone.

was the battery registered?

rcl · 01-15-2015, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Spec Dan

was the battery registered?

Yes.

GMe90 · 01-16-2015, 09:16 AM

Pretty sure you need a new battery.

01-10-2015, 06:29 PM	#1
rcl First Lieutenant 116 Rep 380 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: atlanta, ga iTrader: (1)	My car won't start start, help please I have a 2011 328i coupe 6mt with 62k miles. I drive the car everyday so it does not sit for extended periods of time. Last night I went to leave work but car did not start. I have been noticing for the last couple weeks that the engine has taken progressively longer and longer to start(by tenths of a second, not whole seconds) than typical. When I put the key in the ignition and pressed the "start" button the dash lights rapidly flickered and turned off. I attempted to start it several more times to no success. Some of the times I tried to start the car a "key" light popped up on the dash. I used my spare keyfob in the car and still no change. I went to the dealer and they said my keys were fine. I tried to jumpstart the car from the hood using the posts but that didn't work either. I then took the battery out, took it to Autozone, let it charge for 2 hours and got it checked with the verdict as being good, and put it back in and still no change. So here I am stuck, I just put the key in the ignition, the car doesn't make any noises, yet I have power. I am thinking it's the starter, but I wanted to get advice from the knowledgeable people here please! The dealer has been quoting expensive repair costs and towing is not cheap either. If I can get this issue confidently addressed as a starter issue I'll just get it towed home and change it myself.
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01-10-2015, 11:20 PM	#2
Soul_Glo Major General 13374 Rep 7,484 Posts Drives: G20 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Manhattan, NYC iTrader: (1)	Do you have any fault codes?
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01-11-2015, 12:56 AM	#3
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	what happened when you tried to push start the car? you did try that right since it is a manual transmission. turn on ignition, push that thing down the road in neutral, put it in 1st and drop the clutch (with the ignition on still), if it fires up and continues to run, chances are your starter is bad.
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01-11-2015, 10:56 AM	#4
Nordkeyz73 Lieutenant 165 Rep 570 Posts Drives: E90 328i ZSP, Macan Turbo Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Number of possibilities: 1: starter 2: coils 3: spark plugs 4:battery If you have battery that was not reprogrammed at the dealer when installed, the charging cycle will be incorrect, prematurely wearing the battery. __________________ BMW Performance SSK, BMW Performance Blackline Tails, BMW Performance Exhaust, BMW 3-Stage Intake Manifold, Evolve Automotive Tune, Weisslicht LED Halos, Black Kidneys, Digital Speedo
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01-11-2015, 11:57 AM	#5
631twentyeighteye Colonel 198 Rep 2,239 Posts Drives: 08 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Long island iTrader: (7)	Sounds like a dying battery. If it doesnt have enough juice to get the computer on and reading than it won't start. Or is it not cranking what so ever? __________________ 08 e93 335i MT
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01-11-2015, 02:58 PM	#6
paulm3251 Private First Class 30 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328xi Sedan Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	Starter dude...I was you sitting in a BJ's parking lot about two months ago with the same shit
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01-12-2015, 08:36 AM	#7
rcl First Lieutenant 116 Rep 380 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: atlanta, ga iTrader: (1)	Thanks for the help guys!
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01-12-2015, 08:55 AM	#8
bgagnon New Member 4 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 328 xDrive 2011 Exec pack Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Quebec City iTrader: (0)	Hi RCL, Please dont forget to post what the fix was. Thank you, __________________ 330 xDrive 2017 328 xDrive 2011, Executive package. Sold
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01-13-2015, 02:42 PM	#10
kisho Quiet till poked 99 Rep 1,176 Posts Drives: E90 325xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MD iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 325xi [9.50]	Did you try unplugging the IBS?
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01-13-2015, 11:40 PM	#11
rcl First Lieutenant 116 Rep 380 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: atlanta, ga iTrader: (1)	I didn't, the car's now at a shop because I just don't have the time to diagnose and fix the problem.
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01-15-2015, 02:51 PM	#12
rcl First Lieutenant 116 Rep 380 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: atlanta, ga iTrader: (1)	It ended up being a dead battery. The shop replaced it with a BOSCH battery that's supposedly identical to oem and the car runs fine now. I guess BMW's are tricky...I never would've guessed it was the battery after jump starting the car failed, clutch starting it failed, and it tested fine at autozone.
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01-16-2015, 09:16 AM	#15
GMe90 Captain 356 Rep 928 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Coupe, ZSP, Premium Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Knoxville iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [6.00] 2007 BMW 328i [10.00]	Pretty sure you need a new battery.
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