Bad starter?
 

What indicates a bad starter? taking more than 1 or 2 tries to turn over?

I personally think that the starter is fine, because it cranks strong and without any trouble.. it just doesnt fire.. so, could it be a fuel delivery problem of some sort?

I am basically ruling out the fuel pump because it was replaced within the last 6 months..

(This is the m50 in the e34 btw.)

ignition system maybe ..

A bad starter will sound like it's getting stuck while cranking. It'll sound like it stops short, then continues again. That's when you start keeping a long stick and a hammer in the trunk. Because when it first stops cranking at all, you can usually bang on it and get it going again a few more times :D

hahah, yea thats what i thought, its gotta be a fuel/ignition problem.

I think im just going to get my dad to do a serious tune up...

fuel filter...on your car you need to change it. I bet $18.99 that is it.
on pre1995 E36 the fuel filters need to be serviced at intervals but most people forget. since most E36 don't need this servicing.

doubt its the fuel filter, possiblity, but usually wont be that.

bad start, bad nightmare... man, those suck when they go bad

it will start off not wanting to crank until a few tires, then will progressivily get worse


the thing that goes wrong with starters a lot is that the bendiction clutch inside of them goes bad


what does it sound like when you try to start and it doesnt?

B4787 has the right idea - if the starter just spins but doesn't catch it's the starter drive (the small gear/clutch driven)
Before doing anything try just pulling all the cables off from top of starter and cleaning them with a small wire brush. Dirt, grease, etc... accumulates there and causes resistance. When cables sit overnight/cold they contact - when you hit the key they expand (minutely) and make contact. Any dirt or grease forms resistance. There is also a small cable among that group that goes to your ignition - if it's dirty or worn you'll get the same symtoms. I've been that route - 93 E34 -M50 :wave

It sounds like its trying to start, but it doesnt.. haha. But really, the starter is spinning fine i think, it sounds strong, but its just not firing on the 1st try, it takes 2 or three long attempts to turn over.

yup^
i mean, its hard to tell with an internet description, but, the starter will spin, but it wont keep contact/the clutch in the starter doesnt want to push out

with me, it would usually not work after a few tries.. then if i drive to the store, buy a few things, getback to my car, it would start fine. seems like when it was cold, it did not want to start... then just went down hill after that...

you can always leave it at a mechanic for a while, have them listen to it, and if it is the starter, they should know without even testing it.

if you have any experience with swapping starters and have the means, to, you can take it out, drive down to an autoparts store, have them test it out, then see if its the starter if you wanted to.

i recommend just having a mechanic deal with this problem... its not worth doing yourself in my opinion unless if you have done this before... it sucks... PITA
a bentley manual will help you i bet (i didnt use one when i did it for the first time and it took forever)... even with a manual... its still going to be a PITA

plus you need a good set of tools...



so, if i were you, just have a mechanic take a look at it and see if it is a starter problem

From your follow-up description it sounds like your starter drive (or sometimes called Bendix) If you're handy with tools it's not a bad job and it'll save you a bundle. I would still take the starter to your local auto parts store to have it tested (usually free) because they load test it to make sure your starter isn't drawing too much power. The new starter runs in the $200 range - you can get a rebuilt for about 1/2 of that and if you replace just the bendix you'll be spending about $30. It all depends on how mech. inclined you feel. :wave

Bringing it to a mechanic isnt even being considered.. weve got tons of tools..

Im sure it will be a bitch, everyone ive talked to said it is, but we'll be fine.

I dont trust mechanics anyway.. seriously, even this car which was dealer maintained has every bolt on it seriously over torqued, and im sure alot of the repairs made on it were half-ass by my standards. The lugs on this thing were torqued to between 300-500 foot lb's, i could not get them off with a gigantic breaker bar, and im not exactly weak, when they did come off (impact wrench with PSI maxxed out), there was a gigantic bang from each one as the pressure was released.. soo yah.. bmw dealerships = teh suckage.