Dead 318is - United Bimmer Community

**KeallaS** · 04-19-2006, 11:01 PM

My car will not start.
i drove it to work and it was making some funny whirring noise. Started it up after work and drove to the store. Came out and nothing. All the lights, radio, electircal whatnot work....when i turn the key, nothing. No clicking...What could it be? I am sure that this has been discussed before...I did not find the answer I was looking for.
Somebody please tell me it is not the starter!! I spent all weekend trying to get the damn thing off. No luck....I think I will have to give in and push it to the dealer.
Help

**94bmw325i** · 04-19-2006, 11:20 PM

try jump starting it, and see what happens.

witeshark · 04-19-2006, 11:43 PM

Yeah this can be a low battery

**xsperf** · 04-20-2006, 12:01 AM

no clicking, but all the electronics work? probably not a low battery, is it a stickshift? try to roll start it, or clutch start it, w/e its called, if it starts, maybe your starter relay or starter soleniod, or even ur starter

**KeallaS** · 04-20-2006, 12:06 AM

Jump starting does no good. I used a voltmeter and checked the battery looks good. Alternator replaced a month ago. I thought about push starting it but did not want to screw anything up.
so it is ok to push start it?

**xsperf** · 04-20-2006, 12:13 AM

of course, just have the key in the run position, get someone to push you, and slowley release the clutch, if the car still isnt starting, dont try doing it too much, you probably have either an ignition problem or a fuel problem

Storamin · 04-20-2006, 01:18 PM

I wouldn't push start the car, that can be extremely bad for it.

Are you sure the alternator is good? You just replaced it, could it have been a defective unit?

**mullethunter3** · 04-20-2006, 01:31 PM

the only thing that i can think of is the starter. the alternator has to be good because the battery is good... i've had my fair share of no-starts, but this one is new. welcome to ub, btw. i hope we can help.

**POS_BMW** · 04-20-2006, 02:01 PM

It could also be the ECU?, did you recently take it to a carwash or did have heavy rain recently?

**KeallaS** · 04-20-2006, 03:02 PM

I figured it was the starter just hoping it wasn't.
There happend to be a heavy rain the day it went out. I checked the ECU, bone dry.
I "popped the clutch" and was able to get it started. Shop just finished replacing the starter for ton-o-money!
Thanks for the ideas....
Now I need some more on how to make my ride kick ass....

**POS_BMW** · 04-20-2006, 03:04 PM

Happy to hear your roading again!

i suggest K&N Custom Air intake

**xsperf** · 04-20-2006, 10:43 PM

lets make this very clear, storamin, thers nothing wrong w/push starting your car, unless your engine is seized up, all its doing is turning the engine(thats what the starter does on a daily basis)

secondly, dont feel so bad, the starters on these cars are a PAIN, they are near the firewall, you really have to squint if you know where you are looking to see it from the top of the car(looking down into the engine compartment), and trust me, taking it out is even more of a pain, b/c it is a bolt w/ a nut, both of which are impossible to get to(the only reason i know is b/c when you drop the tranny to change the clutch, you'll have to deal w/it)

**Rooz** · 04-21-2006, 12:23 AM

Starter is a pain to replace because of where it's at, I had to do it and all I can say is good luck brotha

**xsperf** · 04-21-2006, 12:34 AM

he already did it, no?

**KeallaS** · 04-21-2006, 11:13 AM

I first tried to change the starter myself. It is a pain and I did not want to take off anything else to have to get to it. I gave up becuase I could not find/get to the final bolt/nut to get it off. So I rolled it down a hill, popped the clutch which started it and I was so excited. Drove it to the shop got the bill and was not excited. The moral of the story is....well I guess there isn't one.