Car wouldn't start today!

e36Adz · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:22

Car is a 52 plate BMW 330 Clubsport.

This morning, quite unusually, it just didn't start. I've had the car 3 years and it's been solid, never had a problem. Luckily I managed to get a lift into work this morning but basically, I turn the key, the dashboard lights up, the radio comes on, but absolutely nothing from the engine, not a peep.

I am thinking it's the alternator but I am not a mechanic.

Any ideas?

Dandle · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:24

Starter motor by the sounds of it. Can you here a click from under the bonnet when you turn the key?

4T5 · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:25

Did you hear a click ? My guess with limited info is Starter motor is dead.

Raymond Lin · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:25

Got Home Start from the AA or RAC?

e36Adz · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:26

I don't recall hearing a click.

My cousin is a mechanic and he's gonna have a look at it tonight but I am trying to get some ideas now as to what it may be, and how much it may cost.

Thanks for the replies.

e36Adz · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:27

Raymond Lin said:
Got Home Start from the AA or RAC?

Oh yeah just remembered, I got cover when I renewed my insurance at the end of May. Excellent, I'll call them out, I think it's Greenflag though.

Westyfield2 · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:29

Could you hear the solenoid firing the starter in at all, or a clicking from it?

Django x2 · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:29

Its either the starter motor or battery. If it's the battery then it could lend to an additional problem in that your alternator is not behaving as it should.

BMWs have (or used to) this tendancy to flash their lights eradically if the battery was the issue.

fewfe3 · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:30

sounds more like the starter moter than anything else. if you try it with some jump leads and still no go then you can rule out the battery or alternator.

Lashout_UK · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:32

Battery's probably had it. Get a jump pack on it, or a jump start, and see if it goes. Easy and quick solution.

Vita · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:32

This happened to the Mercedes, dash-board lights up turn the key, nothing happens not even a click.

Turned out to be the battery second time round.

First time round we took a hammer to the starter motor and it worked. Think because of the cold temperatures it went stuck or something.

I'm putting it down to battery/starter-motor.

e36Adz · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:51

Thanks guys, will get Greenflag to look at it first before I do anything!

acemastr · 22 Jun 2011 at 12:14

No one has mentioned the immobiliser...

Worth checking out.

eatcustard · 22 Jun 2011 at 13:15

Odds on its the battery

GinG · 22 Jun 2011 at 13:30

Happened recently to my car to, turned out to be the battery.

Last time I had a starter motor go on me I heard the clicking noise.

e36Adz · 22 Jun 2011 at 13:50

I really hope it is something 'minor' like the battery. I'm off work on Fri so intend on getting it sorted then, but I'll get Greenflag down to have a look at it tonight.

e36Adz · 22 Jun 2011 at 20:36

The mechanic from Greenflag has just left.

First he checked the voltage on the battery and it was around 11.6v. He said a car needs around 12.6v to start, so he took out his battery pack, connected it up to the battery and we tried again. Still nothing, it wasn't even trying.

He said he thinks it's the starter motor. He actually did give it a poke with a metal bar, but still nothing.

Anyone think it could be something else? I now need to buy a starter motor and it's quite a difficult job getting to it on these 3 series, so I don't want to change that and find out it was something else...

Lashout_UK · 22 Jun 2011 at 20:39

What kind of jump pack did he use? A proper one or just a little handheld thing?

ben1977 · 22 Jun 2011 at 20:47

Could be a starter motor but normally you would get signs of it starting to fail.
Taking a long shot here but have you had any problems with the immobiliser?

e36Adz · 22 Jun 2011 at 20:49

Something similar to this: