Well having finally got round to stumping up the best part of £200 for 12 months tax today I went to start the car...........and was rewarded with silence thanks to a flat battery.
Charged the battery for a few hours and tried again - dash lights all come on as they should, fuel pump starts running as soon as you turn the key to position 3 ( as it would with engine running ) but not a sound from the starter motor.
It was absolutely fine when it was driven into my garage ( about 3 weeks ago ).
I'm hoping its something as simple as a bad earth connection - am going to clean up all the earth strap connections in the morning. If this doesnt work what should I check next ?
Non starting 325i
Moderator: martauto
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Alex
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could be a dud battery, sometimes they just go, there might be enough power to light up dash and start fuel pump but not enough to kick the starter motor in
prehaps try another battery or jump it off another car
prehaps try another battery or jump it off another car
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daimlerman
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Must be the carpet on your garage floor, 
I would blame the starter motor first,then the battery,then the owner who let it stand for 3 weeks....
I would blame the starter motor first,then the battery,then the owner who let it stand for 3 weeks....Youth is wasted on the young.
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capri_rob
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Have wiggled all the wires I can see that go to the starter - they all seem properly connected, checked the Battery to earth strap - solid. Battery has been on charge since about 9.30 - going to let it charge for another couple of hours and give it another go.
Does anyone know where the engine to bodywork earth strap is? I have shone a torch around but can't see it to check.
I will try and jump start it if the battery doesnt work after charging.......
Serves me right for not driving it for 3 weeks.......DOH !
Does anyone know where the engine to bodywork earth strap is? I have shone a torch around but can't see it to check.
I will try and jump start it if the battery doesnt work after charging.......
Serves me right for not driving it for 3 weeks.......DOH !
e30topless said : Proper BMW's have 4 headlights, last of the run was the E30 and E34/E32 anything after that is just complete shite
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daimlerman
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You can check engine earth by using a jump lead from the engine to earth,but your issue does read like a starter that has ceased to start.May be a good idea to pull it out and test on the bench.
Youth is wasted on the young.
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danman2k
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give the starter a few taps with a spanner before you start it up, not to hard though 
sometimes they get stuck. most probably your battery though. really need 24h charge from a domestic charger but thats waiting until tommorow. im sure you know the car will charge it alot quicker if you can jump it and drive around for half an hour.
sometimes they get stuck. most probably your battery though. really need 24h charge from a domestic charger but thats waiting until tommorow. im sure you know the car will charge it alot quicker if you can jump it and drive around for half an hour.
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capri_rob
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YES - VICTORY IS MINE !
Just put the battery back on, re checked all connections and gave the starter a couple of taps with a lump of wood - and its worked !
Going to go and put some fuel in it and give it a run.
Now I'm happy. Thanks for the help guys
Just put the battery back on, re checked all connections and gave the starter a couple of taps with a lump of wood - and its worked !
Going to go and put some fuel in it and give it a run.
Now I'm happy. Thanks for the help guys
e30topless said : Proper BMW's have 4 headlights, last of the run was the E30 and E34/E32 anything after that is just complete shite
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Alex
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good to hear its up and runningcapri_rob wrote:YES - VICTORY IS MINE !
Just put the battery back on, re checked all connections and gave the starter a couple of taps with a lump of wood - and its worked !
Going to go and put some fuel in it and give it a run.
Now I'm happy. Thanks for the help guys
it reminds me of an old run around my mum used to have when i was a kid, as well as a key to start it you needed a large hammer lol
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capri_rob
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Still don't know if it was just the starter sticking or just that there wasn't enought juice in the battery. All fine now.
Put £10 Super Unleaded in yesterday afternoon and quickly used it all just blasting about.
After driving nothing but my diesel daily for the last 3 weeks I had forgotten how good a petrol six-pot sounds !
Put £10 Super Unleaded in yesterday afternoon and quickly used it all just blasting about.
After driving nothing but my diesel daily for the last 3 weeks I had forgotten how good a petrol six-pot sounds !
e30topless said : Proper BMW's have 4 headlights, last of the run was the E30 and E34/E32 anything after that is just complete shite