possible dodgy starter motor any ideas?

[Blairbloke]

e30 320 m20 engine

was wet last night but started fine, stopped came back to the car about an hour later, tried to start but it was like battery was flat, just clicking on the key! but bump started fine to get home. Noticed temp gauge was super high, never dropped below half away and was in red for a lot of the journey home!

Today pulled off temp gauge sensors no difference ( thought might be a system where if it thinks its over heating it wont let it start!
checked battery 12.58v
when cracking goes down to 11.5
engine on (after bump starting) 13.08

have tried hitting starter motor no difference

but main thing i noticed, if you try to keep cracking, the loom starts to smoke! single wire glows, looks like the one coming off after the connector that goes to the sump oil level
and looked like a negative wire coming off battery!
(could this be because power has go no where to go if starter motor is not working?)

any ideas?????

[navi]

i think this might be down to the main engine earth cable being at fault,there should be a heavey brown cable bolted from the shell to the sump on the n/s.i do belive its a common fault when this cable fails.

[Blairbloke]

Thank you sooooo much did notice this was crappy when I changed the sump last week! have you got paypal will send you money so you can get yourself a beer on me ( not joking)

Blair

[navi]

thanks for the offer,but this is what the fourms are for to help each otheir out.if i still had an e30 and spare i would send you a good useable one.
it would be best you check the wiring were is was smokeing&burnt and replace as needed.if you do a search it is common.
iam sure someone else will post up more details on whats happend to your car but i would be looking in changeing the engine earth strap and what ive said above.

[Blairbloke]

cheers mate,