1985 323i auto starting fault

[Tim64]

Evening all,
Help please,on a couple of occasions (about three months apart) I’ve been on a run started fine from cold but gone to start from hot and nothing no click no nothing the injection primes turn the key it doesn’t even dim the battery light then after several turns (today’s episode got out left if for 5mins) it started ....it never does it from cold,
Any help on this as always greatly appreciated,
Cheers,
Tim.

[Brianmoooore]

Probably something to do with the starter inhibitor switch, since your car is an auto.
Have you tried moving the gear selector lever slightly at the same time as turning the key when it refuses to crank?

[Tim64]

First time it did it I tried that Brian and it started but this time it didn’t,
Would your guess be the inhibitor switch if so where is it located Brian and is it a straightforward repair ?

[Brianmoooore]

Inhibitor switch is combined with the reverse light switch, and is mounted on the selector lever assembly, inside the cabin. It's accessed by first removing the rear centre console, then the front centre console, or you might get just enough access by just removing the brush plate around the lever.
Unplug and connect the green/yellow and green/black wires together to temporarily bypass the switch.
If it is the switch, the problem is often with the engine mounts, which have allowed the engine and gearbox to move out of position, messing up the calibration of the gear selector lever.

[Tim64]

As always thank you very much Brian for your help,
Tim.