Think my starter is dying - need second opinion.

[RedTRex]

Car has started cranking slow, slow like when the battery has low voltage or it's very very cold out. I just put a brand new battery in last night (Maxx H7 - 12/12 date code) does the exact same thimg. Starter does not make any weird noises..... engine just goes wuh, wuh, and then fires right up..... At the B+ jumper underhood. I get 12.5V en
gine off and 13.9-14.0v engine running.

Just changed plugs last week. Has 90,292 miles.
Rick

[BavarianZHP]

Could be the starter. How's the oil? When was your last change? If the starter is good, I'd be worried about the load on it. I think you should be running around 14.5V with the engine on, could be a regulator issue but that wouldn't explain your slow start.

[wsmeyer]

At the B+ jumper underhood. I get 12.5V engine off and 13.9-14.0v engine running.
Rick

These are exactly what they should be for a new battery and properly working voltage regulator.

I think it's the starter but that's en expensive guess.

If it is the starter it would be bad windings, which would also cause a higher resistance across the terminals. A few people here have service manuals and can look up the correct values.

William.

[RedTRex]

Oil is full and changed less than 1k miles ago. I cleaned ground strap and B+ terminal underhood.

Wondering...... I let it run for only 15 min after battery swap, maybe new one needs a good charge?

[Oli77]

Yep, could be. Although every battery I have ever bought would always be rather fully charged right from the get go.

[Washburn]

I also got a H7 a few days ago with date code 5/12 - absolutely no problems starting...So i doubt that it's the new battery.

[telijah]

I thought there was some relay for the starter known to cause these kinds of slow/weak cranking scenarios, or is that my imagination? Same as the horn relay or something?

[RedTRex]

Well guys its definately the starter. I took a ride for a fews hours this afternoon. I stopped at gas station to pee and the starter would not work at all. No click no nothing. Got a quick push start. I guess tomorrow i will be swapping starters.

[kayger12]

^Ugh. That just doesn't look like a fun job.

[Hornung418]

I paid a shop for that one. Had to drop the trans instead of pulling the intake manifold. Hope its warm in your garage if your doing it yourself.

From a GS3, this was sent.

[kayger12]

I paid a shop for that one.

From a GS3, this was sent.

Not a lot of jobs I'd pay for, but this would be one of them.

[RedTRex]

Okay done - she spins up real nice and quick now... Picked up starter from Autozone $124.70 out the door with Military Discount (Retired USN Pilot). Although the little SOB was trying real hard to kick my ass I was done in 2 hours exactly ..... including beer breaks. I did have drop the rear of the trans (took all mount bolts out and just let it sag) to get to upper starter bolt.

[JupiterBMW]

Congrats on a job well done. :thumbsup

[kayger12]

Okay done - she spins up real nice and quick now... Picked up starter from Autozone $124.70 out the door with Military Discount (Retired USN Pilot). Although the little SOB was trying real hard to kick my ass I was done in 2 hours exactly ..... including beer breaks. I did have drop the rear of the trans (took all mount bolts out and just let it sag) to get to upper starter bolt.

Outstanding job. Two hours is great.

Glad she's up and running.

[danewilson77]

Outstanding job. Two hours is great.

Glad she's up and running.

+1

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[echo46]

Great job. It's a bitch getting to the starter and for that matter getting the old one out and the new one back in. When I replaced mine last year, I ran a six foot plus extension up along the bell housing to get to the bolts. Glad you healed the issue.

[telijah]

Were you just on jack stands? Well done on the two hour job.

[RedTRex]

Yup just jackstands - super glad BMW changed the design to threaded holes in starter. Older cars had loose nuts on front side - even on an e30 it is beyond painful to R&R a starter by yourself.

Car had a Denso which is shorter than the Bosch I got as replacement, even so it slid right on up in there....

Starter was easy - getting to the 2 bitch bolts (2 trans bolts at backside of head) is another story when it's time for clutch.

[telijah]

That's why I had a shop do my clutch. When I thought I'd do it on my back, I saw where those bolts were and just said screw it, taking it in.

[RedTRex]

Well.....F... Me. Starter failed today fine in am but stopped at station on way home and it quit - sounded like motor working but not engaging. Picked up replacment from AZ and swapped again in 95 minutes. 50 days and 3400 miles. Hope new one lasts a bit longer.

[danewilson77]

Well.....F... Me. Starter failed today fine in am but stopped at station on way home and it quit - sounded like motor working but not engaging. Picked up replacment from AZ and swapped again in 95 minutes. 50 days and 3400 miles. Hope new one lasts a bit longer.

No warranty on first one?

Williamsburg, VA, Droid DNA, Tapatalk

[RedTRex]

Yes, get free replacement.... but the whole PITA involved with getting and then swapping starters again....ugh.


No warranty on first one?

Williamsburg, VA, Droid DNA, Tapatalk

[danewilson77]

Right. Understood.

[JupiterBMW]

Aaaaaand bringing this thread to the top.. Apparently alpine white/natural brown cars residing in Florida have starter issues... :shifty

New starter purchased with lifetime warranty, paid about $175 for mine... As soon as she cools down (about 7 weeks in South Florida) I'll start this job. Not what I had in mind for today, but hey, now I get to work on cars! Better than the alternative I'm sure!

[aurelius]

What brand or retailer gives a lifetime warranty on a starter?

[JupiterBMW]

Bennett Auto Supply in Florida... Box says "Platinum" but the starter is a Bosch.

[Dave_B]

Guys...

Advance Auto price matches Amazon.

I picked up a NEW, not REBUILT Bosch starter for mine @ $136

Looks like it went up a bit, but their price fluctuates:

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-SR0448N-New-Starter/dp/B000BZIM54/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1369832939&sr=8-5&keywords=BMW+330i+starter

I showed the lady after she tested my starter and she price matched no issue.

Do the job from the top, not under the car. I've got a thread on here about it, but would happily walk any of you through it. You don't have to pull the intake manifold either. DISA, intake boots, air intake, plastic wall next to ABS pump and 2 heater hoses and your good to go.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb133/00h2itr/36792D16-388F-4CAF-A7EC-805251B2960B-4461-000002D7A7F986AE_zps9c0f13f6.jpg (http://s209.photobucket.com/user/00h2itr/media/36792D16-388F-4CAF-A7EC-805251B2960B-4461-000002D7A7F986AE_zps9c0f13f6.jpg.html)

Hardest part is removing these 2 boogers. You can only get about 1/4 turn at a time... ratcheting gear wrench would come in handy here:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb133/00h2itr/17991E0C-3CDD-47E1-9F0A-16BBC4C337EB-4461-0000022DBEA7106B_zps45972beb.jpg (http://s209.photobucket.com/user/00h2itr/media/17991E0C-3CDD-47E1-9F0A-16BBC4C337EB-4461-0000022DBEA7106B_zps45972beb.jpg.html)

[JupiterBMW]

I picked up a NEW, not REBUILT Bosch starter for mine @ $136


Very nice... I actually looked at my receipt again and mine was less than I thought. $147 for the one I got. I can handle that.

[Dave_B]

No complaints there. :thumbup

I was just shocked that Advance Auto price matched Amazon.