97 M3 won't start! HELP!!!!!!!!!!

[m3f_goofy1641]

Hi,

I have a 97 M3 and it won't start. The starter won't catch, you can hear all the noise but the car just won't start. I just got the car a month ago and it was working fine then after it rained one night the car won't start now. I tried jumping the battery but still won't work. Any ideas on how to fix this that doesn't require my life savings???? THANKS!



P.S. I know nothing about cars, so please respond as you would to a child =)

[m3f_Roadrunner_00430f3330]

so is it completely dead or is it trying to turn over?

[m3f_goofy1641]

The car is trying to turn over but won't

[m3f_CrazzyM3]

Hey Roadrunner.........isnt there some kind of problem with M3's after it rains hard or in the car wash....something to do with water ingestion........I'm not completely sure what it is but he did say that it rained that night.......could that have anything to do with it?:???:

[m3f_97ARCticCoupe]

I don't know much myself, but could this be a spark plug issue? If they get wet/moist, you can have problems like this..

[m3f_pw455]

Just for clarification:



Is the starter spinning, but not engageing the flywheel? Basically, is the starter motor turning, but the engine is not turning? If so, I would say bad starter or solenoid.



Pete

[m3f_Roadrunner_00430f3330]

i've had similar starting problems after heavy rain. the dealer could not reproduce the problem so nothing was done basically. i think they changed out some fuses. my starting problem still pops up once in awhile. when it occurs, i take the key out, run thru some gears and attempt to start again.....it works sometimes. i've read some others w/ the same problem but no real fix mentioned in any.:???: this might sound dumb but are you sure you've got gas. maybe your gauge is off or broken. if you find a fix, please post it here. thx

[m3f_goofy1641]

Hi,

thanks for all the replies. I was wondering when you brought it back to the dealer how much did it cost you, and were they able to fix the problem? My car still won't start right now and we tried replacing my fuses with my brother's M3 which is working fine and it still won't start. And I'm not sure what the starter is doing, all I know is that when I turn the key it sounds like it should but it just keeps making the same noise and the engine won't start. I know I have gas too since I filled it up not long ago. Well, if possible can anyone give me an estimate on how much the dealer will charge me to fix my car, I gotta start saving!(lol, can afford a M3 but can't afford to keep it)



Ivy

[m3f_PurpleM3Pursuit]

if the engine is just wo'nt start, but it is turning over, then it could only be some kind of ignition problem.. i would make sure ur getting a spark first... i just doesn't sound like ur getting any time of spark to ignite the engine...



i did have a problem like that with my porsche, but the previous owner modded the engine with a pop-off valve.. due to the way porsches backfire, the pop-off valve would release the pressure so it didn't blow out the airbox (1500$ fix)..



i just can't imagine it not starting.. have you done any mods to it.. does the OBC say anything when you attempt to start it.. i recommend taking it to BMW and have it looked at.. when was ur last inspection... these cars must be maintained properly or little **** goes wrong.. so save ur money.. cause u may need it..

[m3f_goofy1641]

I have no idea what was done to this car, bought it used and the guy claims the car always worked fine for him, knew the car was too good to be true.... Anyone interested in a Dell Laptop so I can fix my car? lol



-Ivy

[m3f_Midnight S_f3aef9550d]

Originally posted by goofy1641

Hi,

I have a 97 M3 and it won't start. The starter won't catch, you can hear all the noise but the car just won't start. I just got the car a month ago and it was working fine then after it rained one night the car won't start now. I tried jumping the battery but still won't work. Any ideas on how to fix this that doesn't require my life savings???? THANKS!



P.S. I know nothing about cars, so please respond as you would to a child =)



Sounds like your starter is shot! Have you checked the basics first? Battery, alternator, battery charge? If so, when starting the car, what's sounding off? Do you hear a spinning noise w/out any catch from the flywheel?

[m3f_Midnight S_f3aef9550d]

Originally posted by CrazzyM3

Hey Roadrunner.........isnt there some kind of problem with M3's after it rains hard or in the car wash....something to do with water ingestion........I'm not completely sure what it is but he did say that it rained that night.......could that have anything to do with it?:???:



No, there is definitely no problem w/ rain or car washes. What seems to be the problem is the starter. It's a rare occurence in M3's but there's a bearing that guides the iginition rod in the starter. When the rod moves forward when turning the ignition key, the gear on the starter rod moves forward too and engages w/ the flywheel.



The problem usually is the bearing itself. When it's bad, dirt and grime, and clutch debris get into the starter which does no damage but when the car is cold these debri harden up and thus the starting rod would only spin in place and would not move forward which in turn does not engage the flywheel.

[m3f_goofy1641]

Originally posted by Midnight Shark





Sounds like your starter is shot! Have you checked the basics first? Battery, alternator, battery charge? If so, when starting the car, what's sounding off? Do you hear a spinning noise w/out any catch from the flywheel?



Can the battery be the problem? My battery is actually completely dead now(died the same night my car did because I couldn't shut off my alarm) I had used this portable battery pack to try and jump start the car(it worked for my brother's M3) and the car still wouldn't start. Any chance that if I just buy a new battery the car will start, I figured it won't since I tried the battery pack already? And I know nothing about cars so I have no idea about the noise, all I know is that it sounds like usual just doesn't have the sound of the car actually starting(the vroom! all I have is tak-tak-tak-tak) If it is my starter, how do I fix this, do I have to bring it back to the dealer or can I fix it at home?

[m3f_Midnight S_f3aef9550d]

As I said, check out the basics first. If you say you can't jump start the car, I'm wondering if when you jump start the car does the amperage on the battery pack go down a little when starting?

Or when you use another car do you notice the other cars idle slowing down a bit? If so, that means there's ample power going to your battery and you should be able to start. Unless there's a problem somewhere.



By the way, have you noticed anything wrong with the cars starting prior to this incident? Like, did you have to try cranking the ignition maybe 2-3 times before the car started, etc?



Electrical problems are the worst headaches you can have. I suggest you have someone take a look at it before buying anything. Try using someone else's battery (your brother's maybe?) and see if that works.

[m3f_PurpleM3Pursuit]

tak tak tak tak... gotta be the battery.. jump it off another vehicle that is running or buy a high powered battery charger... i got one from sears for 35$...