I will cut straight to it, looking for help!
I just bought my first e46 m3, 2004 6mt, 79k miles. The car had excellent service history, no wrecks, but no big 3 done. A local euro shop I know and trust represented the car for the owner and is how I came across it. BMW had recently gone through car and no issues. So after long time lurking, bought the car. (on tuesday)
Bought it, took the car for a drive, some nice empty back roads pushed it pretty nice and everything felt amazing. Drove about 20 miles. After that, I have a 20 year old that works for me that has been dying to drive a manual. I figured screw it, not like he can hurt the car. Took the kid for a drive. we went about 2 miles and he stalled the car in total about 5-6 times. After stalling the last time, went to restart the car, it would not start. Lights would come on and it would click but wouldnt start. Did what anyone would, went through the basics, wouldnt start. Went and got jumper cables, after a long time jumping the car, still wouldnt start. Went and got a new battery, car fired right up. Figured no big deal, must of pulled to many amps when we kept restarting and battery was on the way out.
Next day, new battery, new car, driving just fine no issues. Drive for about 15 miles running some errands. Shut the car off a two times to go inside places, started up just fine each time after. Went got lunch, parked car, ate for 30min, when leaving car wouldnt start. Tried 4/5 times and it was just trying to crank but wouldnt turn over. I waited about 1 min thinking I was gonna call tow truck, gave it one more try, after holding the key for 5/6 seconds and she started. I was so relieved, went straight back to my garage to be safe. (calling the bmw and local euro shop i know during this) Went back to work for a while, went out there an hour later, car started just fine first try. About 30min tried again because i was using my digital multimeter to run test on alternator, that time didnt start again. Tried a few times and my buddy standing near my hood smelled burning. popped hood and we both smelled some sort of burning, not too strong, but definitely something hot/burn. That was wednesday, since then, i have cold started car daily and it fires up first try like nothing is wrong on first try.
Sorry for depth of story but feel only way someone might really know is with details
BMW replaced this cars starter and clutch switch in June/2025, since then owner claims no issues, local shop backs that up.
I currently cannot get the car into either shop for almost a month, dont know what to do next. Originally it felt like it was the starter maybe, but with a starter less than 1000 miles old seems unlikely.
I know there are some people on this forum with tons of experience with these cars and hoping maybe someone can help. Right now I dont know what to do, I have no idea what it could be, and I know from owning many cars the worst type of problem is one you cannot replicate!
UPDATE!!
After what happened above, I would randomly start car in garage and it would start every time first try. on 8/28 i took car for a drive, about 10 miles, car started and operated fine. Pulled back in garage, shut the car off, turned it back on, started just fine. Waited 10 minutes started to car, started fine. Then pulled forward in my garage and shut off, needed to inch forward a bit to fit in garage, went to turn it back on, wouldnt start. Doing "the thing" again. It wont even try to start engine just a click. Today (8/31) went to start the car, figuring it would fire right up like it has been after sitting cold, nothing. Just a click. I am so confused. i checked fuse box, battery cable connections, alternator test with multimeter. Just strange how the first week it would start right up after a day of sitting everytime, and now this time it doesnt. Input would be appreciated.
I just bought my first e46 m3, 2004 6mt, 79k miles. The car had excellent service history, no wrecks, but no big 3 done. A local euro shop I know and trust represented the car for the owner and is how I came across it. BMW had recently gone through car and no issues. So after long time lurking, bought the car. (on tuesday)
Bought it, took the car for a drive, some nice empty back roads pushed it pretty nice and everything felt amazing. Drove about 20 miles. After that, I have a 20 year old that works for me that has been dying to drive a manual. I figured screw it, not like he can hurt the car. Took the kid for a drive. we went about 2 miles and he stalled the car in total about 5-6 times. After stalling the last time, went to restart the car, it would not start. Lights would come on and it would click but wouldnt start. Did what anyone would, went through the basics, wouldnt start. Went and got jumper cables, after a long time jumping the car, still wouldnt start. Went and got a new battery, car fired right up. Figured no big deal, must of pulled to many amps when we kept restarting and battery was on the way out.
Next day, new battery, new car, driving just fine no issues. Drive for about 15 miles running some errands. Shut the car off a two times to go inside places, started up just fine each time after. Went got lunch, parked car, ate for 30min, when leaving car wouldnt start. Tried 4/5 times and it was just trying to crank but wouldnt turn over. I waited about 1 min thinking I was gonna call tow truck, gave it one more try, after holding the key for 5/6 seconds and she started. I was so relieved, went straight back to my garage to be safe. (calling the bmw and local euro shop i know during this) Went back to work for a while, went out there an hour later, car started just fine first try. About 30min tried again because i was using my digital multimeter to run test on alternator, that time didnt start again. Tried a few times and my buddy standing near my hood smelled burning. popped hood and we both smelled some sort of burning, not too strong, but definitely something hot/burn. That was wednesday, since then, i have cold started car daily and it fires up first try like nothing is wrong on first try.
Sorry for depth of story but feel only way someone might really know is with details
BMW replaced this cars starter and clutch switch in June/2025, since then owner claims no issues, local shop backs that up.
I currently cannot get the car into either shop for almost a month, dont know what to do next. Originally it felt like it was the starter maybe, but with a starter less than 1000 miles old seems unlikely.
I know there are some people on this forum with tons of experience with these cars and hoping maybe someone can help. Right now I dont know what to do, I have no idea what it could be, and I know from owning many cars the worst type of problem is one you cannot replicate!
UPDATE!!
After what happened above, I would randomly start car in garage and it would start every time first try. on 8/28 i took car for a drive, about 10 miles, car started and operated fine. Pulled back in garage, shut the car off, turned it back on, started just fine. Waited 10 minutes started to car, started fine. Then pulled forward in my garage and shut off, needed to inch forward a bit to fit in garage, went to turn it back on, wouldnt start. Doing "the thing" again. It wont even try to start engine just a click. Today (8/31) went to start the car, figuring it would fire right up like it has been after sitting cold, nothing. Just a click. I am so confused. i checked fuse box, battery cable connections, alternator test with multimeter. Just strange how the first week it would start right up after a day of sitting everytime, and now this time it doesnt. Input would be appreciated.
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