Where do I look first,....your opinion please.

[jonnyivy]

Hi to you all,
Its this blooming slow crank starter thing again,... here's what I think I will need to check,..whats your thoughts ?

A month ago I took the engine cover off and removed the inlet manifold I changed the glow plugs and also the glow plug control box. This was because the diagnostics said 4 glow plugs were down and it was taking ages to start.
I must say that before I did these jobs I'm sure the starter cranked the engine over much quicker but took a while to fire up (with white smoke on starting). This seems right with no glow plugs working correctly .
When it started cranking slower I fitted a brand-new battery with a higher crank rating to try to help the situation. I'd say that this made no differance at all !
Now I'm beginning to wonder if I may have disturbed some wires while removing the glow plug control box ?
I think I will take the engine cover back off, then take the inlet manifold off again to get a better look at all the wires down by the starter motor and the alternator. I'll also be looking at the big earth strap while I'm down there. If I cant see anything obvious then I'm leaning towards a new starter motor while I'm in that area too.
I have also put an "amp draw" clamp reader on the starter and it showed 130 initial cranking then 90 which is well within the tolerance ( I think ? ) so I'm kinda wondering if it really is the starter or something more ?

Any thoughts before I start guys ??

[graemeX5]

Hi and welcome

I think this has been covered but it's to do with a certain type of starter motor fitted to the pre facelift cars which are drawing very high current and the battery can't cope.

But first check all the wires to ensure they are tight as a loose wire won't help, but if not check the battery is fully charged then if it still doesn't work probably worth getting the starter motor checked.

I found this link which may help

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... #msg114517

Hth
Graeme

[grumpywurzel]

+1 With Graeme here. Loose connection on either the battery (as you have just changed it) or the starter, failing that as you have already changed the battery for an uprated one I would suggest that you have a lazy starter motor. As they get older internals start to fail.

[X5Sport]

Get the starting current checked.  Any competent car electrical place should have the right current clamp.

You can get replacement starters from ECP.  I had to do our E46 a year or so ago.  It drew 540A instead of 180A and had to be recharged after every two engine starts!!  Replacement is a Bosch remanufactured unit and cost about £250 inc a £100 surcharge if I didn't bring the old one back.

I think the E53 is a lot easier to get to than the E46 (which was a complete PITA due to restricted access) and is a diy if you have the tools.  You will need a set of e-Torx sockets, extension bars and a decent torque wrench as the (2of) bolts have to be done up very tight.

Car starts on just a quick crank now 

[jonnyivy]

Well,... it's full -on storm Barbie today so it can wait a few more days...
Just to say that I already got the amp draw clamp on the positive running to the starter and that was the readings,...130 then down to 90 as the engine turned ovber,...thought this would be well within the tolerances, but as I did it myself then maybe not too accurate ?
True that the model I have this time (05 plate facelift)  has the starter motor down the passenger side of engine where as my last E53 (02 plate) had the starter under the exhaust manifold and I gave up on that before I started ! ( had same slow crank too )

So think I will resign myself to lying on couch today and see whats on telly , never get much time to do that any other time so I have an excuse today with the storm.

Just like to say Merry Christmas to you all here and thanks for the heaps of info through-out my X5 days...

Jonny

[X5Sport]

130A is well within spec as you say.  Not the best weather to go chasing it down either!

And Merry Xmas too  :xmasgrin: