Car not starting

[gsj87]

Hi guys,

Haven't drove the E53 for two days now, was about to go shopping today and found that it's not starting at all.

It keeps clicking, 'PRE-HEATING' comes up on the dash, stereo turns on, exterior lights come on etc but nothing else happens.

I've also noticed white smoke coming from the exhausts when I start the car, it goes down after a while, some threads have pointed this to the glow plugs? Could faulty glow plugs be causing the non starting or something else?

Any help would be appreciated, I've only had the car for a week!

[henrym3]

when you turn to start do the dash lights dim or go out completely then light up bright when you release the key.

[Horizon]

[quote="gsj87"]
Hi guys,

Haven't drove the E53 for two days now, was about to go shopping today and found that it's not starting at all.

It keeps clicking, 'PRE-HEATING' comes up on the dash, stereo turns on, exterior lights come on etc but nothing else happens.

I've also noticed white smoke coming from the exhausts when I start the car, it goes down after a while, some threads have pointed this to the glow plugs? Could faulty glow plugs be causing the non starting or something else?  Probably a duff battery, try to charge yours over night. Every trip you probably use more than you put back in to the battery if only doing short trips.
Welcome to BMW.

[gsj87]

[quote="henrym3"]
when you turn to start do the dash lights dim or go out completely then light up bright when you release the key.
[/quote]

Hi bud, when I turn the key, the stereo turns on, the dash lights come on for a split second then they go. The car starts to make a 'turning' sound like it's trying to clock over but stops half way through and then it also starts to let out a loud 'beep'.

After a few seconds of just holding the key while its turned, none of the lights come on, all I hear is the clocking over/turning sound (if that makes sense!) which sounds like the ignition trying to constantly start the car

[CondorX5]

Definitely sounds like a dying battery - it was a freezing night last night and these cars draw massive amounts of battery power for all the electronic bits, they are known to be extremely fussy about battery condition.  Put it on charge for a few hours (as above you can do it under the bonnet, no need to go into the boot) and see what happens when its had a good charge.  Likely time to change as above.

[gsj87]

Thanks Horizon & CondorX5 for your replies.

What do you guys use to charge the battery overnight? Any recommendations?

[gsj87]

Hi all,  just an update. Got the RAC to come out, they jump started the car and it came back to life. Drove it around for 20/30minutes after that and it's been fine. However, I've noticed that the DSC light (yellow 4x4 light) came on and then went off after I restarted the car. I keep getting a 'check brake light' and 'check tail light' warning coming up, and the tyre/traction light is red. There is also a screech (starter motor?) sounding when I start the car. Can all these faults be related?

[Horizon]

Normal for the 4x4 light on after a flat battery, usually turning the steering lock to lock, that re calibrates the steering angle sensor, red tyre light normal after a flat battery, go through the reset after checking the tyre pressures are ok, I think you have to press the button on the dash, the light will go orange , drive until the light goes out.
Squeezing belt, either contamination on the belt, worn belt, dicky tensioner, or failing alternator.

[X5Sport]

Many of us use CTEK battery conditioner/chargers.  I use the MXS10 version which gives a 10A/h charge rate and will get a dead battery up in about 12-14 hours.  These units are not cheap (and are rebadged by BMW too) but they will correctly charge the battery and use the proper cycle voltages at the correct point.

If you are only doing short journeys then you will need to do this every couple of weeks or so.  I have to do this with my X6 at least monthly if it is not being used and a car in storage can be left permanently connected to a smaller version.

One note of caution is that if you have an AGM type (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery fitted, letting it go dead will shorten the service life of the battery to well short of the expected 6-years.

Screech could be starter, water pump, idler pulley, air con compressor, viscous fan coupling, anything connected with the belt system or contaminated belt as suggested.

Starters are a known weakness as are water pumps.

[lezmtaylor]

Further to X5sport re CTEK yes they are good, but expensive.
I have Ctek, but for standby the Lidl charger at about £18 is a good cheap backup and is very similar.

Lez

[Horizon]

I have been investigating an intermittent bearing type noise on startup, it is coming from the alternator region, on further reading the serpentine belt tensioners are a common failure, the belt is running very slightly off the face of the roller/tensioner instead of dead centre . This indicates wear on the roller bearings./ tensioner
After further reading there was reports of belt screeching too, this is due to the alternator pulley clutch/ freewheel bearing seizing!!!!!! That could be where my clicking is coming from.
I never knew that the alternator pulley had a clutch and free wheel