Starting problem.. Making scary sounds

[myself01]

X5 E53 2005 Auto 3.0D 97k miles

Starting problem.. Making scary noise when I am trying to start.

Can anybody tell what this sounds like?

Here's a link to a video of the sound it is making.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xU3Qy5Lm6iJXIQV63


Thx

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

[sleepyfolk]

I’d stop doing that if I were you! I got a recon Bosch starter from ECP which cured an almighty racket which sounded quite similar. £130 quid I think, you need to remove the reinforcement plate which has stretch bolts that should be replaced - £77 quid from BMW - although lots of folk do reuse them, that’s up to you

[Horizon]

Wow £77 for the bolts, that half the price again on top of the alternator. What is the torque settings for these bolts?
I'm an engineer an I am interested in some of these manufacturers claims.
I would have thought that the bolts were just required to keep the starter motor in position, and not to take much sheering forces. ( I served my apprenticeship building Diesel powered generators with 53 litre engines, and also large diesel powered plant , and have never had starter motor fixing bolts fail. )
Your standard High tensile bolts have impressive destruction figures, maybe BMW are cashing in on the fear factor

[sleepyfolk]

Just in case anyone wants to buy some - cotswoldBMW give a 10% discount off parts if you message through the forum. Should have said I’ve got a 4.6 - don’t know if other X’s all have the same set up? The bolts don’t hold the starter, it’s a large stiffener plate that needs to come off so you can access the starter motor.

Allegedly the reinforcement Plate that fits across the front subframe under the sump forms part of the structural rigidity of the front suspension, there’s 6 of the nuts/bolts in there.

Reinforcement plate bolts 56nm 41ftlb + 90'

Bolts x6 31101096987
Nuts x6 33306760587

[myself01]

[quote="sleepyfolk"]
I’d stop doing that if I were you! I got a recon Bosch starter from ECP which cured an almighty racket which sounded quite similar. £130 quid I think, you need to remove the reinforcement plate which has stretch bolts that should be replaced - £77 quid from BMW - although lots of folk do reuse them, that’s up to you
[/quote]Hi. Thanks.

I am planning to take it to a specialist independent BMW garage. I sent this video to them and they said they'd need to take out the starter motor and have a look at the ring gear (and I've got no idea what that means).

Thx

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

[lezmtaylor]

The ring gear is a ring of teeth which is heat fitted to the flywheel, the starter motor engages with the ring gear teeth and so turns the engine over.
Either way you need a new/ recon starter motor.
If you are NOT that good with the spanners it is not an easy job to take the starter  motor out.
Also make sure you get a Bosch starter as the other makes were not very reliable (x5sport has the info).
Google- Pelican- for  a diy guide, they are American so their guides are for lh drive, but very good.

Lez

[X5Sport]

I put a Bosch on my E46 3.0d from ECP.  The ‘problem’ starters appear to be Magnetti-Marelli as this brand gets reported more frequently.  It’s a common problem as both my E53 and E46 ones failed.  The motor coils fail and try to draw huge current from the battery - which it can’t supply.

[myself01]

[quote="X5Sport"]
I put a Bosch on my E46 3.0d from ECP.  The ‘problem’ starters appear to be Magnetti-Marelli as this brand gets reported more frequently.  It’s a common problem as both my E53 and E46 ones failed.  The motor coils fail and try to draw huge current from the battery - which it can’t supply.
[/quote]Is there a way I can find which starter motor I need to get. I checked Gsf website and they have one starter motor for my car priced at £414. I checked eurocarparts and they have 2 starter motors. The bosch ones are between £190 and £240.

How.do I find which bostch starter motor will fit my X5?

Thx for your help and advise?

Also can the ring gear also get damaged? Is it expensive to replace?



Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

[sleepyfolk]

On the ECP site it should just be a case of sticking your registration in, they often list 2 or 3 parts with different manufacturers, just click on the Bosch one and add to basket. The £80 odd quid surcharge gets added on as it’s an exchange unit - this is refunded when you return your old one. They’ve just got the usual WEEKEND35 discount code on at the moment (they have a permanent discount on!). If it’s a second car and not urgent you can wait a week or two there will likely be bigger discount - sign up for the email news.
Bear in mind there is a proviso that your old one is in a fit condition to refurb, not sure what that means but if you need a new one anyway it doesn’t really matter.

Check out the price on https://www.carparts4less.co.uk - this weekend 14% off with code WEEKEND14, it’s the same company as Euro car parts but online only - if you get it from them you just need to phone up for a return number when you’re ready to send your old one in. If I remember correctly you have 30 days to send it in?

CarParts4Less is often cheaper than ECP but I quite like to be able to deal with a human at the local branch sometimes if there’s only a couple of quid in it.

Let just cross our fingers and hope there’s nothing wrong with your teeth, as the BMW dentist will charge Enough to make you swear. I was told it was very unlikely to be the teeth and mine was making a horrible scary noise when I bought it, luckily I have an old school friend with his own garage so I have somewhere I can trust.

[X5Sport]

Ring gear damage would mean either engine or gearbox removal (the latter is the easiest I suspect) so that the flywheel can be replaced - or removed for a new gear to be fitted (a specialist task on its own).  Ring gears are pretty hard given how much they put up with.  The part is about £500.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id ... 1227788746

[myself01]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Ring gear damage would mean either engine or gearbox removal (the latter is the easiest I suspect) so that the flywheel can be replaced - or removed for a new gear to be fitted (a specialist task on its own).  Ring gears are pretty hard given how much they put up with.  The part is about £500.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id ... 1227788746
[/quote]Hi, thanks a lot for all the help and information.

One last question...

Looking on carparts4less as well as ecp, there are two different starter motors for my X5, and they have different fitting details like length 1,2,3 and number of teeth.

Any idea how do I know which of the two do I need?

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

[sleepyfolk]

Not sure, when I was after a fuel filter, in the yellow“fitment details” tab under the picture it said in the notes that one was up to production month 03/2002 and the other was from 04/2002, mine is an 08/2003 model so I knew which one to get.

Is there anything similar in the fitment detail info for your starter?

[X5Sport]

The listed part numbers in REALOEM are as on the link below....  You need a starter suitable from 2002 onwards, and it is used on a number of cars.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxref?q=12412344232

If you have not used Realoem before, it is a copy of the BMW Parts Database (on often more up to date than many Dealers).  Use the last 7 characters of your VIN in ‘serial number’ to pull up your model.