Battery drain,..BMW said it was starter !

[jonnyivy]

Hi,...I've posted on here already about my X5 not wanting to start in the mornings. I took it for a service today and asked them if they could put it on the diagnostics to see where , if any, drain would be coming from. They had it on for quite a while, saying they had to check various differant areas,..then came to the conclusion it was my starter motor (£410 fitted ). They said it doesn't seem to jump into life when the key is turned, which I agree with, more like a slow crank then getting faster until it fires up. This may be so,...but I still don't understand why the battery is dead after only 10 seconds of cranking ?? Its a new battery only 4 months ago.
The alternator is putting in 14.3 volts when started.
So,...if I need to get another starter motor, could anyone point me in the right direction to buy another but not at the BMW price ??
By the way,...they never found any faults with the car on the diagnostics.

Jonny

[graemeX5]

I would try euro car parts if after a starter but are they really sure it's that .?

[jonnyivy]

Since I posted this up I have been searching for starter motor problems online various google searches.
Lots of others with same problem (as on this site too ) and came across a very interesting post about same problem. apparently BMW used a differant make of starter on the earlier models (mine ) and changed them later to a better make ( Bosch I think ). Seems like the older model starter would fail inside and would draw a huge amount of current when trying to start the car. This would make the electrics almost cut out and reset the guages etc with such a tremendous strain on the battery. Thats what is happening with mine too. The guy who posted this topic (I think on this site a long time ago 2010 ) had all the same symptoms of mine (new battery etc ), and only when a BMW mechanic told him about the problem with the (magnetti marreli ??) starters that his problem was solved.
Hope he was right !

[syg9m]

hi I have had the same problem new battery bought , still power drain , BMW dealer said new starter motor , the thing I bought was a £13.99 solar panel that plugs into the cig lighter in the front so it charges all day & keeps the battery topped up . It is still starting & havent bought  a starter motor yet 10 months down the line !

[jonnyivy]

Now I did recall one of the mechanics telling me that briefly on the phone when I was booking my appointment and was telling him my problem. Remember him saying it plugged into the cigarrette socket to trickle charge the battery.

[Smeeagain]

I had this problem and replaced firstly the battery (as it was old - about 6 years) and still had the same issue.
What type of battery is yours - I fitted a Bosch Silver S5 with five year warranty.
So I then replaced the starter (£150 source through local garage) - been fine ever since.

I think topping up the battery with a trickle charger is all well and good but if it really is drawing that much power every time it cranks then I think (just my own opinion) that you will soon destroy the battery. Better to treat the cause than just give it medicine every day.

Smee

[X5Sport]

Starter was the cause of my 'low battery' issues too.  It drew so much current at start-up that it exceeded the CCA of the battery.  The alternator simply could not put the charge back in during the 25-mile commute so it kept going flat.  Took 2 Dealers 5 attempts to sort it - and a number of bills I told them where to go with!!  One dealer blamed the tracking device, modified the power feed to it (which killed it!) and then wanted £500 for the privilege!  It didn't cure the problem so I didn't pay.

No faults ever recorded.  It was one of the 'old lags' technicians who found the issue by going back to basics and using a current clamp instead of their workshop R2D2!  Found it first time. 

[Smeeagain]

johnnyivy - if you have the starter that is of the correct vintage to be the high power draw type then I'd urge you to do what I did and bite the bullet and replace it. I'm not saying that that is definitively the source of your issues (i also now have an additional power drain but it is months after the replacement so not connected - see other posts) but with winter approaching you just don't need/want a battery draining starter regardless.

Smee

[jeegnesh]

Is there any way of knowing if you have the older starter motor?

[ChrisLux]

I've got an '05 3.0d and I had this problem .
I had Magnetti Marelli starter and it's a well known failure .
I replaced battery only for new one to go dead in couple of days .
Eventually took it to BM Euroservice , they tested starter motor and it was way off the scale .
Replaced it and it all works great now , 3 yrs down the line .
And it certainly wasn't £400 to do , think it was about 1/2 but can't remember for sure .

[jeegnesh]

Think I need to check mine, changed battery to Bosch Silver last year and the start has improved, but am finding if I use the remote heater the start is very weak, I know it drains some battery but I do enough mileage and long runs to cover the charge so would not expect such a weak start or turning over quiet a few times before starting.

I see the Bosch starter on Euro for just over £200 is that the best one to go for?  (After I check which starter I have that is)

[jonnyivy]

Now isn't this a good thread for all the folks with this problem ?
Yes,..I was informed that the older models use the Magnetti Marreli starter and they do tend to break down and start drawing huge amounts of power, hence all my computer guages being re-set and showing strange readings after trying to crank on cold mornings. I replaced (probably a very good battery ) with the same rating Exide one but after a few weeks just did the same.
I think the newer, better one is indeed the Bosch starter which after reading these posts I will indeed go ahead and replace.
Wise words from Smeeagain, remove the problem rather than treating it daily.
Is it an easy enough job for DIY ?...I have a pit in the garage for access.

Thanks for all your input,

Jonny

[Smeeagain]

There is a guide in the How To section - somewhere around page 4 I think

Smee

[jaynana]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Starter was the cause of my 'low battery' issues too.  It drew so much current at start-up that it exceeded the CCA of the battery.  The alternator simply could not put the charge back in during the 25-mile commute so it kept going flat.  Took 2 Dealers 5 attempts to sort it - and a number of bills I told them where to go with!!  One dealer blamed the tracking device, modified the power feed to it (which killed it!) and then wanted £500 for the privilege!  It didn't cure the problem so I didn't pay.

No faults ever recorded.  It was one of the 'old lags' technicians who found the issue by going back to basics and using a current clamp instead of their workshop R2D2!  Found it first time.
[/quote]

i guess by now they know its a probable cause and must be one of the things they check for..

i would also certainly get it fixed than continuing to  trickle-charge.

[fatladandy]

does the starter motor issue affect the v8's aswell as the diesels?