wpoll cheers for reply, I need a massive favour seeing as you have 3.0D as well and the facelift, from time you turn to turn key to on position how fast does it fire up? can you hear the starter spinning fast?(IF you could get an audio clip would be superb but that is asking alot)

Also good to know that the polarity doesn't make a difference when an amp clamp test is done, your explanation is very sound and I am by no means up to speed on these matters, but what confuses me is I read and see various articles and posts that say a bad ground may lead to excessive amp draw on starter ....is my thinking ok to try and get a jump lead from the bolt (-ve) on the inside of the wing in the engine bay and attach it to a metal part of engine , turn to on as a test? sorry to be so pigheaded after you saying I don't have a ground issue.

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E53 X5 3.0d SUV prod.date 11/2004 eng.variant M57N Europe Right hand drive N