Originally Posted by workingonit

I haven't investigated heat soak on my M54 engine...is it a problem? I haven't looked for the starter yet (too much plumbing in the way), but photos of a M54 (in an E46) show it under the intake, where it shouldn't be so bad (unlike Chevy/GMC starters always near the exhaust or exhaust manifolds.

I always get around to wrapping my GM car/truck starters with reflective wrap, if there's a history of heat soak (2.8l V-6, 327 cu.in., 350 (plus overbores) cu.in., 427 (plus overbores) cu.in.). My 6.0l LS engine in my '04 2500HD really doesn't need one; nor do the Ecotec 2.2l engines in the little cars.

So far, I've not found a recurrent problem with the M54 starter, while searching...there usually is a low battery involved.