X5 wont start

[kc5578]

I have a 2003 3.0D X5 which is driving me insane! Every couple of weeks after being parked it just wont start. Starter motor cranks but the engine wont fire up. I have disconnected fuel line while problem was current and there was alot of air in the line. I end up getting it towed to mechanics outside of business hours (by the time tow truck arrives), mechanic comes in following day and it starts 1st go. BMW have had a look at it and seem to think nothing is wrong with it because no codes come up when hooked up to diagnostic computer, I am really stuck. Has this happened to anyone else? Or does anyone have any idea what causes this to happen? Any help would be much appreciated as at the moment this pic sums up how i feel

[xnsf]

...battery?

[kc5578]

No battery seems fine, tried jumpstarting without success. Also on two occasions it started after about 10min, of trying to crank for 10-15secs letting the starter motor rest and trying again and again. Thanks heaps anyhow

[youry]

Hi,

A few questions first. How many miles and how's the weather in your area? Freezing? Warm?
If your engine is cranking you can rule out the battery. I'd say you have some dirt in the tank or the fuel pump is not powerful enough (read not calibrated) to suck fuel from tank. I'd use some additives first and see if that helps.
One more thing: how often do you change the fuel filter?

[kc5578]

Hi there,
It's travelled about 95,000miles and temp has been around 73deg on the days it occured. I've used chemtech diesel power several times and a fungal and bacterial treatment for diesel which Nissan make (head technician at BMW told me to try it). Only had the X5 for 3months so I haven't changed fuel filter yet, but will change it soon. I don't know if it will help because it drives smooth as 100percent of the time, if there was dirt it would occasionaly be noticable while driving i think but i'm no mechanic. Definately worth a shot, as for fuel pump where do I start with that? Is there a pump in the fuel tank? Thanks

[youry]

Originally Posted by kc5578

Hi there,
It's travelled about 95,000miles and temp has been around 73deg on the days it occured. I've used chemtech diesel power several times and a fungal and bacterial treatment for diesel which Nissan make (head technician at BMW told me to try it). Only had the X5 for 3months so I haven't changed fuel filter yet, but will change it soon. I don't know if it will help because it drives smooth as 100percent of the time, if there was dirt it would occasionaly be noticable while driving i think but i'm no mechanic. Definately worth a shot, as for fuel pump where do I start with that? Is there a pump in the fuel tank? Thanks

the mileage is low for a diesel
you say that you disconnect the fuel line and have air coming out. do you disconnect it before or after the fuel filter (the main one, because indeed there is some kind of filter in the tank that keeps the big chunks from going to the main filter).
what I would do at this point. wait until it happens again! have some diesel fuel in a bottle. drop the hose that you disconnect into the bottle and try to start the car (make sure is the hose that goes to the engine). the car should take a few key turns to start. if it does, then the fuel line is clogged from that point back to the fuel tank. if it doesn't, then the problem is between that point and the engine.

[kc5578]

That's an excellent idea, might save me from calling tow trucks out and narrow down to finding the problem. Thank you sooo much

[youry]

Forgot to ask something. was the tank full or empty when that happened?

[kc5578]

Gauge was showing half but we put in 20litres just incase gauge was faulty. Didn't help took 24 hours to start, maybe it just needed a good night sleep.

[youry]

I will talk to a friend that has a diesel in Europe and get back to you these days