Another crank, no start story.

[evo2]

I have what sounds like a fairly common intermittent issue of strong crank/no start with my '01 E53 4.4i (about 10 times in 2 years, but getting a bit more frequent).
It will always start right away the second try and run great all day.
So I'm initially counting out battery, fuel, ECU, crank pos. sensor, fuses... I've read everything I can on this board and elsewhere and I believe it's the ignition switch.

I have to bring it in for inspection this month anyway and asked the service manager if he could spend an hour looking at the issue.
Not wanting to grab at straws or get gouged by the dealer, but I do want access to their diagnostic equipment (and their swanky waiting area).
The service manager was sufficiently vague as to what they could find out.

BMW ignition switches seem to be a real issue so you'd think there would be alot of info out there.
I'm temped to go to an indy BMW specialist who would hopefully treat me better than my dealer who acts annoyed that I don't have a 2013 X5.

Does anyone have any input or know if a crank/ no start would throw an error code if it was the ignition switch?

Thanks.

[mattkins99]

This sounds almost identical to my issue and it was just a fuel filter (my assumption is the fuel pressure regulator which is built into the fuel filter was leaking pressure) The only difference with mine is the car was only good for about 30 minutes. If I let it sit longer than that then it would have the start issue (but yes, start up just find on the second crank)

My pressure leak must have just been worst than yours.

[evo2]

Hey Matt,
That's very interesting, worth looking into.

It has mostly happened with warm starts, which is why I have been a bit skeptical about the ignition switch. Pressure Regulator makes sense.

How did you narrow it down to the FPR?
Did you test the system pressure or did the ECU store an out of spec fuel pressure fault code?
Or, did you just replace it and it fixed the issue?

Thanks,
Tony

[mattkins99]

Originally Posted by evo2

Hey Matt,
That's very interesting, worth looking into.

It has mostly happened with warm starts, which is why I have been a bit skeptical about the ignition switch. Pressure Regulator makes sense.

How did you narrow it down to the FPR?
Did you test the system pressure or did the ECU store an out of spec fuel pressure fault code?
Or, did you just replace it and it fixed the issue?

Thanks,
Tony

Just logically thought through what could cause the car to not start on the first crank but start right up on the second. I figured it had to be the fuel filter or the pump and the fuel filter was the cheapest option to throw parts at.

[hoaesq]

My is an 05 4.4 and had similar issues except mine would not start on the 2nd or 3rd . . . . just a heavy smell of fuel when it tries to start. Eventually it would start after a few tries sputtering its way to a steady idle. Not sure it's a FPR regulator problem cause I can smell the fuel.

Don't want to take it to teh dealer and get charged $100 for nothing - I was told by a local shop that there may not be a code base on what I described because the ECU sometimes don't pick up on these situations.

Any thoughts?

[btmed]

Mine 2001 x5 3.0 has had the same issue for a couple of years. Tried changing fuel filter to no avail. Did try the start up in many posts where you turn key to first position for maybe 10 seconds then try cranking. This works for my x. Starts right up when i wait. Dont know if that points to an electronics or mechanical issue. And that comment about dealers annoyed your not in a new X5 is so true! I just imagine when we drive up they are thinking oh hell, wonder which out of hundreds of the same documented issues is it going to be this time!

[RMak]

I too had problems with the X5 cranking. No codes were thrown. We tried everything... from battery, alternator, fsr and possible battery drains which we even thought could be the bluetooth module. Went to another Indy (who happened to be my original Indy, never should have left him in the first place) and it ended up being the main power connector was loose. It's apparently located behind the engine. 3 hours to diagnose and fix, $140 bucks... all is well again.

[hoaesq]

Main power connector? Sounds interesting . . . first time I have heard of it. Can you be more specific on it's location . . . color of the wire and if you have a pic, that would be great.