35D wont start - Glow Plug pre-heat issue?

[josiahg52]

Originally Posted by jfoj

At least on the E46 and I think the E39 with the 6 cylinders the engine to body ground happens to be on the passenger side near the motor mount. Often you have to remove the lower engine cover to see them.

Not sure if the E53 is set up like the E46/E39, but usually you will find a frame rail connection near or just behind the strut tower. Look around the motor mount area to see if you can find the ground.

Here is a picture of the strap on an E39 which is a 2nd cousin of the E53 IMHO - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums - View Single Post - 2003 Ground Wire on shock tower?

I agree. I wanted an E53 originally because I own an E39 but the E70 grew on me. It's not a bad vehicle but I think I like the E53 better because of my experience with the E39. What's the first cousin?

Originally Posted by Ozer

Here is the post that had the same issue as mine and he states it was on drivers side.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e70-forum/101699-10-35d-no-start-then-no-crank.html
Either case.. i should be ok with leaving this 4 gauge ground wire and it should be ok yes?

Update for anyone who has this issue in the future:

As stated before, the ground was the issue so adding a chassis ground solved the no crank issue. Turns out the battery was pretty drained out so i charged it overnight and got it load tested, it tested good so nothing is wrong with the battery.
The AutoZone employee also tested the alternator and said one part passed but other part didn't. I'm not sure what those parts mean but basically i was told the alternator wasn't charging the battery like it should be. No issues since all that and it starts right up. Maybe i will need to get the alternator rebuilt at some point if this happens again.
Next step is to replace the original ground wire when i have some time.

The alternator is probably operating at the correct voltage but is not able to produce the correct output (current) while under load.

My experience has been that short of a catastrophic or an acute failure of the alternator, a depleted or battery operating at reduced capacity will slowly cause the alternator to fail. Unless you personally know the history of the battery, I'd replace it.

If the alternator is not operating at the correct output level then the battery will be depleted once again somewhere down the road. Eventually this cycle will kill the battery and/or the alternator. It sounds like the alternator may already have been affected and the battery was affected at least in the short term.

[jfoj]

Originally Posted by josiahg52

I agree. I wanted an E53 originally because I own an E39 but the E70 grew on me. It's not a bad vehicle but I think I like the E53 better because of my experience with the E39. What's the first cousin?

Maybe the E53 is actually the E39's first cousin in theory, there are a lot of similarities, but also a number of differences so with the differences, other than the obvious, I kind of look at the E53 as 2nd cousin to the E39.

I have not spend much time in the E53, but I am starting to like my E70 although there is a lot to get used to on the E70, it is like a VERY distant cousin twice removed from the E46/E39/E53, however, I think I like the E70. A bit much on the technology, but as long as it all works and does not break, life is good!