Having Problems Starting The Car
 

Hi All,

Just recently bought a lease returned 05 X3 and I have to say I LOVE IT.

I've been using this message board for the past week or so and it's been a great place to answer all of my questions.

I'm in need of some help, I've been noticing the car has a hard time starting up. It only seems to happen every so often, but has been getting worse.

When I try to start the car, I can turn the key to position 3 ( Crank The Starter ) but the car never cranks over. I either turn the off and take it out to try again and sometimes it takes the third or fourth try to start the car.

Sometimes when I turn it to position 3 and it doesn't crank over, I back it off a bit and then back it forward ( Sometimes more then one back off ) it starts up.

I've checked all the battery cables and connections from the battery all the main box in the engine bay.

I'm thinking it's the ignition switch. My family has a 98 civic that had this same issue but some times the car would completely shut off, The driver had over 15+ keys on his key chain which caused the switch to go bad, I replaced it with a new ignition switch ( $15 ).

Has any one ever had this problem on their X3? Do you think it's my ignition switch that is the cause of the problem?

i dont have a x3 but i think you have a bad nuetral safety switch that located under the car and on the right side of the TRANNY.(try to put it in N= neutral and start it if it does not start, then problem will it safety switch)
BTW your is an 05 you may still under warranty.

When you turn the key to position 3 (to crank), does the engine attempt to start/sputter, or does it not crank at all?

It's really wierd and I don't know if this is the same thing that occurs to you. Years ago, our X3 would occasionally attempt to start but fail. It wasn't something that I could readily duplicate and it occured perhaps once every few weeks. Once, it even threw a DSC/AT/Brake warning light. I chalked it up to bad gas perhaps.

As the X3 ages, it's gotten more reliable in terms of starts. It's totally counterintuitive, because now it's left outside in the cold and the elements while I attend college. But even on -5C mornings, it would always crank up, the first time, everytime. There also used to be an annoying "diesel clatter" upon cold starts, but that too has disappeared.

I'd say bring it into the dealer if you can, especially if it gets worse.

Have you tried using the other key to start the car? The chip or battery in your key could be going bad...

I've tried both keys and the car still does the same thing.

When attempting to crank the car, the engine doesn't make any noise. Sort of like the ignition switch is not fully engaged to position 3 to crank the starter.

The car is just past 50K miles so it's already out of warranty.

My thoughts are either:
Ignition Switch = $50+core
Battery = $200
Starter Solenoid = I might have to buy the whole starter

Might be the Neutral Switch???? I have to test that out and see how that goes.

My 06' X3 has done this twice in 45K miles. I didn't think it was a big deal, but if it happens again it will go to the stealer.

If you "just bought it" your dealer MIGHT/should help you with this problem. Doesn't cost anything to ask.

If not then you might want to find a GOOD/Reputable BMW/German repair shop.

Your problem could be in

The ignition switch
Starter/Solenoid
Wiring and Connections, could be as simple as a corroded connection at the starter.

Here's a link
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...94&hg=12&fg=05

ab

So I found an old buddy of mine that happens to work at BMW as a mechanic.

His thoughts are the key barrel. He mentioned the key chip sensor might not be working correctly. It might be having a hard time or just slow in reading and verifying the chip from the key.

He's going to hook the car up to the diagnostic computer as we attempt to crank the car on position 3 and see what the computer reads.

I'll keep you guys posted on our findings.

Sorry meant to say.

He mentioned the key barrel chip reader might not be working correctly.

Any updates on your issue? My 04 X3 has the same problem.

I occasionally have this issue with my 06. The car attempts to crank and start but the engine never fires. I move the key back to position 1 and try again and the car fires immediately. This happened about 4 times between 20,000 - 33,000 (current) miles.

I talked to the stealer about it, and they did not seem to care as it did not do it in front of them.

My problem magically went away.

Don't know what happened but the story is, I had bought the car used and the dealer told me it was from a BMW auction. I bought the car with a check from my credit union and they sent the title and paperwork to the wrong credit union. My credit union gave me a call around 2 months later looking for the title, so I contacted the dealer. They straightened everything out that day and by the next day my credit union had already received the electronic title.

My car is a weekend car, and this all finished up on a Thursday. The next day I decided to drive the car to work and the problem was gone. Hasn't came back since (knock on wood). I spoke to my buddy that works at BMW as a mechanic and he said he has heard of BMW sending your car updates through the satellite computer but never actually seen it happen.

Till today it is still a mystery to me and him as how it just magically went away. But the only thing we can think of was the car was in a limbo ownership status and when everything was cleared up. BMW cleared up the computer.

Yes please lets us know my 04 x3 has the same problem as well...

Seems like my ignition switch is bad too...
 

I think I am experiencing the same problem as others. 2005 X3 3.0, 27K miles, CPO and still under factory warranty for a month. Just got it last Thursday night. Sadly I have been unable to drive it.

When I tried to start the car Friday morning, the dash lights all lit up as normal prior to starting, but the starter never started. No clicks, no whirring, no sputter, no cranking, nothing.

I tried to start the car numerous times over the next hour. No changes.

Moving the gearshift into N did not help.
Using the valet key did not help.
Turning off every accessory (or turning them on) did not help.
The stereo works fine, as does the nav, blower, AC, etc.

The battery does not have a green dot (it's black) but the load test performed by the dealer during CPO shows it is OK, at 12.5V.

So I called BMW Roadside and the guy came and we tried starting it again. 10+ tries with same results as above. The tow truck lowered its ramp and got ready to pull the car up the flatbed ramp.

Out of the blue, on one final attempt the car started. The tow truck driver and I were shocked. After letting the car run for a minute, we turned it off again, and it failed to restart.

After a few more tries, it started again, and I left it running. I drove it to the dealer figuring they might as well fix it before I get stranded someplace other than home.

Of course when I was at the dealer, the car started flawlessly every time. The car has been looked at each of the last 3 days and has started fine each time...

I've asked the dealer to swap out the ignition switch but they are reluctant to do so.

Any suggestions on how to troubleshoot this or tell the dealer what to look for? (They downloaded the codes but the codes told them nothing.)

-pd.

Starting problems also
 

My X3 2.0d from 05 also has problems with start.

Symptom: Key on ignition everything works, all lights on, audio ok, windows ok, mirrors ok but car wont start and no crank.

Last Wednesday evening after car parking it refuse to start again.

On Thursday morning again wont start and I have to push it and it starts.

Went to work and park the car, start the car two or tree times and everything is ok.

On Thursday evening wont start again, leaving the car parking and went back home with a friend.

Friday morning I was planning to put the car on dealer, but guess what, car starts without problem all day, and at night when went shopping, car refuse to start again, push it again and it starts.

Tomorrow I'm planning to leave it at BMW Dealer. But I believe they will not find nothing wrong.

Tks.