Stranded/can't start! - Could use some help! [SOLVED!]
 

Starter will not engage when I try to start the X5. Accessories, etc, work fine but starter will not engage. No clicks, sounds, anything from it. Assumed battery was discharged but behavior is no different after attempting to start with a power pack or jump-starting from another vehicle. Battery is about 2 years old, ignition switch is about 1 year old. I also tried the 2nd key and trying to start from neutral. What the heck could be going on?

Have you tried tapping it with a long crowbar or flat head?

Check the starter relay in the E box where the DME is located.

Do dash lights and headlights dim when you try to start it?

I had similar problem. Check your DME fuses. After 2 weeks of tearing mine apart and losing my mind, decided to check fuses, bingo. Not sure of 05 fuse box layout, but my DME had 3 separate fuses controlling it. Keep us posted.

Just now back with the x5. Had to get a ride to work earlier.

Just tested starter relay. Working fine. Also checked all fuses in glovebox fuse compartment. None are blown. All the fuses in the DME relay carrier are good too. I've got plenty of battery power. It's just impossible to engage the starter.

I would remove the starter relay and jump the relay connector to see if it pass the 12 volts to the starter solenoid to engage the starter. You could have a bad chip in the key or the antenna ring at the ignition switch could be bad and not passing on the code to the EWS to verify that a good key is being used.

Do this only if you know something about how relays operates.

Check your gear position switch as well.
-Matt

If I get the starter to engage this way is there a way to test the antenna ring and/or key chip? FWIW this behavior is the same with both keys. Thanks again-

Thanks, Matt. Based on the info I'm obtaining from the search function here and realoem.com, I'm assuming my gear position switch is the type that is internally-mounted on my '06 3.0's A5S390R (GM 5L40-E) transmission. How do you test the gear position switch if it's internally-mounted? I'm not getting any other trans faults or odd display behaviors from the instrument cluster.