No Crank, No Start, sort of. FIXED
 

So my X started acting up when I was starting it. It would start to crank then stop. I'd turn the key back and turn to start again and it would start. It did this five or six times then wouldn't crank at all or would slightly then stop. Of course, I wasn't at home when it happened, so I had to wait an hour for a tow truck. When the truck showed up I was showing the driver how it wouldn't start and it started! So I drove it home.

As soon as I got it in the garage I shut it off then tried to start it again and no joy. So after doing some research I concluded it was the starter. After all it has 288,000 miles on it so, it was probably due to die. Bought a new starter and spent a day getting it in. Did it from above even though you can supposedly do it from below. After looking at it from below I concluded trying it that way was going to lead to massive frustration and me ending up doing it from above anyway.

After changing the starter and putting everything back together I jumped in and turned the key figuring it would start. Nope. Still doing the same thing,

So I did some more research and cam across some info that indicated it could be the ignition switch. So, I purchased a new switch and installed it. It is actually a relatively painless procedure. And after getting the new switch in it fired right up. Leaving me wishing I had figured out to check that first. On the other hand the new starter does start the engine faster than the old one so I'm not unhappy I changed it.

Hopefully if someone is having this trouble they'll search here and come across this post and check the ignition switch first save themselves a lot of work.

If you noticed the new starter is faster the old one was worn out just not to failure. They will take more and more current to run which will pull the voltage down which gets less power to the starter.

I figured as much. 288,000 miles. That's one of the reasons I thought the problem was the starter.

Sounds like it was a breakdown-stranding-driver waiting to happen. How did you get the starter out the top though? Do you have a V8?

Dealing with a little bit of the same issue just two days ago coming home off of a 250mile round trip in 90° heat getting off the expressway the air and radio shuts off and I get the transmission signal on the dash...I'm still rolling but when i come to a stop light me 06 X3 with 233k on the clock shuts down completely. I only hear now is a single click. Pushed the X out of the busy street and parked. Came back and jumped it...no joy as you say. Next morning had the X towed to my garage parked her in the driveway....Initially I'm thinking fuse,changed the box of fuses under the hood... then I suspect the battery, charged it and still the lone click. During my starting attempts I noticed no sound from the fuel pump. Swapped out the fuel pump turned the key and was met with the lone click. However, I do hear the fuel pump motor now.
Of course I used my foxwell and the codes lead me in these directions.
The culprit now I suspect is the starter. I've never changed the starter on this car ever. The fuel pump appears to be from the factory so im thinking the same for the starter...I've got one on the shelf.
I won't get to the starter until Monday. In the meantime I'll change the ignition switch...no biggy...car is probably rolling on the majority of original parts from the factory.

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150 has m54 I believe. Starter comes out the top. The bottom access is to loosen one of the bolts. I did a write up when I did mine showing the exact extension plus wobble to get to the bolt/s.

The most helpful advice for the M54 starter change:

Disconnect the battery/alternator at the B+ post not the battery. (Keep all your settings etc).

Disconnect the alternator power connection. Will give you far more freedom to disconnect and reconnect the alternator to starter leg at the starter. At least 10x easier to make that connection when the cable is not attached to the alternator.

I have the M54. According to the Bentley manual and Newtis you are supposed to be able to remove it from below. You have to use extensions to get to the bolts and then you can supposedly rotate it down, disconnect the wires and remove it. After looking at it from below and seeing all the stuff I'd have to navigate starter around, I said forget it and went from the top. the bolts can be removed from above with a flex head ratchet using a cheater on it to get more leverage. Of course my X is a California car so I don't have to deal with too mny bolts that are rusted.

I've done n52 and n55 only from top. I can't imagine any way it's easier to pull the starter out the bottom.

I'm impressed you got the inboard bolt out from above. I think on n55 and maybe n52 flipped the bolt to the front vs. the back.

I'm sure I removed the intake boot when doing the starter on the m54 which will be tricky if you never replaced as the factory installed the hose clamp from the bottom. I cut through the boot to remove when replaced.

That's right, I forgot, I think I had to remove the starter itself from the top even though the bolts are only accessible from down by the transfer case with 2 feet of extensions. What a disaster of a job huh?

I agree. There's no way working from the bottom is easier. Even pulling the manifold looks easier than working on my back under the car trying to get that starter out.