M54 starter, diy, video, writeup, info
 

1) master new key $160.00
2) new bosch battery $120.00
3) now starter ????

Car wouldnt start... made one tik noise like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYRyWY9xhpI

looks like Alex will be replacing the starter on his X5 now... Can anyone give some helpful advice, info, anything....maybe someone even wants to sponser? :dunno:


in advance, thank you fellow BMW friends.
your the best, when it comes to BMW talk.

That Tik noise sound like your battery is not fully charged yet...that's why when you star the car the headlights automatic turn on with out you turning the headlights .

thanks for the reply my friend. Indeed I checked the battery first. And to be on the safe side I replaced it again now, So new battery in, Same problem. Thought it was the key... ews codes... So resynched/allighned the ews with dme and new master key. didnt solve it. New battery still does the same. I wish I could just hit my starter.. that trick should work. But i dont even know how to get to it yet.

Are you charging you battery beforehand. It's always good pratice to charge the battery when bought from the store before popping it it. Consider it a top off

guys, guys... I already changed battery. and key. I need instructions on changing starter.. or any help with that. because you need to take out the intake manifold. than use an e21 inverted torx wrench. than do more stuff under the car lifted... ?

Sounds like the starter solenoid to me, if you get it out and are fairly competent. strip and rebuild with new bearings, brushes and solenoid.
Will save you a fortune and there are ''how to'' do it in various forums
Lez

meh, I dont have the e21 torx inclined wrench.
So, im paying 600 to get it fixed

OUCH

yes if its under 600 i would be happy. the part is 300. oe starter. and the labor is 150+ and i need to get it towed. Lets see what its going to cost at the end. I loved BMW since I was a kid, the kidney grills attracted me to it and that's how I identified a BMW as a kid back in the day. Now that I finally have my first BMW, I just want to smack some sense into the engineers that made it. A few common BMW flaws make it not the most ultimate machine to drive. I wish the starter was visible and not such a pain in the ass. I would just hit it with a hammer right now, hopping the bushings would move inside, start her up and drive it to the garage to work on...

Looks like they need to remove the intake manifold in order to remove the starter. Should replace the intake manifold gasket at this time, if you haven't done a CCV service now will be a good time to do that also, as well as replace the rubber intake boot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcIDpQnFdyE

FML

my intake manifold gasket was just replaced. again?
CCV/PCV done.
rubber intake boot also done...

in the end it was the starter stud. so electrical connection.... $110
better than paying for a starter. however now i know how to get to the starter and the ews system and i have another key...