'95 E34 M50 manual M50 won't turn over.

[Marcusd]

I've tried jumping the car using some pretty thick leads connected to my running V6 Shogun, it still wouldn't crank.

The battery in the car had ran completely flat though so maybe not too good under load. I also tried connecting another car battery which I use in the caravan in parralel with jump leads so both were powering the car. It still wouldn't crank.

I'm not hearing the soleniod click so don't think the ignition sequence is getting that far. I was hoping for some magic start relay somewhere which was playing up, but I've now got both speakers off, the underside of the dash off and not found anything yet! Half the problem is that the realys and locations change from year to year, model to model.

I think I may have found the main EWS module though by looking at second hand ones on Ebay, it looks like its under the drivers side dash on a RHD model. I've seen a big yellow connector like the ones one Ebay whilst I've been poking around in there.

[Tiger]

When you are doing remote starter trigger, it doesn't matter if ignition is on or not. All we are trying to do is test the starter to see if it works.

So one small terminal is to throw the starter gear forward to engage... and one is to turn on the starter and spin the starter. The big wire to the starter is always hot. You can check with your multimeter.

You must remember... BMW immobilizer does NOT cut off the starter. You can always turn the engine over but won't start the car.

If you can't get your starter to make a noise, your starter is dead. Take it out and take it to any auto parts store and let them test it for free... it is most likely dead.

[whiskychaser]

I agree with Tiger. If you power up the solenoid, the starter should turn. I've not had my starter apart but on some cars the solenoid also engages the dog with the ring gear. So if you jumper the two large terminals it may spin but not engage. AFIK, there was a starter immobiliser relay fitted to E34s from EWS1?:
http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog...02/BMW_EWS.pdf
The dates in the file seem very late for Euro cars though

[Marcusd]

Hi, my car has EWSII, Ive found the contol module for it now. Yesterday, I tried it and got a very brief action from the starter then the lights dimmed.

I didn't seem to be getting good voltage at the main battery cable to the starter. It starts around 3V and gradually climbed. I tried re-earthing the engine to the chassis with a jump lead. I started removing the inlet manifold to have a look, but got stuck because of the 2 upside down nuts holding the manifold on from the outside. I can't get under the car in the position it's stranded on my drive.

As this is really just a parts car, I've decived to scrap it now as I don't want to spend anything on it to keep it running. If I could have got it relaibly starting fro no money it was viable. It's a shame though as not only was it in daily use when I took it off the road, but it has many new parts on it, from recent front strut inserts, aux fan, tyres etc..

It has to be relaibly mobile though so I can gegt my motorcycles and a caravan down the drive, so it's time for it to be recycled.

Many thanks for your help guys, but its not worth putting any more time into just to keep the car for parts.

[whiskychaser]

3 volts? That isnt going to power a bulb let alone the starter. Sounds like you a fusible link is shot. (You may well have 2)

[Tiger]

I agree with whiskychaser...It is such an easy fix. Whatever you do, I hope you get your money for your scrap car. Good junk yard pays for scrap car or donate it to some charity and get tax deduction. Just tell them that the car only has a starter issue.

If you got 12.6V at the battery and only 3V at the starter, it is the fusible link.

[Marcusd]

Sorry guys, that was a false alarm. I've just been and cleaned the contacts up on the starter and can get 12V on the main battery feed, but still not 12V on the top smaller contact, which Bentley think should also show 12V when the key is pressed.

Just a thought, but it will be very low on fuel as I cyphoned most of it out. I've never heard of E34's stopping the starter from activating if the fuel level is too low. But for the sake of £7, I might try putting a gallon of fuel in just to check it's not something silly.

The strange thing is, occasionally it fires the starter for a very brieft part of a second then stops. Maybe it's just the reaction time of the EWSII.

[whiskychaser]

Save the £7 - no way on this earth is low fuel going to stop the starter turning. Can you disconnect the small wire from the solenoid and test it for 12v when you turn the key? I say this because you may actually be getting a voltage on that wire but a fault in the starter could be dragging it down. That could give you a low/nil reading. A long shot but possibly easier than removing the inlet manifold. And yes, the two bracket bolts that go upwards are a real PITA. I can only get them with a short ring spanner and move them less than a 1/4 turn at a time

[Tiger]

He still need to get a cheapo remote starter trigger and hook from the big starter wire and another to one of the smaller terminal on the selenoid to see if the starter works!

[whiskychaser]

He still need to get a cheapo remote starter trigger and hook from the big starter wire and another to one of the smaller terminal on the selenoid to see if the starter works!

I agree. I'd just short them across with a screwdriver