Thank you for putting together such a clear, concise and realistic video on this. I'm facing the same job and have a question. 3 wires are removed form the Solenoid. Main Power is the larger cable, Ignition Switch Signal is the 8mm nut, but what is the 3rd one? A ground perhaps? What's going on with my E38 is the Switch terminal is only getting ~8 volts and not even producing a click. Relay output inside the E-box works fine, its output terminal has battery voltage when key is in Start. Pretty sure I need to clean up the connections at the solenoid, but I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I jump in. Ideally, I'd be removing the sub-harness and cleaning/rehabbing it on the bench. Perhaps you know a few things that might make this easier?
Dude just saved me so much time. I gotta do this in the morning. Mine is doing that click thing without turning the car over. I know it's the starter. It does it every once in a while. Just one click. Then I turn the key off and try again and it fires right up. So I didn't bother fixing it. But it has been sitting for two years. The Mrs totalled two cars in the last 6 months and so we gotta drive my car now. So I pulled it out and dusted it off and today went to start it after driving it for two days and it usually starts up after doing that thud click one time. But this time it just kept doing it. Did it maybe 10 times. Never had that happen. Just payed over a grand in insurance and 500 in tires and oil and misc to spruce her up and in the last few days and it's now on only car and I can't have it leaving her stranded across town at work. Since it's are only car now. So I'm am very glad there is more room to fish out that starter then I was initially thinking. After watching this I know it's going to be cake. Just worried about it being seized to the Trans like In the video. Went to throw a new set of wheels on the other day trying to rob them off the car that just got totalled so I didn't have to buy another set of new tires in two months and my wheel was seized on which I got off after a couple good kicks but then it didn't want to go back on lol. So I have to sand off the corrosion and rub on a little pb blaster and then it went right back on. Sorry for the blabbing. Just can't wait to lay on my back tomorrow and fish that mother out.
yes very good ,step by step.I smoked my starter 740i 94 few days ago. now it is not douiig nothing no more. But i probely have to do it from the gound. Put the car on some blocks and do it like you showed. thanks for the good explication. grts from belgium geert
Nicely done video. Clear and concise. You made the effort to let us see everything you were doing. Well done. I only wish you had shown the steps you took that proved the starter was the problem. I have an 03 540 that won't crank (just one click). I've thrown so many parts at this car over the years that I wonder if I'm really replacing bad parts or if I just have a bad connection, bad sensor, or something simple going on. Just a thought.
Keep in mind I'm just a BMW owner. What was happening on this car was that there was a bit of a grinding noise happening at start up, just as the engine fired. I suspect that the gear on the starter was not retracting well from the big gear on the flex plate, and that it would get worse over time. Maybe I could have cleaned and lubricated the shaft that the little gear slides on, but I suspect that the teeth on the starter would be somewhat damaged, and the rest of the starter probably had 80k miles on it anyway, so I decided to replace it.
Update to my previous post here. Turns out, I didn't have a bad starter. I had oil dripping down from the engine. The oil dripped down the electrical wire from the starter and fouled the connection at the plug. Cleaned the plug, and moved the wire so oil could not drip into the plug. No more starter problems. Just need to deal with the leak.
Great video. Really good video work and dictated well, easily understood. That really helps when learning how to fix something. How long did it take you to remove and reinstall the new starter?
First off thank you for a great video! My problem is big hands! I have remove the splash guard and the heat shield, cleaned both of them. Was able to loosen the bottom bolt of the starter, the access to the top bolt is insane! I can only get partially on it, not enough to bite! Did you loosen the exhaust pipe connector bushing to gain better access? I have 1998 540ia. The upper starter securing bolt It is a real tight access! Thanks again!
My 2002 540i has a buzz grinding sound for a split second at every startup. Could be the starter solenoid sticking to flywheel. Is there a way to solve this issue before needing to replace the starter? Will it damage my flywheel and or starter prematurely? Thanks for any advice or guidance
@@dlunderdahl understood, so the other way the starter can fail is the electric motors not cranking at all. From what I understand is that the solenoid gear noise is the result of it spinning faster than its should while still connected to the flywheels ring gear. Somewhat similar to a ratcheting wrench spinning freely.
Great Job! Great Video! WOW !!!!!!! Thank You !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for putting together such a clear, concise and realistic video on this. I'm facing the same job and have a question. 3 wires are removed form the Solenoid. Main Power is the larger cable, Ignition Switch Signal is the 8mm nut, but what is the 3rd one? A ground perhaps? What's going on with my E38 is the Switch terminal is only getting ~8 volts and not even producing a click. Relay output inside the E-box works fine, its output terminal has battery voltage when key is in Start. Pretty sure I need to clean up the connections at the solenoid, but I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I jump in. Ideally, I'd be removing the sub-harness and cleaning/rehabbing it on the bench. Perhaps you know a few things that might make this easier?
I currently have to do this with my '99 e39 540i. This is a pain in my butt. Thank you for the video!
Dude just saved me so much time. I gotta do this in the morning. Mine is doing that click thing without turning the car over. I know it's the starter. It does it every once in a while. Just one click. Then I turn the key off and try again and it fires right up. So I didn't bother fixing it. But it has been sitting for two years. The Mrs totalled two cars in the last 6 months and so we gotta drive my car now. So I pulled it out and dusted it off and today went to start it after driving it for two days and it usually starts up after doing that thud click one time. But this time it just kept doing it. Did it maybe 10 times. Never had that happen. Just payed over a grand in insurance and 500 in tires and oil and misc to spruce her up and in the last few days and it's now on only car and I can't have it leaving her stranded across town at work. Since it's are only car now. So I'm am very glad there is more room to fish out that starter then I was initially thinking. After watching this I know it's going to be cake. Just worried about it being seized to the Trans like In the video. Went to throw a new set of wheels on the other day trying to rob them off the car that just got totalled so I didn't have to buy another set of new tires in two months and my wheel was seized on which I got off after a couple good kicks but then it didn't want to go back on lol. So I have to sand off the corrosion and rub on a little pb blaster and then it went right back on. Sorry for the blabbing. Just can't wait to lay on my back tomorrow and fish that mother out.
Damn it i think this is TRULY ONE OR THE SECOND BEST VIDEO IVE WATCHED VERY VERY DETAILED AND STEP BY STEP AND VISUALLY DONE GREAT JOB AND VIDEO 👌
yes very good ,step by step.I smoked my starter 740i 94 few days ago. now it is not douiig nothing no more. But i probely have to do it from the gound. Put the car on some blocks and do it like you showed. thanks for the good explication. grts from belgium geert
Nicely done video. Clear and concise. You made the effort to let us see everything you were doing. Well done. I only wish you had shown the steps you took that proved the starter was the problem. I have an 03 540 that won't crank (just one click). I've thrown so many parts at this car over the years that I wonder if I'm really replacing bad parts or if I just have a bad connection, bad sensor, or something simple going on. Just a thought.
Keep in mind I'm just a BMW owner. What was happening on this car was that there was a bit of a grinding noise happening at start up, just as the engine fired. I suspect that the gear on the starter was not retracting well from the big gear on the flex plate, and that it would get worse over time. Maybe I could have cleaned and lubricated the shaft that the little gear slides on, but I suspect that the teeth on the starter would be somewhat damaged, and the rest of the starter probably had 80k miles on it anyway, so I decided to replace it.
Update to my previous post here. Turns out, I didn't have a bad starter. I had oil dripping down from the engine. The oil dripped down the electrical wire from the starter and fouled the connection at the plug. Cleaned the plug, and moved the wire so oil could not drip into the plug. No more starter problems. Just need to deal with the leak.
Reminds me about starter replacement on 2004 BMW325i
where can i buy the ratchet wrench that you used
Thanks for that and excellently explained
This is a very helpful video.
Great video. Really good video work and dictated well, easily understood. That really helps when learning how to fix something. How long did it take you to remove and reinstall the new starter?
Probably about two hours - but I'm rather slow when it comes to these types of tasks.
First off thank you for a great video!
My problem is big hands!
I have remove the splash guard and the heat shield, cleaned both of them.
Was able to loosen the bottom bolt of the starter, the access to the top bolt is insane!
I can only get partially on it, not enough to bite!
Did you loosen the exhaust pipe connector bushing to gain better access?
I have 1998 540ia.
The upper starter securing bolt It is a real tight access!
Thanks again!
My 2002 540i has a buzz grinding sound for a split second at every startup. Could be the starter solenoid sticking to flywheel. Is there a way to solve this issue before needing to replace the starter? Will it damage my flywheel and or starter prematurely? Thanks for any advice or guidance
That same noise is why I replaced mine.
@@dlunderdahl understood, so the other way the starter can fail is the electric motors not cranking at all. From what I understand is that the solenoid gear noise is the result of it spinning faster than its should while still connected to the flywheels ring gear. Somewhat similar to a ratcheting wrench spinning freely.
I like your tool. but they should reinvent the plastic
Try FCPEURO.com for your BMW items. I have a 1999 740i. Great company, lifetime warranty. I have use them for many parts.
easier than 6 cylinder bimmerz