Starting Problems? - BMW Forum

thejobman · 05-02-2006, 07:39 PM

I drove my car today to pick up some take-out and my car did not start when I came back to it....

I thought this was very odd, since it didn’t even crank. It seemed like the battery was TOTALLY DEAD... I could not even get the door locks to work from the key fob.

Then I went to see if the takeout place had any drivers with jumper cables, but no luck. Came back, saw a woman exiting her car, asked, she had cables, but refused to help. Maybe she doesn’t like green bimmers. Bitch.

Got back into the car, tried starting it again.... and it successfully started... ??? I was happy, but very confused.

The time was wrong, as well as the date...? What happened? I have no clue....

Do you guys have any ideas on what the problem could be? I will try to get it checked out soon...

Thanks,

Eric S. · 05-02-2006, 08:03 PM

Man, that is irritating. Didn't you get a one month warranty or something when you got the car a week ago?

I think I've read threads describing similar symptoms. Do a search here and on roadfly (http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e39/).

Good luck to you. I have no clue, but would be interested in hearing what happened. My battery died last November, but it was pretty cut and dried - no mysterious coming back to life or anything...

:

PS - Just remember that you are going through an assimilation period and there will be multiple little things like this to vex you, but once you get them straightened out, you will truly begin to appreciate your new 540. In my case all it took was driving my erstwhile 1991 Civic Si for two weeks while my 540 was on jackstands. I'm all giddy again now that my 540 is BACK!!!!

saltshaker185 · 05-02-2006, 09:39 PM

have you checked to see if your battery cables are on tight and not corroaded?

thejobman · 05-03-2006, 10:38 AM

Saltshaker, I think you must be right. At the point of sale, the dealer had to quickly reset the alarm/pager device by disconnecting the battery terminals. He may not have properly reconnected them...

I drove the car plenty more after the starting problem... and it started OK, every time consistently. I will probably get it checked out this weekend, but I hope its nothing...

On a side note... I hit my first Apex last night

wow, this car VERY easy to toss around, and even easier to catch

What 1/4 mile times does this car normally run? 14.2? I will be taking it to Raceway Park soon to run it, I will let you guys know how that works out...

Thanks for all the input,

Eric S. · 05-03-2006, 12:38 PM

Make sure you switch "off" the Downright Scary Control, a.k.a. "DSC" at any dragstrip.

Once the scariness is "uncontrolled" (and the ABS/traction control system is disabled), the 540/6 really scoots! You'll also probably immediately see the severely stupid mistake BMW made in not provided the 540 a limited slip differential. Doughnuts are harder to do if only one wheel is spinning!

One data bit I found was for a 1998 540/6 (which as you may know has a little less torque than the '99 and up). It did 0 to 60 in 5.5, and the Quarter mile was in 14.0 (no trap speed given). Here is the link:
http://www.angelfire.com/pa3/ford/performance1.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/pa3/ford/performance1.htm

zhobo · 09-14-2006, 09:44 AM

I have a 1989 325I convertible that is starting to do the same thing.I have changed the battery and it still does the same.My next step is changing the cables.If anyone has an answer please let me know .Thanks

When it happens ,I can jump it off and it will crank fine.http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/ima...s/confused.gif

used: