Starter sound

mecheng77 · 12-04-2017, 10:32 AM

Just got my battery tested and it exceeded
The CCA spec. My car starter sounds somewhat anemic or so I
Think. The car is new to me so I don't know how it should sound.
The car only has 104,000 km so I can't see how it can be a starter.
I cleaned the ground on passenger engine bay which looked
Fine. I also cleaned the connection point for the ground on the drivers
Side underneath the engine. The braid was a bit green but this should
Just be surface corrosion correct? I think starter is grounded separately but
As you know it is under the intake manifold. I've never replaced a starter
On my Volvo or Honda and they have much more mileage. Could it be getting
Weak or is there anything else to check?,

tlow98 · 12-04-2017, 02:32 PM

I've driven several N52s and oddly they all sounded a bit different at startup. My personal car sounds the slowest or weakest at startup, but it's sounded the same for 2.5 years on the original 2009 battery and I've had zero issues.

My starter also makes the occasional buzz noise after ignition which some people indicate are the symptoms of a failing starter, but it's so random and works fine 99% of the time so at this point I don't worry.

Car has 80k miles on it for referance.

mecheng77 · 12-04-2017, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlow98

I've driven several N52s and oddly they all sounded a bit different at startup. My personal car sounds the slowest or weakest at startup, but it's sounded the same for 2.5 years on the original 2009 battery and I've had zero issues.

My starter also makes the occasional buzz noise after ignition which some people indicate are the symptoms of a failing starter, but it's so random and works fine 99% of the time so at this point I don't worry.

Car has 80k miles on it for referance.

Interesting, my starter doesn't make a buzzing noise after
Starting. I guess I will just try to ignore the sound.
The sound doesn't inspire confidence.

I will Carry a long screw driver just in case I need to tap it.

mecheng77 · 12-06-2017, 02:18 PM

Any other input?

MysticRob · 12-06-2017, 02:40 PM

What does sounds somewhat anemic mean?
The engine doesn't crank over normally and quickly before starting?
It goes, rurrr... rurrr... rurrr, and not rruuurrrStart? LOL

GoRomeo · 12-06-2017, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticRob

What does sounds somewhat anemic mean?
The engine doesn't crank over normally and quickly before starting?
It goes, rurrr... rurrr... rurrr, and not rruuurrrStart? LOL

mecheng77 · 12-07-2017, 06:46 PM

I posted a clip of a cold start, in my garage around 8C ambient

https://youtu.be/7K2388fRRQY

BimmerNugget · 12-07-2017, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I posted a clip of a cold start, in my garage around 8C ambient

The cranking does sound a little weak. My 2011 328i 61k miles cranks much easier than in your video. Even from a cold start at 25 degrees F. this morning.

bennye90 · 12-07-2017, 11:29 PM

328xi e90
Cold start - 2-3 cranks before starting
Warm start - 1 crank and immediate start

mecheng77 · 12-08-2017, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

The cranking does sound a little weak. My 2011 328i 61k miles cranks much easier than in your video. Even from a cold start at 25 degrees F. this morning.

Thanks, do you know what could be the cause if the battery is fine.

BimmerNugget · 12-08-2017, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennye90

328xi e90
Cold start - 2-3 cranks before starting
Warm start - 1 crank and immediate start

Yep, mine is exactly the same. When it's 10 degrees F to 40 degrees F, it does about 2-3 cranks and it starts right up.

After engine is warm, only 1 crank, maybe 2 cranks to re start back up.

MysticRob · 12-08-2017, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

Thanks, do you know what could be the cause if the battery is fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

Yep, mine is exactly the same. When it's 10 degrees F to 40 degrees F, it does about 2-3 cranks and it starts right up.

After engine is warm, only 1 crank, maybe 2 cranks to re start back up.

Sounds like cold engine parts and thick oil to me. Go with thinner winter oil when it's cold?

bennye90 · 12-09-2017, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticRob

Sounds like cold engine parts and thick oil to me. Go with thinner winter oil when it's cold?

Yeah I use 0w40. Haven’t had any concerns with my cranks. Similar to other vehicles in my family.

TheeGovernor · 12-09-2017, 01:02 PM

Check the ground strap? they are known to go bad.

mecheng77 · 12-09-2017, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheeGovernor

Check the ground strap? they are known to go bad.

Which one, I found one under the car, cleaned it but
It was a bit green. Drivers side under belly pan.

The passenger cable engine bay was fine, cleaned it too.

Once the car warms up it starts ' more healthy '

Nick.B · 12-15-2017, 05:10 AM

An engine with cold oil will crank a little slower. How much slower depends on the starter and the battery.

My 330 had similar issues with slow cranking while cold. I didn't realize until I bought the wife her 330 how slow mine was cranking when warm. Hers would crank nearly the same speed hot or cold and crank fast. Mine, not so much.

Replaced the ground strap. It was so corroded it was stiff. No difference. Replaced the battery. No difference. Replaced the starter, and it cranks over cold just like the wife's 330.

Got a 335 a while back, and it cranks great hot or cold, as long as the battery has a charge. If it sits too long, it cranks real slow. It needs a battery.

tlow98 · 12-16-2017, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick.B

An engine with cold oil will crank a little slower. How much slower depends on the starter and the battery.

My 330 had similar issues with slow cranking while cold. I didn't realize until I bought the wife her 330 how slow mine was cranking when warm. Hers would crank nearly the same speed hot or cold and crank fast. Mine, not so much.

Replaced the ground strap. It was so corroded it was stiff. No difference. Replaced the battery. No difference. Replaced the starter, and it cranks over cold just like the wife's 330.

Got a 335 a while back, and it cranks great hot or cold, as long as the battery has a charge. If it sits too long, it cranks real slow. It needs a battery.

This seems to corroborate my experience with the starters, as well. I've had a feeling my starter was meh when I picked up the car, but it's worked for 20k miles, so I'm sort of ambivalent at this point.

mecheng77 · 12-18-2017, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick.B

An engine with cold oil will crank a little slower. How much slower depends on the starter and the battery.

My 330 had similar issues with slow cranking while cold. I didn't realize until I bought the wife her 330 how slow mine was cranking when warm. Hers would crank nearly the same speed hot or cold and crank fast. Mine, not so much.

Replaced the ground strap. It was so corroded it was stiff. No difference. Replaced the battery. No difference. Replaced the starter, and it cranks over cold just like the wife's 330.

Got a 335 a while back, and it cranks great hot or cold, as long as the battery has a charge. If it sits too long, it cranks real slow. It needs a battery.

Ok, so when you replaced the starter on your 330, it was still starting okay but the new starter works better?

mecheng77 · 01-01-2018, 10:27 AM

Ok so I hooked up a jumper cable from my engine to the ground and the car started much quicker.

What ground commonly goes bad?

12-04-2017, 10:32 AM	#1
mecheng77 Colonel 1007 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	Starter sound Just got my battery tested and it exceeded The CCA spec. My car starter sounds somewhat anemic or so I Think. The car is new to me so I don't know how it should sound. The car only has 104,000 km so I can't see how it can be a starter. I cleaned the ground on passenger engine bay which looked Fine. I also cleaned the connection point for the ground on the drivers Side underneath the engine. The braid was a bit green but this should Just be surface corrosion correct? I think starter is grounded separately but As you know it is under the intake manifold. I've never replaced a starter On my Volvo or Honda and they have much more mileage. Could it be getting Weak or is there anything else to check?, Attached Images
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12-04-2017, 02:32 PM	#2
tlow98 Major General 2191 Rep 5,007 Posts Drives: 2009 E91, 2014 F15 x35i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (2)	I've driven several N52s and oddly they all sounded a bit different at startup. My personal car sounds the slowest or weakest at startup, but it's sounded the same for 2.5 years on the original 2009 battery and I've had zero issues. My starter also makes the occasional buzz noise after ignition which some people indicate are the symptoms of a failing starter, but it's so random and works fine 99% of the time so at this point I don't worry. Car has 80k miles on it for referance.
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12-06-2017, 02:18 PM	#4
mecheng77 Colonel 1007 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	Any other input?
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12-06-2017, 02:40 PM	#5
MysticRob Captain 573 Rep 870 Posts Drives: 2009 335i E90 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Fremont, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i E90 S ... [10.00]	What does sounds somewhat anemic mean? The engine doesn't crank over normally and quickly before starting? It goes, rurrr... rurrr... rurrr, and not rruuurrrStart? LOL __________________ 2008 E61 535xi Sport Wagon / 100k Miles / Deep Sea Blue Metallic / Natural Brown Interior / MHD Stage 1 91 CA-Octane Tune. SOLD - 2009 E90 335i M-Sport Sedan / 143k Miles / Alpine White Exterior / Chestnut Brown Interior / Mishimoto FMIC / xHP Stage 2.
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12-07-2017, 06:46 PM	#7
mecheng77 Colonel 1007 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	I posted a clip of a cold start, in my garage around 8C ambient https://youtu.be/7K2388fRRQY
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12-07-2017, 11:29 PM	#9
bennye90 Private First Class 41 Rep 108 Posts Drives: E90 328xi Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	328xi e90 Cold start - 2-3 cranks before starting Warm start - 1 crank and immediate start
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12-09-2017, 01:02 PM	#14
TheeGovernor Life is better with burnouts 98 Rep 611 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Mile High iTrader: (4) Garage List 1996 Toyota Forklift [0.00] 2007 BMW 335i [0.00]	Check the ground strap? they are known to go bad.
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12-15-2017, 05:10 AM	#16
Nick.B Second Lieutenant 57 Rep 273 Posts Drives: 335i, 330i, 335xi, 6MT sport Join Date: May 2014 Location: Calgary, Canada iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 335i [0.00] 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	An engine with cold oil will crank a little slower. How much slower depends on the starter and the battery. My 330 had similar issues with slow cranking while cold. I didn't realize until I bought the wife her 330 how slow mine was cranking when warm. Hers would crank nearly the same speed hot or cold and crank fast. Mine, not so much. Replaced the ground strap. It was so corroded it was stiff. No difference. Replaced the battery. No difference. Replaced the starter, and it cranks over cold just like the wife's 330. Got a 335 a while back, and it cranks great hot or cold, as long as the battery has a charge. If it sits too long, it cranks real slow. It needs a battery.
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01-01-2018, 10:27 AM	#19
mecheng77 Colonel 1007 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	Ok so I hooked up a jumper cable from my engine to the ground and the car started much quicker. What ground commonly goes bad?
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