Curiousity: Starter Issue.

[th3count]

Hello, Pelican Forum.
(1987 E30 325E)

I am by no means a mechanic, nor have i really done any work on my car besides change a light bulb, the rest is for my mechanic.

But im always curious as to what the issue could be before i take it in to get serviced.

Any responses greatly appreciated thanks in advance.

Starter/Ignition Issue.

i

Cold Days: Starter cranks over, then sticks. continues to grind for about 3-8 seconds.

REALLY COLD DAYS: Engine Barely Cranks over, does not start on first go, turn key back and remove key. starter still stuck and continues to grind until battery is unplugged or drained.

NO Problems during summer or once engine is hot.

[Manolito]

Something is hanging up in the solenoid or the engagement lever that runs from the solenoid to the starter gear. It is possible that the bolts that hold the solenoid to the starter, or the bolts that hold the nose on the starter, or the bolts that hold the starter to the bell housing are loose, and that is causing it to jamb, but more likely something is just really worn out.

You want to fix this sooner rather than later because having the starter hang up is chewing up the teeth in the flywheel/ring gear. If you ruin that, you will be pulling the tranny out to replace it.

Repair parts for starters are hard to find, because no one bothers to repair their own anymore. People just bolt on a complete rebuilt starter. A rebuilt starter will run you about $125 on line. You turn in the old starter and it gets sent to Mexico to be rebuilt.

Labor I don't know, because I have not done a starter on that model. It will be at least $125. On an e36/e46, labor to do a starter can run $600 because of all the stuff you have to take off to get to it.

If you decide to do it yourself, it won't take any really expensive tools, but you will likely own some really long socket extensions and universal joints for your socket set by the time you are done.