Help! Intermittent starting woes

[enzof355f430]

Check your starter relay. I had this exact same issue. The car would start fine sometimes and would randomly not start. I would hear an audible click and after a battery, a starter, and tons of swearing later, I swapped out the relay. Voila, haven't had the issue since. The greatest part was the starter change took nearly 10 hours thanks to a rounded off head on the upper bolt. Gotta love POs attempts at fixing things... Good Luck!
-Matt

[David.X5]

Where is that relay? Is that in addition to the solenoid on the starter?

[upallnight]

The relay is probably tie in with the EWS system since the EWS system must give its o.k. to send a current to the starter solenoid for the engine to start.

[enzof355f430]

If I remember correctly it's the green top relay in the DME box. I swapped it with a spare I had and it has NEVER done it again. Just an idea.

It might very well tie into the EWS. It is designed to just cut the starter right?! I know on my E46 M3 it cuts spark and fuel. But I know that is different from most BMWs. Just want to make sure it isn't the same with the E53.

-Matt

[David.X5]

This is a great tip. I've had that open, but completely forgot there were relays in that E-box.

I pawed through the Bentley electrical section and found a picture on page ECL-23. As always, Bentley knows...

This picture is for the 6-cylinder and M62TU. The N62 has it in a similar location, just slightly different parts

[enzof355f430]

So looks like a blue relay. I'd just swap them for a week and see if your situation gets better. Thanks for the photo!!
-Matt

[David.X5]

Man, they make this hard. Found it on realoem now, too.

A green relay - 61368373700

But it is called "Relais for starter K6324"


RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

[enzof355f430]

Haha they don't want you fixing it!
-Matt

[upallnight]

So technically you can just jumper this relay if you have a bad EWS module or a key with a bad chip.

[enzof355f430]

Is that a question or a statement?
-Matt