bmw wont start

dennyire

My 2003 bmw 520 i petrol with high mileage wont start

Fine all over Christmas until last night

Thought it might be battery but all lights, electrics fine

Tried jump starting today , turned a little but wouldnt catch

Turned off and tried again but just getting click click click sound

Lights / Electrics still ok

Tried rocking it in reverse but no good

Could it be starting motor?

Anyone know
a cheap mechanic south Dublin or any suggestions?

Thanks

Denny

Owen

As per your duplicate thread in the Motors Forum, it is your battery. You'll have enough juice in it to power the low consumption devices like lights, radio, wipers, but not enough to engage the starter. The click click click is the tell tale sign here.

dennyire

PaintDoctor wrote: »

As per your duplicate thread in the Motors Forum, it is your battery. You'll have enough juice in it to power the low consumption devices like lights, radio, wipers, but not enough to engage the starter. The click click click is the tell tale sign here.

Thanks Paint Doctor

Im told battery is under rear seat ( too dark and wet now to look at this, and no manual ), but friend who is in motor trade told me to connect positive to positive under bonnet and earth negative to body of car which I did, but maybe where I connected it on body wasnt strong enough to take charge

Anan1

dennyire wrote: »

Thanks Paint Doctor

Im told battery is under rear seat ( too dark and wet now to look at this, and no manual ), but friend who is in motor trade told me to connect positive to positive under bonnet and earth negative to body of car which I did, but maybe where I connected it on body wasnt strong enough to take charge

It may be that, it may be the jump leads, or it may be the donor car you're using. Either way, your immediate problem is the battery - that clicking noise is the starter solenoid engaging. How long has the battery been in the car? If you're sure there's no good reason why it went flat it's probably easiest just to replace it now.

Captain Slow IRL

The battery should be in the boot - behind the drivers side wheel, in a recess! You may have to strip some trim pieces to access it.

bmw535d

dennyire wrote: »

My 2003 bmw 520 i petrol with high mileage wont start

Fine all over Christmas until last night

Thought it might be battery but all lights, electrics fine

Tried jump starting today , turned a little but wouldnt catch

Turned off and tried again but just getting click click click sound

Lights / Electrics still ok

Tried rocking it in reverse but no good

Could it be starting motor?

Anyone know
a cheap mechanic south Dublin or any suggestions?

Thanks

Denny

first of is it an e60 or an e39? the latter will be a problem with the ibs lead, the exact same thing happened me and it cost me 240 euro to fix. search mt threads to read more. just getting a new battery will only lead the problem to present next year. the old ibs leads fail because of moisture, the new ones are sealed.