[N55_X3]

Hi, after 7 trouble free months since ownership I finally having a problem. The X3 won't always start. Starter won't turn over. Car will give me a bunch of errors like flat tire and 4x4 and stability systems error.

It happens to my wife 2 days ago and I'm having problems today, 100km from home, deep in the wood…

I do have my laptop and cable so I ran Ista to see the codes. In fact, I pulled the codes twice, clearing them again and then trying to start the car so I can see if the same code reappeared. Two of them, (Engine fan and DSC error) always came back and I had some Messages errors and once a Starter timeout error.

I'm alone so it's not easy to listen under the hood while starting with all the ding ding emitted from the dash but I think I can hear the starter click and even trying to turn the engine but really weakly and for just a brief moment.

Battery is new from last week, good connections.

Anyone else had starter failure on their X3 35i?

[najnad]

did you register the new battery? Random codes suggest that could be an issue.

[N55_X3]

Yes I did register the battery replacement. I replaced it with the same oem one.

I'll try to find someone to listen under the hood, to be certain it clicks or turn over slightly…

I was able to start it a few minutes ago. Just hope it start at the end of my shift!!

[383vett]

Did you test the new battery? Maybe it has a bad cell.

[N55_X3]

I looked at the battery charging state for the last 5 days in Ista and it's all over 80% so I think she's good.

I hate those intermittent problems…

I don't have a multimeter here to test stuff.

Maybe the ground strap is rotting away…

[N55_X3]

I went through all of the Internet and YouTube and I tough it was a bad starter since I can hear the click or starter slowly engaging.

I did, of course, check the battery's post for tightness and every other connectors in the battery compartment.

Last week, when I changed the battery I notice some rust on the trunk floor to the right of the battery. I saw some rust around the round thing were the positive cable connect or go through the floor but I didn't look more closely at it and forgot about it.

I just open the plastic cap on the thing and off course I can't barely see the cable-end through the rust… I'm pretty sure this is the source of all my voltage supply error I had for a few months…

Maybe it's wishful thinking, zero dollar repair but it makes sense! I'll fix this tonight, if I can get home...

[383vett]

Originally Posted by N55_X3

I went through all of the Internet and YouTube and I tough it was a bad starter since I can hear the click or starter slowly engaging.

I did, of course, check the battery's post for tightness and every other connectors in the battery compartment.

Last week, when I changed the battery I notice some rust on the trunk floor to the right of the battery. I saw some rust around the round thing were the positive cable connect or go through the floor but I didn't look more closely at it and forgot about it.

I just open the plastic cap on the thing and off course I can't barely see the cable-end through the rust… I'm pretty sure this is the source of all my voltage supply error I had for a few months…

Maybe it's wishful thinking, zero dollar repair but it makes sense! I'll fix this tonight, if I can get home...

Good luck!

[N55_X3]

Pretty sure I fixed it. The 13mm nut that hold the positive cable to the connector on the trunk floor is now a piece of rust no more than 10mm , rounded and not tight.

I wire brushed everything, cleaned, put some dielectric grease and a new nut.