BMW 328xi starts with jump but will not start otherwise

Guys,

Looking for some suggestions. My 07 328xi will start when I jump it. So I figured the battery was dead, went out bought a new one. Go to start it and just get a click. When I jump it the car runs fine, shut it down and will not power back up on its own. Any suggestions. Thanks

When you jump it, are you using the jump point under the hood or at the battery?


If you're using the point under the hood then, at a guess, one of the cables running from the battery is loose at the far end or is defective, preventing the battery from being in the circuit. I'd think you could check the continuity with a VOM.

If you are jumping it at the battery and this happens, then I have no clue (not an uncommon occurrence).

After I put the new battery in everything inside lights up, so the car is getting power but when I hit the start button I just get a click. This is with the new battery. Again, with a jump it will start and runs fine.

Originally Posted by vkuchin

After I put the new battery in everything inside lights up, so the car is getting power but when I hit the start button I just get a click. This is with the new battery. Again, with a jump it will start and runs fine.

Yup, but if it's a defective connection or cable, it can easily pass enough current to light the electronics, but not enough to engage the starter.

Have you tried jumping it (carefully) at the battery?

Alternately, put a volt meter on the battery when you try to start it after running the engine for a few minutes. Is the voltage +/- 13 volts before you try to turn it over? Does it drop (and how big is the drop) when you press the start button? If you then put the volt meter at the jump point under the hood, do you see the same response when you try to start it off the battery?

I will check the volts today and get back to you. Thanks for your help

Originally Posted by vkuchin

After I put the new battery in everything inside lights up, so the car is getting power but when I hit the start button I just get a click. This is with the new battery. Again, with a jump it will start and runs fine.

Take it to someone who knows how to troubleshoot it. That of course wouldn't be here.

Dealer comes to mind.

You might want to read codes thrown if a dedicated DIY'er. Then check voltage @ various points under load & not, starting [Har!] at the starter motor; working back.

Practice this mantra in a sing-song East Indian monotone as you work: "Electrical shock is a nasty knock."

And if you decide to take it to a dealer, by all means have them register the battery.

Tom

What do you mean register the battery? Its the same exact battery from bmw dealer, does that matter?

Originally Posted by Tom K.

And if you decide to take it to a dealer, by all means have them register the battery.

Hold the presses!

OP, you did not register the battery?

Click on the link and look CLOSELY at the boldface warning, end o'Post #2, in case you meant it's a 'crossout' for the BMW battery.

Other useful ref's:

DIY - Battery R&R
DIY - E9x Coding

Alternative:

Your dealer will code your battery, a few $, maybe 0.5 hr.

Originally Posted by vkuchin

What do you mean register the battery? Its the same exact battery from bmw dealer, does that matter?

The rate of charge in a modern BMW is controlled by the IBS (Intelligent Battery Sensor) which resides in the negative cable. Any new battery (including BMW OEM) MUST be registered to enable it to play nice with the IBS - otherwise an over or undercharging condidtion may result, neither of which is good for the electrical system.

Incidentally, there are a number of different OEM batteries for an E9x 328i - I hope you have the right one.

At any rate as Cal suggested, it's time for you to spend a few $$ at your dealer.

Tom

I have heard a faulty IBS can prevent the car from starting .
There are a lot of wires on top of the battery distribution block on top of the
battery did they all get back to the right slots?
Some of the slots are not connected and do not have the fusible links mentioned
in the following attachment.

registering the battery is a software reset that tells the car is has a new battery .
The software adjusts the charging rate according to the age and condition of the battery .
I doubt if its the reason why the car won't start its a long term concern though.
If the IBS is Intelligent why can't it recognize a new battery is what I sometimes wonder.

One trick I have heard is disconnection at the battery distribution block of the the IBS Cable to try and start the car.

Also did you check to see if your new battery has a full charge?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...k_XzWUp117E7XQ

There are 4 hot lines going toward the front of the car if you can measure the voltage at there connection point in the
front to make sure you have voltage there.
Occums Razor theory says if the battery is good you did not connect something back up right.
Or you could have a bad IBS.

Just thought of this
The car has and explosive device designed to cut power to the engine when in and accident.
It severs the Hot Line to the Engine and I don't know what else in an accident . It's possible its
defective or were you in enough of and accident to have caused it to fire.
Its described in the link I believe.

See page 7 in the link.

I have been having the same starting problems. my car jump starts but once i shut it off it will not start back on its own. I ended up buying a battery from the dealer. The guy in the parts department told me if i had a white battery in my car it did not need reprogramming. i also double checked this with the service department and they told me the same thing. They said if i had a black battery whicch his higher ampage i would need to reprogram(register) Oh i have a 2006 330xi i dont know if its different for other models.