kinda hard to start engine

MrBBQwer · 01-17-2010, 08:41 PM

Hi Guys,

need some help, for the past 5days the car struggling to start up. car is 2 years 4 months. the last service was 25 may 2009 , and still have 11,000 kms to go before next service.

what happen is, every morning when the engine is cold, when i start the engine, the sounds struggling to start ( its like dragging the engine sounds 2seconds before it start ) , normally when press start button, the engine start right away. I hope i describe it correctly.
note: happen all the time in when the engine COLD.

is it because dirty sparks plug ? any chance i can fix the car on my own ? so i can save some money from dealer. my last service receipt saying the car warranty until 26 oct 2010 ( so i assume my car has 3 years warranty ) but im afraid it doesnt cover this problem.

cheers

bcoz · 01-17-2010, 09:03 PM

Unless your battery is low/drained, then a 2+ year old car should have no problems starting. Whatever the cause of the problem, it sounds like it should be covered by warranty (warranty is 3 years from first registration).

In that case I would take it to the dealer and let them sort it out (if they can't reproduce the problem after letting it cool for a few hours, they may have to keep it overnight).

MFKN3 · 01-17-2010, 10:17 PM

low battery or fuel pump failing maybe?

MrBBQwer · 01-17-2010, 10:50 PM

low battery cover by warranty or not?

MFKN3 · 01-17-2010, 10:53 PM

No, I wouldn't imagine so, and it's not entirely uncommon for a battery to die after 2-3yrs. It may not be the battery though, do you get a low battery warning on the dash?

MrBBQwer · 01-17-2010, 11:01 PM

no low battery sign...

MrBBQwer · 01-17-2010, 11:08 PM

just call bmw sydney, the only choice to get the car check. but its 10th Februari, im not even sure if the car can survive until the date

WOPALX · 01-17-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBBQwer

just call bmw sydney, the only choice to get the car check. but its 10th Februari, im not even sure if the car can survive until the date

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Mine has been taking progressively longer to start for the past month or so, booked it in today for the 9th for a new HPFP. Confident it will last until then but if it doesn't then shit happens.

Have you thought to try BMW Northshore, new ownership there now and they may have a loan car available sooner?

MrBBQwer · 01-25-2010, 07:51 AM

Guys, Anyone familiar with idle sounds from engine? sounds like ticking tek tek tek tek tek tek.

MrBBQwer · 02-11-2010, 07:09 PM

Hi Wopalx

How did you go with your car? I just got a call from BMW sydney, and there is a problem with the cold start + ticking sound, so im going to get my car back today and they are ordering piston from germany to replace it, so i be back next month again

Z320i · 02-11-2010, 07:33 PM

i'm really worried abt that tik tik sound u mention not being normal?
which dealer told u that?
as all these bmws i have heard tik, its normal valve tronic sound apparently (so i'm told mostly through the forum here)

MrBBQwer · 02-11-2010, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z320i

i'm really worried abt that tik tik sound u mention not being normal?
which dealer told u that?
as all these bmws i have heard tik, its normal valve tronic sound apparently (so i'm told mostly through the forum here)

tik tik sound clearly not normal. BMW sydney told me. my car is getting worst week by week during cold start. bmw told me, the piston ( tik tik sound ) is the caused for the struggling cold start.

E92325i · 02-11-2010, 09:26 PM

The lifter ticking noise on the N52 engines is a known problem, a new cylinder head was designed and is being fitted to cars starting production sometime in early 2008 onwards. The noise is said to be harmless but if you get bmw to acknowledge the noise then they will (should) replace the 12 lifters on the exhaust side (?)

I've got the service bulletin somewhere if you really want it. It's the revised January 2010 one from memory.

WOPALX · 02-11-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBBQwer

Hi Wopalx

How did you go with your car? I just got a call from BMW sydney, and there is a problem with the cold start + ticking sound, so im going to get my car back today and they are ordering piston from germany to replace it, so i be back next month again

All fixed, new HPFP installed within about 3hrs of the car being dropped off. Got the old part number though which is a worry since this is pump #2 for me (in 60,000 klms) and I'd hate to replace it off my own bat when the car is out of warranty.

Did you say they are replacing a piston? That's pretty major engine work mate, surprised they are letting you drive it....

MrBBQwer · 02-12-2010, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WOPALX

All fixed, new HPFP installed within about 3hrs of the car being dropped off. Got the old part number though which is a worry since this is pump #2 for me (in 60,000 klms) and I'd hate to replace it off my own bat when the car is out of warranty.

Did you say they are replacing a piston? That's pretty major engine work mate, surprised they are letting you drive it....

Yes they are ordering Piston from germany, and re-schedule for service again on 9th March. the service guy told me its safe.

Lucky it still under warranty.
the guy told me, they will try to replace the piston ( hopefully can fix the tik tik tik sound ) looks like they not even sure the problem is on piston

car is doing 23000 kms, bought since october 2007.

ericming · 03-03-2010, 05:42 PM

My 2007 coupe has the same hard to start cold engine issue, but I didn't hear much tik tik sound. My one is around 30k kms.

BMW Sydney has been inspected over a week and they said this is normal.

Can someone tell me where did you guys drop to get this fix?

01-17-2010, 08:41 PM	#1
MrBBQwer Private First Class 8 Rep 137 Posts Drives: E93 325i, is350 F Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	kinda hard to start engine Hi Guys, need some help, for the past 5days the car struggling to start up. car is 2 years 4 months. the last service was 25 may 2009 , and still have 11,000 kms to go before next service. what happen is, every morning when the engine is cold, when i start the engine, the sounds struggling to start ( its like dragging the engine sounds 2seconds before it start ) , normally when press start button, the engine start right away. I hope i describe it correctly. note: happen all the time in when the engine COLD. is it because dirty sparks plug ? any chance i can fix the car on my own ? so i can save some money from dealer. my last service receipt saying the car warranty until 26 oct 2010 ( so i assume my car has 3 years warranty ) but im afraid it doesnt cover this problem. cheers
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01-17-2010, 10:17 PM	#3
MFKN3 Colonel 137 Rep 2,224 Posts Drives: supercharged 4.4L stroker E92 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (2)	low battery or fuel pump failing maybe?
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01-17-2010, 10:50 PM	#4
MrBBQwer Private First Class 8 Rep 137 Posts Drives: E93 325i, is350 F Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	low battery cover by warranty or not?
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01-17-2010, 10:53 PM	#5
MFKN3 Colonel 137 Rep 2,224 Posts Drives: supercharged 4.4L stroker E92 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (2)	No, I wouldn't imagine so, and it's not entirely uncommon for a battery to die after 2-3yrs. It may not be the battery though, do you get a low battery warning on the dash?
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01-17-2010, 11:01 PM	#6
MrBBQwer Private First Class 8 Rep 137 Posts Drives: E93 325i, is350 F Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	no low battery sign...
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01-17-2010, 09:03 PM	#2
bcoz spectator 82 Rep 508 Posts Drives: 330d Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Unless your battery is low/drained, then a 2+ year old car should have no problems starting. Whatever the cause of the problem, it sounds like it should be covered by warranty (warranty is 3 years from first registration). In that case I would take it to the dealer and let them sort it out (if they can't reproduce the problem after letting it cool for a few hours, they may have to keep it overnight).
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01-17-2010, 11:08 PM	#7
MrBBQwer Private First Class 8 Rep 137 Posts Drives: E93 325i, is350 F Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	just call bmw sydney, the only choice to get the car check. but its 10th Februari, im not even sure if the car can survive until the date
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01-25-2010, 07:51 AM	#9
MrBBQwer Private First Class 8 Rep 137 Posts Drives: E93 325i, is350 F Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	Guys, Anyone familiar with idle sounds from engine? sounds like ticking tek tek tek tek tek tek.
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02-11-2010, 07:09 PM	#10
MrBBQwer Private First Class 8 Rep 137 Posts Drives: E93 325i, is350 F Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	Hi Wopalx How did you go with your car? I just got a call from BMW sydney, and there is a problem with the cold start + ticking sound, so im going to get my car back today and they are ordering piston from germany to replace it, so i be back next month again
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02-11-2010, 07:33 PM	#11
Z320i Enlisted Member 1 Rep 45 Posts Drives: 06 Bmw 320i e90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	i'm really worried abt that tik tik sound u mention not being normal? which dealer told u that? as all these bmws i have heard tik, its normal valve tronic sound apparently (so i'm told mostly through the forum here)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-11-2010, 09:26 PM	#13
E92325i First Lieutenant 12 Rep 362 Posts Drives: E92 325i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	The lifter ticking noise on the N52 engines is a known problem, a new cylinder head was designed and is being fitted to cars starting production sometime in early 2008 onwards. The noise is said to be harmless but if you get bmw to acknowledge the noise then they will (should) replace the 12 lifters on the exhaust side (?) I've got the service bulletin somewhere if you really want it. It's the revised January 2010 one from memory.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-03-2010, 05:42 PM	#16
ericming New Member 0 Rep 13 Posts Drives: E92 323i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	My 2007 coupe has the same hard to start cold engine issue, but I didn't hear much tik tik sound. My one is around 30k kms. BMW Sydney has been inspected over a week and they said this is normal. Can someone tell me where did you guys drop to get this fix?
	Appreciate 0 Quote