[bender rodriguez]

Can you pull the starter out from the bottom if you car has manual transmission? I was reading that having an auto makes you pull it out from the top. Just curious

[unknXXX]

Originally Posted by fatboym3

It seems that my starter(2006 325i,6spd ,68,000 mi) has suddenly gone bad (no warning) I replaced the battery today (6.5 years old )thinking I might get away cheap ($134.00,AAA mobile battery service),. Still no start ,I'm new here in Vegas , don't know any Indy mechanics here that I trust ,so I bit my tongue and had it towed to the local BMW dealer here in Henderson. Imagine my surprise when the service adviser called to quote me $1300.00 to replace the starter! I Know its a labor intensive job (plenum removal) but can anyone verify the estimated labor time for this job, the few search results I have found put the cost at $650- $900.If i could Get a copy of a dealer invoice or estimate to help me try to negotiate some kind of discount ,That would be very much appreciated ! http://www.e90post.com/forums/images...es/mad0259.gif

My 328i coupe starter went bad as I was pumping gas at a gas station. I shut the car off to pump and when I finished the car wouldn't start.

Towed it to the dealer and paid $1300

[Saintor]

Any symptoms to see a starter going before it is gone?

[unknXXX]

Originally Posted by Saintor

Any symptoms to see a starter going before it is gone?

Not for my car there was. I literally was driving it (everything was fine) and I went to the gas station turned the car off normally and then tried turning it back on and it wouldn't start.

I was like WTF. Literally was stuck at a gas station. I guess that's the 328i's equivalent problem to the 335's HPFP issue.

Smh. It happens. My miles were above 100K in the 328i (if that's any indicator).

-unknXXX

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by John 070

Your odds are less than 50/50. I just hope BMW remanufactured starters are more reliable than others. I diy'd my Nissan with a NEW starter. It failed 2 mos. later and I had to diy again, though it had a lifetime warranty. I find BMW to be such an interesting car, people say $800 for something that should be under $100 to be a "good deal." It's all relative, when you have $$$, you're ok spending it...

Admittedly, I haven't diy'd much on my BMW except for air filter, microcabin, seat belt arms, and tire swaps, because nothing has broken in 6 yrs. except the stalling issue....

If it were me, I would get a Bosch SR0492x. This is for the N54 motor.

It is remanufactured, but probably cheaper then one that is stamped BMW on it.

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-SR0492X-...r+motor&dpPl=1


Its hard to argue with the quality of Bosch.

I think Bosch is the OEM supplier for starter motors anyhow.

[ThatRWD]

Friend just paid $600 including parts without any negotiating on an 07 328xi.

[Eddien123]

To give you an idea of how expensive the dealer job was, I was in New York when my starter died. I preferred to have to towed all the way back to south jersey and pay an Indy guy, rather than let bmw of Manhattan take it!

[Dylanize]

$800 at the dealer for me, thank god for warranty, only paid 50 out of pocket.

Sorry, best of luck, died on me out of the blue as well.

[LGGbmw328xi]

I just replaced the starter in my 2008 BMW 328xi and i could not have done this task without the help of this site as well as videos. I have no experience fixing cars whatsoever, and i am thankful for all the knowledge on this site....was so helpful. I found a rebuilt starter for $115CAD and the gaskets + bolts for $75CAD, so a total of $190CAD from (J&M Desa Expert in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), when the dealership wanted $1500CAD. So my hat goes off to you all who saved me at least a $1000CAD. Thank you.

PS: i also did this on the street out front of my friends house right where it didnt start and took me just under 3hrs.

[NightStalker]

I replaced it myself after towing it back home to my garage. the most important tool was the angle wrench. the labor is killer because the starter is placed in an awkward position to reach. I thought my back broke the next day lol

[Eddien123]

Sorry to jack your thread but it seems you got your answer and got it sorted out. Good luck.

But are these starters weak? Mine went at about 71k (a couple weeks after my water pump) and I can't seem to understand why it failed so soon. My brothers E46 has 140k and original starter

[NiNeTyOne]

Bought the OE re-manufactured Bosch starter from parts store for $160 and the one-use bolts from the dealer for $13 and had the whole mess swapped out in less than 2 hours.

$1300 is a joke.

[JFolt]

Originally Posted by Eddien123

Sorry to jack your thread but it seems you got your answer and got it sorted out. Good luck.

But are these starters weak? Mine went at about 71k (a couple weeks after my water pump) and I can't seem to understand why it failed so soon. My brothers E46 has 140k and original starter

I have a 2011 e90 with n55 engine, 68k miles.... apparently it's logging a fault with the starter. The BMW mechanic told me it's on the way out. I was really surprised considering the age and mileage. So apparently they are rather weak.

[doru]

Originally Posted by fatboym3

With the help of the very helpful members of this forum,I found the $1300.00 price quote to be EXACTLY Double the Price that a highly regarded Indy Shop here in Las Vegas (Southwest Bimmers 702 834-8070)was willing to do the job for. Desert BMW got $150.00 for the diagnosis(apparently took an hour @$150 per).Chuck @ SWB recommended 'CITY VIEW TOWING' who towed my baby 15 miles for a flat rate of $65.00.
Total cost of this expensive lesson $215.00 add the $650.00 for the repair ,and I'm at $865.00 for a savings of $435.00 (could have been $650.00).
All in all, not too shabby.
Does anyone think the techs at SWB work for free? Hell no, that price has a profit built into it (a reasonable one though)
Does anyone think the techs at SWB are 6 times Faster than the ones at DESERT BMW I think NOT!(It's more likely that the dealer has exaggerated the Labor time needed to ACTUALLY do the job)
I think its safe to say DOUBLE the price could be considered OUTRAGEOUS. The lesson here is DEALER SERVICE IS ONLY FOR CARS THAT ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY,PERIOD.
Thank You all and Good Luck!
I hope this Info is Useful to someone ,in the Future!:dance :

Originally Posted by LGGbmw328xi

I just replaced the starter in my 2008 BMW 328xi and i could not have done this task without the help of this site as well as videos. I have no experience fixing cars whatsoever, and i am thankful for all the knowledge on this site....was so helpful. I found a rebuilt starter for $115CAD and the gaskets + bolts for $75CAD, so a total of $190CAD from (J&M Desa Expert in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), when the dealership wanted $1500CAD. So my hat goes off to you all who saved me at least a $1000CAD. Thank you.

PS: i also did this on the street out front of my friends house right where it didnt start and took me just under 3hrs.

Well, that price difference is the cost of "free coffee" you get in the BMW lounge @ stealership. I bet people enjoy drinking that uber-expen$ive coffee.

[Eddien123]

Originally Posted by JFolt

I have a 2011 e90 with n55 engine, 68k miles.... apparently it's logging a fault with the starter. The BMW mechanic told me it's on the way out. I was really surprised considering the age and mileage. So apparently they are rather weak.

Does the N52/4/5 all share the same starter?

[JFolt]

Originally Posted by Eddien123

Does the N52/4/5 all share the same starter?

Quick search on ECS tuning website shows that the N55 and N52 use the same starter

[JFolt]

Originally Posted by doru

Well, that price difference is the cost of "free coffee" you get in the BMW lounge @ stealership. I bet people enjoy drinking that uber-expen$ive coffee.

I do have to admit, the coffee at my local dealer is F***ing delicious... I have a 5 minute walk to their showroom, I've honestly stopped in just to look at the floor models and get a cup of coffee

[fun2drive]

Couple things regarding the starter and the so called Bosch quality. BMW starters fail hot or engine warm. What happens is the winding swell into the stator and it is a no start condition. How do you know your starter is toast? If you are able like at home or getting it towed home anyway let it sit until completely cold. Once stone cold try starting the car. If it starts it is the famous Bosch POS starter.
Oh yes Bosch you know famous German quality is crap. Tear one down and notice the Chinese bearing inside and Chinese parts.
That goes a long way toward why the starters don't last long.
Can you imagine the start stop cars using these POS starters? Nope BMW has better starter for them....
Also typical on a high mileage starter the ability to break the bolts loose is to say the least a challenge. On starters I use a couple of 2 ft extensions and 3 ft breaker bar to get them loose. That and the ridiculous access makes a simple job a lot of work....

[gobbell1]

I paid $120 for a starter at NAPA, and replaced it myself. It took 5 hrs to get to the starts and 5 hrs to button everything up.

That was 30k ago...no issues

[Mr.Smithers]

The first time my starter died i bought one from the junkyard for 60 bucks and got my guy to install it for a 100 bucks.

2nd time it messed up in greensburg pa. paid some mechanic $880 to replace.

[Makeuwunder]

I stopped at a restaurant while traveling came out and the car would not start. Had it towed to the part store that had a starter for $130, insurance paid for towing. bought a $45 tool set pulled the intake and replaced the starter in the part store parking lot in 1.5 hours used the same starter bolts that I took out and intake gaskets, drove the 4 hours back home to finish my trip. It's not the easiest task to do but it is doable plus I had done the repair before on my wifes e90.

[stelvio]

Wow some people's stories here are crazy! I can't imagine paying so much for a starter.

I bought a BOSCH starter from the ADVANCEAUTOPARTS website and used code: TRT30 to get 30% off and did it myself.

I actually had to replace this on my wife's car the day before our wedding in a random parking lot in Florida summer. Fun stuff. Luckily I suspected it was going out and had bought it earlier.