[norsairius]

Summary Edit: I've been getting long crank issues with my car after it's been left out in the cold for at least a few hours.

The dealership "performed high pressure fuel pump test plan. Per test plan was told to replace high pressure pump." I asked them to park my car outside overnight to provide the "best" conditions for replicating the long crank issue.

Dealership used part #s 13517616170 (HPFP) and 11367524954 (collar screw) for the service.

Original Post:
I noticed that my car takes longer to crank when the engine and ambient temperatures are cold.

I first noticed the issue just this past weekend when temps dipped below 40 Fahrenheit overnight. The engine took 3-4 seconds to turn over the following morning. I don't think it's the battery because I haven't noticed any oddities with the electronics or warning lights and the car had completed a 2.5 hour drive without issues before it was parked for the night. The car did the same thing that whole weekend though. Every morning, 3-4 second cranks.

I got back to my apartment building on Sunday, parked it in an underground heated parking garage, and it started up fine with no extended cranks the next morning. However, after having the car parked outside for the whole day while I was at work, it again took 3-4 seconds to start up.

So it seems that cold weather and a cold engine make for long cranks. Is this normal?

I have an appointment scheduled to drop my car off at the dealership this upcoming Monday after work so they can keep it on their lot overnight and start it the following morning. Any thoughts from you guys though? Doesn't seem normal to me. I'm worried because if it's going to do this all winter, I don't want it to lead to any issues.

Edit, videos (pardon crappy quality, but the sound is what you need most here anyway):
Normal Start:

Cold weather/cold engine start:

[Jeef]

Mods? e85?

[norsairius]

Originally Posted by Jeef

Mods? e85?

No modifications, completely stock. Weird that it only happens in the cold. Never had this issue when it was warmer out.

I know cold weather starts can be harder on a car, but I've not noticed a car taking longer to crank in cold weather until we've hit low single digit or negative temps.

I'll try to post a video tonight.

[jonluc88]

N54 or N55?

[norsairius]

Originally Posted by jonluc88

N54 or N55?

2011 335, N55.

[Johnny Boost]

Have you ever had the HPFP replaced?

[jonluc88]

Originally Posted by norsairius

2011 335, N55.

In Canada, BMW has a recall on a wire that runs from the engine to the battery in the back. It might be because that. Hope it helps

[norsairius]

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

Have you ever had the HPFP replaced?

I haven't and I'm wondering if that's the culprit. Tough to say if that's the conclusion the dealership will reach though.

Originally Posted by jonluc88

In Canada, BMW has a recall on a wire that runs from the engine to the battery in the back. It might be because that. Hope it helps

We have the same recall here in the US and I believe the law here is that the car cannot be sold to me (applies to dealerships, may vary state to state) unless all recalls have been performed. At a minimum, I think that's a BMW CPO requirement anyway, but I could be wrong on both counts. The car has had the VANOS bolt recall done and I'd be surprised if they didn't catch the battery cable recall.

Videos (pardon crappy quality, but the sound is what you need most here anyway):
Normal Start:

Cold weather/cold engine start:

[jonluc88]

I bought it from someone off hand. All recalls were done at the dealer the moment I got the car. But yeah, the wire could be a variable otherwise try using 0w30 engine oil when at cooler temperature.

[Johnny Boost]

Originally Posted by norsairius

I haven't and I'm wondering if that's the culprit. Tough to say if that's the conclusion the dealership will reach though.

My car had similar behavior. The first dealership I went to updated the DME. I told them the long cranks were still happening and they tried to blame it on a weak battery. I took it to a different (better) dealership after a couple months and again they updated the DME but when that didn't work they replaced the HPFP. That did the trick. Car starts right up no problem now.

[Sidewinderpb]

Same issue here; my car is actually currently at the dealership to have it addressed (again).

First they updated the DME, then they replaced the MAF, and hopefully they'll replace the HPFP this time.

I should note, however, that the new MAF did resolve my long cranks on warm starts. Let's hope the HPFP resolves the cold start cranks.

[norsairius]

Thanks for the input, everyone!

Sounds like it could be DME, MAF, and/or HPFP. I've also had the warm start issues, but the time to start is somewhere between the two vids I posted.

Anyway, I'll bring up the theories with the dealership. Even if they agree, I'd be surprised if they would replace the HPFP straight away. I'm sure standard procedure is to replace the parts bit by bit, starting with the least complex to the more complex/expensive. I can't blame them for it either, I'm sure it's how they're supposed to work for warranty repairs per BMW's policies.

I like my dealership and trust them to do what's right, so I suppose we'll see what the dealership comes up with! Worst case, I'm fine taking it back if needed.

[Sidewinderpb]

Best of luck!
You are correct in that dealerships follow a model of deduction.

[Jeef]

Probably Hpfp like Johnny said. It's common.

[norsairius]

Well, as much as it sucks that something doesn't seem right, it's at least easy to replicate. Just gotta let the car sit out in the cold until the engine cools off completely and it'll do this every time I go to start it up.

Just recorded another vid after work yesterday, same thing as the other vid, though if you listen very carefully it sounds like there's a little extra hiccup just before it starts up.

[Jeef]

Originally Posted by norsairius

Well, as much as it sucks that something doesn't seem right, it's at least easy to replicate. Just gotta let the car sit out in the cold until the engine cools off completely and it'll do this every time I go to start it up.

Just recorded another vid after work yesterday, same thing as the other vid, though if you listen very carefully it sounds like there's a little extra hiccup just before it starts up.

Did you replace your hpfp yet?

[norsairius]

Originally Posted by Jeef

Did you replace your hpfp yet?

Not yet. I'm hoping the dealer will do that, but it's likely they'll tackle the issue going at the simpler things first, which is understandable.

[tke344]

I get the same thing, going in for service in two weeks and I need to mention it, happened all last winter also. Its worse when I run E85 but I wasn't using a blend until this fall. Plan on leaving a few gallons in when I take it for service so they can more easily replicate the problem.

I noticed I do have the "small" battery, forget what group size but it's the lowest AH that was available as OEM, but the cranks seems strong enough, definitely acting like there's a lack of fuel.

[Jeef]

Originally Posted by tke344

I get the same thing, going in for service in two weeks and I need to mention it, happened all last winter also. Its worse when I run E85 but I wasn't using a blend until this fall. Plan on leaving a few gallons in when I take it for service so they can more easily replicate the problem.

I noticed I do have the "small" battery, forget what group size but it's the lowest AH that was available as OEM, but the cranks seems strong enough, definitely acting like there's a lack of fuel.

Do some logs see your Hpfp pressure

[norsairius]

Dropped the car off at the dealership and let the service manager know that the best way to replicate the issue would be to park it outside and leave it out there for a while before trying to start it. He mentioned that starts like that can be due to a number of things including the HPFP and he even noticed the slightly longer crank w/warm engine issue that some have had.

The service manager noted that they have a decent queue of vehicles to service so he figured that it may be 1-2 days before they can get my car in, which is fine. Gives them more opportunities to see what's up with my car.

In the meantime, I have a 320i xDrive loaner. The car gets more crap than it deserves and I actually thought it was perfectly fine. It's obviously noticeably slower, but it didn't struggle at any point during my drive home. Steering is much improved especially on the variety of F30s that offer the dynamic chassis/drivetrain setting switch. I set it so only the chassis was in sport so I was able to get heavier steering without the transmission holding gears longer. Pretty nice! Actually handled well and didn't have as much body roll either, likely due to the chassis settings change.

Anyway, I'll keep posting updates as I have them.

[Sidewinderpb]

BMW called me today and said that they cannot replicate the long cranks, and that the fuel pressure is fine. They've had the car for two weeks, and this issue has been present for a year now. Fml.

Hope you have better luck than I.

[Jeef]

Originally Posted by Sidewinderpb

BMW called me today and said that they cannot replicate the long cranks, and that the fuel pressure is fine. They've had the car for two weeks, and this issue has been present for a year now. Fml.

Hope you have better luck than I.

Change the Hpfp yourself?