Longer crank times at startup - anyone else?

[Nautik]

Exact same thing happens to mine. 2009 DCT. I don't remember it doing it during the winter. Seemed to started doing it several months ago. Like you said, isn't much but easily noticeable when it happens.

[Thik]

Just started happening to my '10 6MT as well within the last few weeks. Fresh battery and spark plugs. Weird, is it the fuel switch from winter to summer blend? Maybe that's why we all started having this issue within the last few weeks.

[mermar]

Did anyone find any resolution/root cause for this? My 2011 DCT will do this in the morning after sitting for 24 or more hours. Long crank - then start fine. Today however - it was not running correctly when it started (not usual cold start roughness but very odd like it was missing or not running on all cylinders) but then smoothed out and was fine. I think that if it was truly missing or a problem with a injector - that I would see a code -- but I have never had a code so hard to take it to dealer.

After having lived through HPFP issues with N54 car - I high a hightened sense of awareness with rough starting.

[dmk08]

When this happened to my 08 the battery was starting to go. Eventually started getting random codes.

[BzsBimmer]

2010 M3 with same problem. I have 50K miles and only have this issue after sitting overnight.
Dealer just did DCT seals but I was having this prior. They did not report any issues and I am not throwing any codes.
Just added this here just in case

[to///m]

Did anyone find any resolution to this?

Pretty much I'm in the same boat as multiple previous posts. Throughout the day, cranks perfect, let it sit for a long night or more than a day and it take almost 3 seconds before the engine actually turns over.

Car runs great other than that, no codes, newish battery.

Could this be ICV related? I have been noticing some random idle issues but I assumed it could be bad gas too

[Route 16]

My 328i also acts like this, noticeable long crank in the morning, the rest of the day it's fine. A year into this thread you'd think there would be a "A HAH!"

[modkrazy]

Had my battery changed like 6 months ago, and the spark plugs swapped out about a month ago or so. Car definitely felt more peppy after the spark plugs, but the car still does this in the mornings.

[MFKN3]

I think it's initial oil pressure, it drains back after sitting overnight. I think cold crank is when most bearing damage is done, until oil pressure builds up and crank straightens up.

[imstimpy]

What would oil pressure have to do with a delayed start? Do you think the DME is holding spark until the oil system is pressurized?

I'm now parking my car on a sloped driveway and this delayed start is more predominant. I associated it with my now 2yr old plugs, but I'll park it in a different place and see if the starts change.

[to///m]

I doubt its oil pressure...

Im changing my over due plugs on Monday and will report back

[imstimpy]

My battery tanked last week. I put in the CSL battery, a 72Ah compared to the original 90Ah, coded it, and the car has been starting solidly even in the 30-40 degree weather we've been having.

[e92livin]

I have this issue as well, 2008 Supercharged M3 - I changed my fuel pump through warranty because of the long crank and I still have the same problem. AFRs are all reading the same even during the cold start as well, my next thing was to change a injector but dont know if it will help.

[to///m]

UPDATE:

I changed my plugs and ran some Lucas fuel system cleaner and my issue seems to be resolved. Its been about 3 weeks now and has stopped the abnormally long cold cranks.

I think it was my plugs mixed with some bad gas.

[Irishace]

Same issue here, long cranks after it has sat overnight. 6MT with just over 70,000 KM on the clock.

[Time Lord]

Rod Bearings.....

[Harpua]

FWIW:
I was noticing longer crank times over the past summer. I changed my spark plugs and now all is back to normal.

[e92zero]

Just take a wild guess. Isn't there like a valve or some sort that retains the fuel pressure in the fuel line when the car is off? Could it be that this valve is going?

[MFKN3]

Resolved by changing plugs. My two front plugs were also a bit loose

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by imstimpy

What would oil pressure have to do with a delayed start? Do you think the DME is holding spark until the oil system is pressurized?

I'm now parking my car on a sloped driveway and this delayed start is more predominant. I associated it with my now 2yr old plugs, but I'll park it in a different place and see if the starts change.

This is a nice thought, specially since the frickin' cold start force the engine to run 1500 RPM right away (agree with e92zeero, can't do any good..). Guess the ECU easily could do the job of holding spark depending on oil pressure, should BMW want to?

[sterile stork]

I had tried a couple things to alleviate this issue when it was experienced with my 2008: spark plugs, 231E software, tune, etc--still persisted. I recently changed throttle body actuators (both) and idle control device as resolution to some other issues, however it has eliminated the pro-longed startup I experienced prior. Hopefully I can come across another car and just change the idle control device to see if in fact that is the issue.

While I was working on the throttle body actuators, I noticed a few things:

1. Butterflies at static state are nearly, entirely closed (no discernable opening or sliver of opening.)
2. Upon depressing start button, butterflies toggle open approximately 25 degrees for a brief moment (maybe to fill the intake runners with air) they immediately close as the engine cranks.
3. The idle control device is another butterfly valve that is attached via two manifolds (one for each bank) to all throttle bodies and controls air flow, however is suspect to PCV as my old unit did have carbon buildup. The feed for the plumbing is below (after) the butterfly for the throttle body, bypassing it entirely.

Pertaining to the third point, such a system enables uniform airflow to the cylinders at idle thereby eliminating fine-tuning of machining processes for the throttle bodies at closed positions. A clever, properly engineered system--and my current hypothesis for delayed starts. Need to test with other cars, anyone interested in footing the bills for replacement units? I can install in the PDX area in 6 hours.

[gpxl]

I've observed this cold start issue with my "new to me" E90. Is this similar to what everyone else is experiencing? It's a 3-4 second crank but feels like forever.