E92 M3 Cranks over but doesn't start until after 3 tries

[gevo_07]

Hey guys, I wanted to post a question because I've been experiencing this interesting anomaly. I'll get in my car, try to start it and sometimes it chooses not to start until after 3-4 tries. The car is on 91 octane, so it's not an E85 problem. Starter is cranking like normal, everything seems fine. No error messages; just doesn't start the first time sometimes.

This issue has been happening for about 4 months, no notable changes done to the car in the period of time of which this has been occurring, and I thought it was an alternator going bad until I saw that it was drawing 14V; spark plugs have yet to be changed, but I am not misfiring or noticing a loss of power. I changed the battery early last week and this didn't solve my problem either. Not sure exactly what's happening but once the car actually decides to start, it's as though the issue never happened and it cranks/starts like normal...

Someone help lol

Update: Just did my plugs / battery controller as well and no change. However, when I just turn ignition on and let it prime, the car starts right up after waiting on ignition for about 5 seconds. Could be fuel-delivery related

[Throatpunch]

I had an issue where my ground cable to my engine was loose after rod bearing work. Tightening it or replacing a corroded cable may help

[dpaul]

Originally Posted by gevo_07

Hey guys, I wanted to post a question because I've been experiencing this interesting anomaly. I'll get in my car, try to start it and sometimes it chooses not to start until after 3-4 tries. The car is on 91 octane, so it's not an E85 problem. Starter is cranking like normal, everything seems fine. No error messages; just doesn't start the first time sometimes.

This issue has been happening for about 4 months, no notable changes done to the car in the period of time of which this has been occurring, and I thought it was an alternator going bad until I saw that it was drawing 14V; spark plugs have yet to be changed, but I am not misfiring or noticing a loss of power. I changed the battery early last week and this didn't solve my problem either. Not sure exactly what's happening but once the car actually decides to start, it's as though the issue never happened and it cranks/starts like normal...

Someone help lol

When you say the "car chooses not to start", do you mean the starter isn't crankking the engine or do you mean that the engine cranks but doesn't start running.

[jun_e92]

Symptoms before the starter motor dies.

[dpaul]

Originally Posted by jun_e92

Symptoms before the starter motor dies.

Sorry, still don't understand

[gevo_07]

Originally Posted by dpaul

When you say the "car chooses not to start", do you mean the starter isn't crankking the engine or do you mean that the engine cranks but doesn't start running.

Update: The engine cranks just fine, but sometimes it just won't turn on. I just did my plugs, changed the battery, changed the battery controller. Definitely can't be the alternator because battery is used to draw power to even start the car. I'm thinking fuel filters? Pump?

[gevo_07]

Originally Posted by jun_e92

Symptoms before the starter motor dies.

Def not the starter motor. Starter cranks the car just fine. The engine won't start firing sometimes.

[spammysammich]

Start looking at fuel injectors.

[spammysammich]

Possibly fuel pumps too.

[Redd]

This issue has been popping up on a few E9x M3s here. It might be the big red power cable going from the fuse box in your glove box. They age over time and resistance increases. Check yours for discoloration around the shielding on the fuse box end. There's a recall for it I think.

[gevo_07]

Originally Posted by Redd

This issue has been popping up on a few E9x M3s here. It might be the big red power cable going from the fuse box in your glove box. They age over time and resistance increases. Check yours for discoloration around the shielding on the fuse box end. There's a recall for it I think.

Will check, thank you

[NiBe]

In ISTA-D there is a check for fuel pump, if it holds pressure or not. No error codes I assume, right?

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by gevo_07

Update: The engine cranks just fine, but sometimes it just won't turn on. I just did my plugs, changed the battery, changed the battery controller. Definitely can't be the alternator because battery is used to draw power to even start the car. I'm thinking fuel filters? Pump?

If it was behaving properly before the recent maintenance, then the first place I'd start is asking myself:

"Is there ANYTHING about the new parts themselves, or some nuance about the removal/installation procedure that could explain the new behavior?"

[Maks///M2]

Maybe this will help.

This is what's going on with my car.

I've put about 2k miles in my ownership on the car in the last 8 months.

Always sits in the garage. When I bought it I put a new battery in it and registered it.

Car didn't have any issues.
One day I'm driving and the car dies.
I go to try and start it. Nothing. About 3-4 mins later. Starts up. So I drove it home and didn't think about it. Couple days later took it out again. Car started just fine.
2 miles from home. It dies. I'm like ok. The car will start again. After an hour of waiting. Still no start.
Got it towed to the shop.
Scanned the car. Got the starter code. I think it was like "AB04"?
Took the intake plenum off, and unplugged the signal wire to the started. It was getting its 12+ volts. I banged on the solenoid on the starter, and got it to make a turning sound. So I replaced the starter. I also sent out the frm for repair because it wasn't getting signals from a few of the wires. Got it repaired. Put the starter in and the rebuilt frm. Car starts right up no error message for the frm anymore either.

All I'm saying is it's worth looking into.
I didn't think it was the starter either….

[asma123]

I think most likely you have leaky injectors. I had similar issue with mine but not as bad. Car performed great no issues at all just took longer to start than it should.

[gevo_07]

Originally Posted by NiBe

In ISTA-D there is a check for fuel pump, if it holds pressure or not. No error codes I assume, right?

That seems like the next step, thank you

[gevo_07]

Originally Posted by Maks///M2

Maybe this will help.

This is what's going on with my car.

I've put about 2k miles in my ownership on the car in the last 8 months.

Always sits in the garage. When I bought it I put a new battery in it and registered it.

Car didn't have any issues.
One day I'm driving and the car dies.
I go to try and start it. Nothing. About 3-4 mins later. Starts up. So I drove it home and didn't think about it. Couple days later took it out again. Car started just fine.
2 miles from home. It dies. I'm like ok. The car will start again. After an hour of waiting. Still no start.
Got it towed to the shop.
Scanned the car. Got the starter code. I think it was like "AB04"?
Took the intake plenum off, and unplugged the signal wire to the started. It was getting its 12+ volts. I banged on the solenoid on the starter, and got it to make a turning sound. So I replaced the starter. I also sent out the frm for repair because it wasn't getting signals from a few of the wires. Got it repaired. Put the starter in and the rebuilt frm. Car starts right up no error message for the frm anymore either.

All I'm saying is it's worth looking into.
I didn't think it was the starter either….

I'll check for starter codes but the car will not die, just needs a little extra umph to start. Could be a fuel priming issue.

[Maks///M2]

We feel like the car dying was FRM related not starter.


As multiple CAN signals were not being identified by FRM.

[Shinom3]

so no basic reason why this occurs?

[gevo_07]

Originally Posted by Maks///M2

We feel like the car dying was FRM related not starter.


As multiple CAN signals were not being identified by FRM.

Copy that; I replaced my FRM recently