[rafy27]

I've been racking my brain looking for an answer for this, a week ago when the temperatures started to dip to the 50's here in FL my car started having problems starting the car in the mornings, I replaced the battery but still ave the same problem, the car turns over but wont start but if I jump it with my wife's car it will eventually start. then runs fine through the day then if i 50's in the morning is the same thing. the other day we had a break and was like 65 degrees and it started right away. Has anybody else had this problem? has it been resolved?

[Douche]

LOL @ Cold Mornings "dips" of 50F...

Sorry dude. But hey, must be something related to ignition, it's definitely not normal.
My car started just fine as it always does when it's 100F today.
.
.

And it was "cozy" at -40.

Check the ignition (coils and spark plugs if haven't been replaced, they're due) or fuel pump/injectors.

[LaserPower]

Originally Posted by valter

LOL @ Cold Mornings "dips" of 50F...

Sorry dude. But hey, must be something related to ignition, it's definitely not normal.
My car started just fine as it always does when it's 100F today.
.
.

And it was "cozy" at -40.

Check the ignition (coils and spark plugs if haven't been replaced, they're due) or fuel pump/injectors.

Second the "cold" morning...mine must starts with magic sitting in sub zero for a day lol. Did you register the new battery?

[Aaron_N55]

May want to check the production month of the battery as well. Usually a sticker at the side. Some shops have batteries laying there for months or even a year. Throughout that time, the battery power drains resulting in low CCA.

[rafy27]

The battery was registered and I got it at the BMW dealer and yes the production month was Dec 2014. I haven't changed the Ignition coils so I might try that. BTW 50's is cold for Florida. Tonight is dropping to the 30's and is like the apocalypse is here. Anyhow I will try the coils since in a week i'll have to replace the valve cover gasket I might as well replace them too. thank you for the responses so far. I got to go to bed.

[srezzo]

Originally Posted by valter

LOL @ Cold Mornings "dips" of 50F...

+1

[DUI Elite]

Sounds like aged battery to me. Half the reason these batteries are so heavy is because of the CCA rating on them. CCA = Cold Cranking Amperage and can be correlated with how long the batteries' charge will last when the car is off / the battery is not being charged.

Older battery will not hold a strong enough charge in "colder" weather. Though 50 is really not cold at all my friend.

Try -9 degrees F, -28 F with windchill. My car starts with slight hesitation (as would any due to the sludge like oil at this temp) but the fresh battery is what saves my ass.

edit: just read the other posts. Valve cover gasket could contribute. Fluctuating temps are never good for gaskets and such.

[Douche]

Originally Posted by rafy27

The battery was registered and I got it at the BMW dealer and yes the production month was Dec 2014. I haven't changed the Ignition coils so I might try that. BTW 50's is cold for Florida. Tonight is dropping to the 30's and is like the apocalypse is here. Anyhow I will try the coils since in a week i'll have to replace the valve cover gasket I might as well replace them too. thank you for the responses so far. I got to go to bed.

Have a good night. Now that you mentioned valve cover, maybe there's some compression being lost through there... Good thing you're replacing it.

I know 50 is cold there, but not exaggerating, I turn the ac at that temp (when winter is over only). Then I get used to it, and by then we're in the 90s too.

[litxus]

You can check battery voltage in the morning as maybe something is draining the battery overnight? Last, have you checked all connections to make sure they are clean? Last, how many miles and did you ever have the starter replaced?

[TheTal0n]

Check your battery. Maybe the VANOS is causing a weird start? Try swapping those. both easy things to do.

[Frost17]

Originally Posted by DUI Elite

Try -9 degrees F, -28 F with windchill. My car starts with slight hesitation (as would any due to the sludge like oil at this temp) but the fresh battery is what saves my ass.

+1

[Aashenfox]

Its the battery. There's no component that would be so affected by a temperature drop as to not work as designed. Except the battery. I'll be stunned if it turns out to be something else.

[MrZ]

I wouldn't waste money on coils. Seems irrelevant when the car is starting when boosted.

Load test the battery. Make sure it is charged properly. That is the easiest and cheapest thing to do. And the most probable cause. Maybe there's a phantom load and it drains the battery overnight.

[rafy27]

The battery was changed 3 days ago is brand new BMW battery and was registered by reputable indi shop. But I think that the valve cover might be full of sludge and clogging some sensors (valvetronics chaft) or vanos intake/ out solenoids and and somehow delaying when the car starts. What i wonder what's the weather got to do with it.

[fravel]

I just had to chime in at the absurdity of 50F being a "cold" morning.

I went out to start my civic this morning before work and it was -19F!

[rafy27]

Why everybody is so mad about 50F being cold? is central Florida people, is not often that we go anywhere below 60F in winter, this morning was 32F and the news were reacting like it was the end of the world. BTW my first station in the military was Anchorage AK and it took me some time to get acclimated there being from PR but when I was transferred back to the lower 48 I was dying from the heat now I acclimated to the heat again and wont live anywhere above I-10.

[rafy27]

I will post a video this afternoon of what's going on with the car. I know I understand things better with pictures. LOL

[fravel]

Originally Posted by rafy27

Why everybody is so mad about 50F being cold? is central Florida people, is not often that we go anywhere below 60F in winter, this morning was 32F and the news were reacting like it was the end of the world. BTW my first station in the military was Anchorage AK and it took me some time to get acclimated there being from PR but when I was transferred back to the lower 48 I was dying from the heat now I acclimated to the heat again and wont live anywhere above I-10.

No one is mad, we just think it's funny that you think 50F is cold, haha.

A couple mornings of 50F isn't even enough cold enough to justify taking off summer rubber.

[rafy27]

The car started when I jumped with the wife's car. so I think that there's got to be a ground somewhere and the temp issue don't help get it going in the morning. Do this make sense?


[u2b]

[/u2b]

[Nicky92]

lol try to start your car in -10 with a ton of E85 hahaha

[MrZ]

I would still check the battery charge first. The fact that it was bought from BMW and installed by an indy does not mean that it is being charged properly by the alternator or that there's no drain overnight.

If it's not related to the battery charge, then jump starting the car wouldn't solve the issue.

Also, that headlight error - is it always showing up? If it only shows at morning startups - another point for battery charge (car can cut out some electrical features if the battery load is low).

At least that's my 0.02

[litxus]

This is hardly a battery issue as it turns over fine. You can try checking the air intake tube to see if something is not connected or cracked (pulling too much air). And you can also try disconnecting MAF and see if the car starts without it?