[aesfah]

From a cold start, it takes about 4-5 cranks/turn-overs for the car to start. Is this a sign that the starter may be on its way out? Warranty runs out in 3 weeks. New registered battery last year, so I know it's not the battery.

[StatenEye]

Originally Posted by aesfah

From a cold start, it takes about 4-5 cranks/turn-overs for the car to start. Is this a sign that the starter may be on its way out? Warranty runs out in 3 weeks. New registered battery last year, so I know it's not the battery.

3 cranks are too many from a cold start.

[Orion4]

Engine cranks fine? Then not a starter issue. May be looking at HPFP and/or Injector issues. Have you checked for any codes?

[username604]

Originally Posted by Orion4

May be looking at HPFP and/or Injector issues.

he has the 330i, no hpfp.

Originally Posted by aesfah

Warranty runs out in 3 weeks.

you're under warranty, just go in for service, it's freee
(a car not starting in 1 crank is not normal under normal circumstances normal)

[Q4P]

If you have more than one crank in a 6 cylinder motor, then you have a problem .

[ragingclue]

4-5 is too much. Although you don't have the HPFP, you still have the potential for fueling issues. I'm not sure what good taking it to the dealer is, though, if you haven't thrown a code. My experience has been if you have long cranks and they can't find codes, they toss the car right back to you without action. You've got 3 weeks of warranty left, though, so I would at least take it in, hopefully to get repaired, but if they don't repair it, you have record of the issue from before the end of the warranty.

[hsleiman]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

4-5 is too much. Although you don't have the HPFP, you still have the potential for fueling issues. I'm not sure what good taking it to the dealer is, though, if you haven't thrown a code. My experience has been if you have long cranks and they can't find codes, they toss the car right back to you without action. You've got 3 weeks of warranty left, though, so I would at least take it in, hopefully to get repaired, but if they don't repair it, you have record of the issue from before the end of the warranty.

^Truth. No codes, no service. Dealer did the same thing with my 04 X5 last week. Intermittent long cranks and the dealer couldn't reproduce them so they gave the car right back to me. Although, it couldn't hurt to try to convince them to take a more thorough look since your warranty is almost up.

[dmorga1]

I think we better check what the OP means by "cranks". Do you mean revolutions of the motor, or are you really pushing the button that many times after it completes its sustained cranking? Since I moved from CA to MD, the higher octane gas seems to have resulted in slightly more revolutions of the motor--one button push, but more like 5 revolutions instead of 3.

David

[aesfah]

Originally Posted by dmorga1

I think we better check what the OP means by "cranks". Do you mean revolutions of the motor, or are you really pushing the button that many times after it completes its sustained cranking? Since I moved from CA to MD, the higher octane gas seems to have resulted in slightly more revolutions of the motor--one button push, but more like 5 revolutions instead of 3.

David

Good point - I mean revolutions of the motor. I push the button once. I'm kind of worried that the starter may be on its way out (71k) and other members have reported the out of pocket cost to repair is +$1000

[John 070]

Originally Posted by StatenEye 335i

3 cranks are too many from a cold start.

Spot on. Trying to justify multiple cranks as being ok is the SA getting bonused for denying warranty claims.

[dmorga1]

Originally Posted by aesfah

Good point - I mean revolutions of the motor. I push the button once. I'm kind of worried that the starter may be on its way out (71k) and other members have reported the out of pocket cost to repair is +$1000

Ah--well, too new a problem for many of us to say, but that sounds completely within normal range. That's probably 2 seconds of cranking, assuming your battery is strong. My has been like that for about a year. If the starter is making noises or failing to engage properly, that's another story, but I can't see a problem here. Starter failures on our cars seem pretty rare--so far. If your only symptom is 5 revolutions instead of three, I wouldn't worry about it. I can't recall what the deal is with the fuel filter (s?) on this car--I used to replace mine at 60k on all other cars and folks who opened them up found they were pretty filthy. BMW seems to feel this is virtually a no-maintenance item. A slightly lower-flow fuel filter (from debris) could definitely explain longer cranks, but in my case, it started as soon as I bumped up octane (literally one tank after I went from 91 to 93 in cooler climes).

If you have no other symptoms, like misfiring, stumbling, any lights or codes, or poor idle, I'd say the car is probably fine. No sweat.

[ndog14]

I am having the same problems too, long cranks and rough ones too. One day it would not start on 2 occassions. I also crapped myself the second time because I was just driving. I drove to Office Max to pick up stuff and I remembered I can go over to Target and get a few more things. The car was off for no more than 30 seconds and it failed to start. The car is a 11/06 build so I am thinking the battery, which is original, is at fault.