[help] 318 ti failing to start

[Quo]

Hi,

This is my first post here and it seems like the place to be for BMWs. Thanks in advance for any assistence.

So I was riding my bike for a while :/ and I kind of forgot to start the car in a week or two. So my first thought obviously was the battery. I got the battery recharged at a battery center so its fine now.

Still no cranking. Only "click.. click.. click.." and lights flashing (not me). Please see short 10 second video to understand what is happening. (vid: bmw_problem.avi)

Please let me know if more info is needed. I connected the battery up front, but it does exatly the same when its in the back. I checked all fuses one by one.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
D

 

[Hellas]

That is definitely the battery. My E46 stood for 3 months and no amount of jumpstarting could get her going.
All the lights working, radio etc, except for the clicking when you turn the key.

Eventually took the SUV's battery and dropped it into the place of the BMW battery and presto!

I then charged the BMW battery overnight and then it was good as new. The newer vehicles (read electronic dependent vehicles) are VERY finicky about the correct amps before starting up and that is why you could not start even whilst being jumped. Get another battery to test and then make sure your battery is not kaput or one of the cells is not dead. Good luck! :thumbsup:

 

[Lindo]

I had the same problem but after visiting the battery centre i was told to replaced my battery then the problem was solved. Have you tried swapping batteries with a mate.

 

[Quo]

Thank guys, I will try this weekend to swop with a mate's battery from A3, it should be fine? Then I will just go buy a new one. Will let you know.

 

[Hellas]

Does your battery have an indicator dot on it? The dot is normally green, black for recharge needed and yellow means it is kaput.

 

[ClassicB]

Definitely battery. Replace!

Or get a second opinion and test your current battery at another battery centre.

 

[Diablo Jnr]

had the same problem with my ti after it stood for a month or so. swapped the baterry with the one of my other car and the car started. the hooter is usually a dead give-away if your battery is run-down.
good luck dude