Starter motor failure on my 3.5 year old BMW X3

Arvind_555 · 5th January 2022, 12:08

Hello Everyone. I am facing a rather unsettling issue that has cropped up in a relatively new X3 (G01, June 2018, 16K Kms on the ODO, Single user). Due to pandemic, my car has been in a fully covered and rat proofed parking lot for the last 1.5 years. To keep the battery in shape, I keep the battery topped up using a dedicated AGM charger and once in a week move the vehicle around to prevent patches on the tyre. Of late, I had 2 or 3 instances of a weird message popping up on my display (Dont have a picture but a ref image here - https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/at...1&d=1601291690 ) - the essence of which reads that the starter system has failed!! But I give it time and start again, it used to come up and I noticed this 3 times and finally a week ago, it completely gave up. No message, no cranking, no engine check light - Nothing. I tried jump starting - but to nothing. I generally check and maintain all my cars well but this is pretty weird. A car sparingly used propping up a potential starter motor failure! I had the service people come in and check and they confirmed the news. So I am about to get my vehicle towed and hopefully get it sorted. The vehicle has full BSI and BRI coverage - but what is concerning is - why this problem. Has anyone faced it here? Is it common (I am sure not at this low mileage). Even in different BMW forums, I hardly see one or two similar failures - and even if they fail its after 100K or 150K miles! Would be good to get opinion from forum members here.

BMW X3 - G01 - X20D Luxury Line. April 2018 make, delivered June 2018. Bangalore; 16000 Kms on the odo.

GTO · 6th January 2022, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arvind_555

The vehicle has full BSI and BRI coverage

This is the part I was looking for

. The maximum extended warranty is a must with premium cars for peace-of-the-mind ownership.

Do keep us updated on what is replaced & what the actual issue was.

BMW's reliability is very good for the most part, but sometimes, problems do come up. On a related note, I must add that I keep hearing of a few more issues with the X3 than say, the 3 or 5-Series range. Wonder why that is.

CEF_Beasts · 16th January 2022, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

I must add that I keep hearing of a few more issues with the X3 than say, the 3 or 5-Series range. Wonder why that is.

Which engine, if I may ask. X3 20d or 30i as well?

Thegermanbadger · 16th January 2022, 14:51

Scary stuff. I find it incredibly frustrating when you need a car to start but it doesn't.

Happened to me recently due to a flat battery. My VW Passat that I hadn't driven in about a month just refused to start.

This is much worse, but feel that 1.5 years is a long time. Also, could be electrical signal issues. Starters with stop start usually are very robust mechanically.

I have an older f25 x3 3.0d. Not had any issues till now. But always have my fingers crossed.

Hope you have happy miles after it is fixed.

Cheers

Turbanator · 16th January 2022, 15:43

Will wait until they hook up to the server. Can be due to some electronics too. Usually, mechanically these things don’t fail. But they will not be able to any component level repairs and simply change the assembly.

GTO was probably referring to Hayek’s X3 and another member who have posted about electronic brake issues on his thread. I don’t think X3 is built any differently, can be just the number of cases being reported here or perhaps SUVs are usually driven more than sedans.

5th January 2022, 12:08	#1
Arvind_555 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Bangalore Posts: 15 Thanked: 103 Times	Starter motor failure on my 3.5 year old BMW X3 Hello Everyone. I am facing a rather unsettling issue that has cropped up in a relatively new X3 (G01, June 2018, 16K Kms on the ODO, Single user). Due to pandemic, my car has been in a fully covered and rat proofed parking lot for the last 1.5 years. To keep the battery in shape, I keep the battery topped up using a dedicated AGM charger and once in a week move the vehicle around to prevent patches on the tyre. Of late, I had 2 or 3 instances of a weird message popping up on my display (Dont have a picture but a ref image here - https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/at...1&d=1601291690 ) - the essence of which reads that the starter system has failed!! But I give it time and start again, it used to come up and I noticed this 3 times and finally a week ago, it completely gave up. No message, no cranking, no engine check light - Nothing. I tried jump starting - but to nothing. I generally check and maintain all my cars well but this is pretty weird. A car sparingly used propping up a potential starter motor failure! I had the service people come in and check and they confirmed the news. So I am about to get my vehicle towed and hopefully get it sorted. The vehicle has full BSI and BRI coverage - but what is concerning is - why this problem. Has anyone faced it here? Is it common (I am sure not at this low mileage). Even in different BMW forums, I hardly see one or two similar failures - and even if they fail its after 100K or 150K miles! Would be good to get opinion from forum members here. BMW X3 - G01 - X20D Luxury Line. April 2018 make, delivered June 2018. Bangalore; 16000 Kms on the odo.
	(9) Thanks

16th January 2022, 14:51	#4
Thegermanbadger BHPian Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: New Delhi Posts: 59 Thanked: 130 Times	Re: Starter motor failure on my 3.5 year old BMW X3 Scary stuff. I find it incredibly frustrating when you need a car to start but it doesn't. Happened to me recently due to a flat battery. My VW Passat that I hadn't driven in about a month just refused to start. This is much worse, but feel that 1.5 years is a long time. Also, could be electrical signal issues. Starters with stop start usually are very robust mechanically. I have an older f25 x3 3.0d. Not had any issues till now. But always have my fingers crossed. Hope you have happy miles after it is fixed. Cheers
	(1) Thanks

16th January 2022, 15:43	#5
Turbanator Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 7,458 Thanked: 31,987 Times	Re: Starter motor failure on my 3.5 year old BMW X3 Will wait until they hook up to the server. Can be due to some electronics too. Usually, mechanically these things don’t fail. But they will not be able to any component level repairs and simply change the assembly. GTO was probably referring to Hayek’s X3 and another member who have posted about electronic brake issues on his thread. I don’t think X3 is built any differently, can be just the number of cases being reported here or perhaps SUVs are usually driven more than sedans.
	(2) Thanks