I'll give a little background first. Only had this car about 3 months (530XI, Sedan 51000 miles). First BMW car, but have had several Beemer cycles through the years and do my own maintenance on them (I should get some credit for that... lol ) .
Driving home the other morning after dropping my son at school and car just quits, restart but wont rev then quits and wont restart just cranks. I was close to home less than 1/4 mile so I just have my father help tow it to the house. After I get to the house it wont even crank dash, lights come on (no iDrive display though) and key wont work to lock/unlock doors, trunk. No key error on dash. Tested battery in the one and only key fob 3.21 Vdc, battery in car is less than 1 month old and load tests fine. I tried to re-initialize the key per online directions with no luck. I did check all the fuses and found the fuel pump was blown so that was the initial reason the car quit, all other fuses (trunk, glove box, under cabin airfilter) are good. Nearest stealership is over 2 hours away so I don't really want to tow it there.
And I did search wont CRANK, Initialize key, wont start..... several phrases, and found quite a few post but nothing relevant as to a fix.
What does the car do if the antitheft is activated? Could that be the problem? Im at a loss here. I buy some one a nice cold one if you can HELLLLP!

Rich

 

Do some searching for threads on this site. Take a look at the battery. Could be the BST. Could be IBS. Could be bad battery ground (there was a recall on that for your car, I have the same one) - although I doubt this is the problem. Could be the battery is shot, although yours came on pretty suddenly.

Would be good to be able to read any existing codes with a BMW specific tool.

 

I tested and have power past the BST and also unplugged the IBS still no change. As for the battery I had it load tested and it was good as far as amperage and voltage so not that. im looking into code readers now. Looks like concensus is INPA.

 

Really, nobody has seen anything like this before?
Update, indy has had it two days and its def. not the battery. He can read the engine errors with his snap on reader but cant get anything from the transmission. He can turn the key and short out the starter and it starts and runs......
I did notice today that the shifter will move from Park to Drive without brake being depressed or ignition being on...
Next step is to take it to the BMW Dealer. Any Ideas?

 

Bad crankshaft position sensor can prevent the car from starting and stalling as well.

Did you or your mechanic touch the electrical connector to the transmission? The sleeve on that electrical connector is known to leak. It's possible, the leaked trans fluid may be shorting the pins in that connector.

 

It definitely has something to do with the mechtronic if that is happening. What year is it. Maybe something with the shifter itself.

 

Its a 2006. I don't think its the crank shaft position sensor, if he shorts the started across the terminals it will start and run OK.

 

any updates?