snadir

Hi guys, need some help and advice.

My 2004 530i had been starting roughly for a bit now, but does eventually start. When it doesnt start, it will after 4-5 attempts of cranking it.

Anyways, it was having a hard time starting a couple minutes ago, after 4 or 5 attempts it finally did but gave me a "transmission fault" message on my i drive. The car was idling roughly the whole time and was very sluggish when i moved back and forth from reverse to drive.

I think i will need to get it towed to BMW to look at it. The car only has 64k miles, my transmission cannot be bad in those many few miles, can it?

Please help out with any sigguestions on what to do, or what you think it is or if youve had similar problems.

Thanks!

turboawd

the trans fault may have been a fluke, maybe cause battery got low from cranking or something.
but definetly get the car looked at for the starting issue.

AchtungE60

Wow those are some low miles considering the year. I think your battery is low first off.... go get a battery and see if it resolves the issue. Don't worry about tranny fault right now. Any fault will appear if you have an issue with battery. Back up and realize that the car is not starting right away. You need to tackle that first. What happens when you allow the battery to charge and get those CCA back up there and what about jumpstart? does it start right up? If so....there's you answer to problem #1. Come back with problem #2 after #1 is fixed.

Andrers83

Don't worry. Some mouths ago, my car did the same problem. I called to the Dealer and They said this is normal when the car don't run or starts.

snadir

I dont think it's my battery because I purchased a brand new one in November 2010. Don't really do anything to drain it so it shouldn't be low. Wonder if it's my alternator acting up which is the reason my battery might be struggling starting up.

AchtungE60

Very possible. Check it and let us know.

turboawd

even if your battery is low and your alternator is shot, the car should still start if the engine turns over while cranking. fix why it wont start easy.

Euronuts

It kinda sounds like bad gas...what brand and octane do you use?

snadir

I go to a mom and pop station which has the cheapest prices in the area and have never put anything less than 93 ever in it.

turboawd

they are probably watering down the gas.