Hey guys, ive noticed my 528i has been cranking kind of slowly from a cold start. If I stop it after the first start, it starts up faster. Its not a really slow crank but it seems like the starter is trying a bit harder than it should. My e46 would start right up from a cold start but my e60 is taking maybe a second longer to start than a normal start. Could it possibly be from a dying battery or a battery that is not able to develop enough cold cranking amps? Hoping its not needing a new starter, the car has 109k miles on it and I think the battery was replaced 3 years ago.

 

That is a sign of a battery not having enough amps to crank. Was you battery programmed when it was changed? I would start by having the battery tested at Advance auto and go from there.

 

Got the battery tested at advance auto and they found nothing wrong with it. They also checked the alternator and starter and found everything working normally. My battery is an AGM Exide battery rated at 850 CCA and when it was tested they found it was putting out 817 which was completely normal. Any other possible reasons for the slow initial crank?

 

The only plausible solution would be the starter. Something we never hope it is. I know mine went out at 113K. Have you had you plugs changed yet?

 

On My e60 it has had 3 batteries since 2008... so.... every 3 years on genuine AGM OEM battery... my last one tested fine too.. but it went dead in a day.. still tests fine... new battery everything is peachy.

 

Don't think the plugs were ever changed on this car. Guess ill order them and change them out. Really hoping it's not the starter.

Perhaps its an issue with coding? If the battery is providing the required amps and volts, I feel it can't be the issue because all other batteries will test the same.

 

No my battery is definitely dead. I can trickle charge it overnight, and it has enough cranking amps for ONE start.. after that.. no good. It can provide voltage.. just no cranking amps. My car had every battery coded, which is why I know it has chewed through one every 3 years.. which is magically what the warranty is for.. 3 years...

 

Well I guess that can't be the issue with mine because after multiple tests we found it was still putting out the right amount of amps for cranking. Voltage was also just fine so im getting a feeling it's something else in the car like a restrictive fuel filter.

 

You might have some other issue. The ten years my car has been built I have only replaced my battery once. It is going on 4 yrs with the replacement and should last me at least another 2. A battery should definitely last longer than three years. Also my battery came with a 6 yr warranty. Exide and Interstate are the only batteries I buy for all my cars because of the great warranty. Never needed to use it though because They have all went well past the warranty length.

 

That's funny you noticed that too, my E46 fired right up, like it was waiting for me to allow it to run. My E60 definitely cranks a second or even 2 before really firing. i do have 160k miles, and do not know the history of the starter or battery, so i may not be a good benchmark, but i've never had any other fuel or electrical problem. I think if the fuel filter was clogged, it would be sluggish.

When the time comes for me to get a battery or heaven forbid, a starter, i will update you.