[f30paul]

Hi

Wonder whether any 330e owners or knowledgeable folk can help diagnose whether ive got a starter motor problem with my 330e.

First noticed a while ago but never made the connection, but tonight I was pulling out of a cobbled street at low speeds with no battery power left, therefore the engine kicked in and at low speeds I could clearly hear a metallic grinding sound, almost like I had loose components like heat shields etc… really quite loud and off putting. Later on in the drive when there was a little battery power, I then noticed that a similar shorter lasting noise was being made every time the engine had to kick in.

I’ve ruled out loose components as this doesn’t happen in manual modes even in low speed M1/M2, and going slowly over bumps I get nothing either.

It’s sounding more like a starter problem to me, the car is under extended warranty so can get it looked at if it’s pressing… does it sound like it’s going to imminently fail?

Thanks

[Eddamoo]

Yeah does sound like it. Starters usually fail by the solenoid-like plunger getting lazy and therefore not allowing the starter gear to engage with the Flywheel properly.

The resultant noise is usually a straight-cut teeth grinding (if its slow to activate), and/or a high pitched shriek/scrape noise after the engine fires (the sound of the engine spinning the starter as it didn't deactivate).

I would get this looked at ASAP as it could be chewing the flywheel teeth.

[f30paul]

Thanks, will book it in ASAP.

[JamGod]

Just out of interest, what age/mileage is your 330e?

Wondering if I can expect this soon and maybe pre-empt it.

[G82Dude]

Makes me wonder about all this start/stop malarkey. They say that the motors are beefed up and "designed" for start/stop tech. But what that actually means in reality remains a mystery. And a solenoid for the pinion gear is just that? How much beefing up can (does) it get?!