n52 long crank from cold?

wolfe · 09-10-2012, 06:45 AM

Anyone else notice this with their 128i?

If I leave the car sitting overnight or for a couple of days, it cranks for longer to start up. Starting it again warm, or even after sitting all day it's fine, fires right up.

It hasn't always done this, and I've run a few tanks of gas through it so I don't think it's bad gas. Car has 30k miles on it.

Curious whether it's normal or just my car.

m3nt0s · 09-10-2012, 07:02 AM

When you say cold, how cold do you mean? Mine has just over 35k miles on it and starting it ~45 deg. F I can't say I've experienced any trouble or worries. It may have been a tad longer than on a hot day, but nothing out of the ordinary.

flinchy · 09-10-2012, 07:26 AM

if it's a normal temp outside, oil isn't too thick (what weight oil?)

could be dodgy coils or spark plugs, most common.

631twentyeighteye · 09-10-2012, 09:54 AM

Mine does this when cold too. Had 25.5k when I got it and has 27.7k now. I think it's normal when cold, I'll have plugs done eventually but I'm out of warranty(bought privately) and am a broke college student.

wolfe · 09-10-2012, 10:31 AM

Sorry guys, when I say cold I mean a cold start, engine starting at ambient temperature (which has been 80F-90F+ here). Oil weight is 0w30.

I'll try and get a side by side video, it's not anywhere near as bad as the N54 long crank videos I've seen but it's almost as if it fires a couple of cycles after it should.

631twentyeighteye · 09-10-2012, 12:42 PM

yeah mine has that too, basically just when the engine hasn't ran all day and is just started. it's sounds like two extra cranks and starts mid 3rd crank kinda iffy and then continue's to start. i'll try and get a video of it tomorrow morning when i leave for school.

wolfe · 09-10-2012, 02:52 PM

Yes that sounds exactly the same. If you could get a video too that'd be awesome.

631twentyeighteye · 09-12-2012, 10:20 AM

Have the video. I'll post it in a few hours when I get out of class.

631twentyeighteye · 09-12-2012, 12:46 PM

wolfe · 09-12-2012, 05:32 PM

Thanks for uploading, looks to be exactly the same. Here's mine (cold vs. warm)

Just about every other post I've found so far points to the battery or bad gas. I've refilled the tank several times without any change. Going to change the coolant this weekend, and had to buy a battery charger for that so I don't drain it while bleeding the system. I'll update this if charging the battery makes any difference. Can't see that it would though it's only 2 years old.

Evice · 09-13-2012, 12:34 PM

I've 70k on my car, and it drops to quite a bit to lows here in Ohio. Never had that...

Alow · 09-13-2012, 10:11 PM

I have never had that either.

Edit: Just Happened yesterday morning. I guess I never noticed

wolfe · 09-26-2012, 09:59 AM

Fully charged the battery this weekend, didn't seem to make any difference.

gt2013 · 07-31-2021, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe

Fully charged the battery this weekend, didn't seem to make any difference.

I know this is an ancient thread but my 1 series started doing this. Starter is brand new, haven't checked the battery yet.

What was the cause of your issues?

///Makis · 08-06-2021, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe

Fully charged the battery this weekend, didn't seem to make any difference.

I know this is an ancient thread but my 1 series started doing this. Starter is brand new, haven't checked the battery yet.

What was the cause of your issues?

I don't think you're going to get a reply but my car has been doing this for a while now and I'm about to change the starter.

Do you have a 128 or 135? I realize post says n52 but I think failing fuel pump could be a cause on 135.

I think it could be anecdotal but in the mornings when I start my car I'll sometimes push the start button twice without foot on break and wait a few moments before starting the engine and I feel like it turns on with less hesitancy.

Was your starter brand new or rebuilt? Which brand is it?

Did you install it or did bmw / Indy shop?

LuisBoston · 12-03-2021, 11:54 AM

Re-upping this thread. My 128i has been doing this recently. The battery is a year old. When I have it plugged in (on battery tender), it does not appear to do this but I haven't tested it extensively with the tender connected.

Could it be the starter?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Makis

I don't think you're going to get a reply but my car has been doing this for a while now and I'm about to change the starter.

Do you have a 128 or 135? I realize post says n52 but I think failing fuel pump could be a cause on 135.

I think it could be anecdotal but in the mornings when I start my car I'll sometimes push the start button twice without foot on break and wait a few moments before starting the engine and I feel like it turns on with less hesitancy.

Was your starter brand new or rebuilt? Which brand is it?

Did you install it or did bmw / Indy shop?

Alow · 02-03-2022, 02:20 PM

Funny enough, my car stopped doing this when I changed the starter last month.

I had no reason to change the starter.. my car is at 87k and it seemed to be fine, but I changed it because I was doing the 3 stage intake manifold and while I had everything apart I said why not... when I finished everything and fired it back up - I noticed the engine started so much quicker than I am used to. Surprised me. So for my car at my mileage and age, it made a difference.

09-10-2012, 06:45 AM	#1
wolfe Captain 134 Rep 613 Posts Drives: e82 / e70 / r56 / r60 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	n52 long crank from cold? Anyone else notice this with their 128i? If I leave the car sitting overnight or for a couple of days, it cranks for longer to start up. Starting it again warm, or even after sitting all day it's fine, fires right up. It hasn't always done this, and I've run a few tanks of gas through it so I don't think it's bad gas. Car has 30k miles on it. Curious whether it's normal or just my car.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

09-10-2012, 07:02 AM	#2
m3nt0s New Member 2 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 09 128i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Doylestown, PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 128i [0.00]	When you say cold, how cold do you mean? Mine has just over 35k miles on it and starting it ~45 deg. F I can't say I've experienced any trouble or worries. It may have been a tad longer than on a hot day, but nothing out of the ordinary. __________________ E46 M3 Coupe - 09/04 Production, 99k miles, Black/Black, SMG, BBS RG-R + AS3’s, CSL flash, Karbonius airbox, Koni Yellow, Xtrons, SAP Delete, lockdowns complete E39 530i - 03/03 Production, 235k miles, Black/Black, Manual swap, Sport Package, Misc software, exhaust, and suspension mods FOR SALE: E91 328xi - Space Gray on Chestnut, N52, Xenons, 83k miles, stock
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-10-2012, 07:26 AM	#3
flinchy Brigadier General 126 Rep 3,099 Posts Drives: E82 135i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: QLD, Australia iTrader: (0)	if it's a normal temp outside, oil isn't too thick (what weight oil?) could be dodgy coils or spark plugs, most common.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-10-2012, 09:54 AM	#4
631twentyeighteye Colonel 198 Rep 2,239 Posts Drives: 08 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Long island iTrader: (7)	Mine does this when cold too. Had 25.5k when I got it and has 27.7k now. I think it's normal when cold, I'll have plugs done eventually but I'm out of warranty(bought privately) and am a broke college student. __________________ 08 e93 335i MT
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-10-2012, 10:31 AM	#5
wolfe Captain 134 Rep 613 Posts Drives: e82 / e70 / r56 / r60 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	Sorry guys, when I say cold I mean a cold start, engine starting at ambient temperature (which has been 80F-90F+ here). Oil weight is 0w30. I'll try and get a side by side video, it's not anywhere near as bad as the N54 long crank videos I've seen but it's almost as if it fires a couple of cycles after it should.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-10-2012, 12:42 PM	#6
631twentyeighteye Colonel 198 Rep 2,239 Posts Drives: 08 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Long island iTrader: (7)	yeah mine has that too, basically just when the engine hasn't ran all day and is just started. it's sounds like two extra cranks and starts mid 3rd crank kinda iffy and then continue's to start. i'll try and get a video of it tomorrow morning when i leave for school.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-10-2012, 02:52 PM	#7
wolfe Captain 134 Rep 613 Posts Drives: e82 / e70 / r56 / r60 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	Yes that sounds exactly the same. If you could get a video too that'd be awesome.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-12-2012, 10:20 AM	#8
631twentyeighteye Colonel 198 Rep 2,239 Posts Drives: 08 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Long island iTrader: (7)	Have the video. I'll post it in a few hours when I get out of class. __________________ 08 e93 335i MT
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-12-2012, 12:46 PM	#9
631twentyeighteye Colonel 198 Rep 2,239 Posts Drives: 08 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Long island iTrader: (7)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-12-2012, 05:32 PM	#10
wolfe Captain 134 Rep 613 Posts Drives: e82 / e70 / r56 / r60 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	Thanks for uploading, looks to be exactly the same. Here's mine (cold vs. warm) Just about every other post I've found so far points to the battery or bad gas. I've refilled the tank several times without any change. Going to change the coolant this weekend, and had to buy a battery charger for that so I don't drain it while bleeding the system. I'll update this if charging the battery makes any difference. Can't see that it would though it's only 2 years old.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-13-2012, 12:34 PM	#11
Evice Major 194 Rep 1,457 Posts Drives: E92M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere here iTrader: (1)	I've 70k on my car, and it drops to quite a bit to lows here in Ohio. Never had that... __________________ My Track Videos
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-13-2012, 10:11 PM	#12
Alow Lieutenant 38 Rep 456 Posts Drives: E82 128i, F36 430i GC Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO iTrader: (3)	I have never had that either. Edit: Just Happened yesterday morning. I guess I never noticed
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-26-2012, 09:59 AM	#13
wolfe Captain 134 Rep 613 Posts Drives: e82 / e70 / r56 / r60 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	Fully charged the battery this weekend, didn't seem to make any difference.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-03-2022, 02:20 PM	#17
Alow Lieutenant 38 Rep 456 Posts Drives: E82 128i, F36 430i GC Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO iTrader: (3)	Funny enough, my car stopped doing this when I changed the starter last month. I had no reason to change the starter.. my car is at 87k and it seemed to be fine, but I changed it because I was doing the 3 stage intake manifold and while I had everything apart I said why not... when I finished everything and fired it back up - I noticed the engine started so much quicker than I am used to. Surprised me. So for my car at my mileage and age, it made a difference.
	Appreciate 0 Quote