[bmwphd]

Hi,

I got a 6m M3 one week ago and it is hard to start in the mornings. It sits in the garage overnight and the temperatures are not very low in May.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Thank you.

 

[bmwphd]

Thank you for the inputs guys. I am really freaked out; what is this? :bawling: This morning the check engine light went on after the second start attempt (which was successful).

 

[bmwphd]

I have a similar cold start problem with my M3. On cold mornings, the M3 doesn't start until the 2nd try. Throughout the rest of the day, or on warm mornings, it starts fine. When it was still under warranty last year, the dealer "re-flashed the ECU" but the problem never went away. Since then, my warranty has expired, but everyone else I've talked to thinks it's a problem related to fuel delivery. FWIW good luck!

-Andy

I took the car to the dealer today. They found a fault related to the fuel expansion tank. The P/N listed on the invoice I got from them (16-13-6-764-191) is for a leak diagnostic pump. RealOEM has a nice diagram for the whole fuel ventilation system.

I am cusrious to see if it starts on the first try tomorrow morning :bow:

 

[bmwphd]

Nice... I hope that fixes it for you.

$90 part, but it looks like a PITA to replace.

Thanks,
Andy

5/12/2006: It started fine :clap: I won't get very excited though because so did it yesterday morning before taking it to the dealer. Both yesterday and today it was warmer and more humid than the other days.

The SA said that the part they replaced was cracked! On a 250 mile car? What's up with BMW? A lot of people seem to experience the problem; really embarassing for on M3 chocking up when starting:thumbdwn:

 

[bmwphd]

Nice... I hope that fixes it for you.

$90 part, but it looks like a PITA to replace.

Thanks,
Andy

Andy,

It took ~2hrs from the time I dropped it off until they called me saying that they fixed it. I don't know exactly where the fuel expansion tank it is on the M3; I looked at the repair manual for the regular E46s and it seems that one has to remove the wheel and the wheel well cover to get access to it. I'll spend more time this weekend trying to figure out where it is and how they did it.

 

[bmwphd]

I've always turned the ignition to position 2 and waited until the beeps stop before starting... yet I still have the "cold start problem" intermittently. I didn't know about the fuel pump being "primed" during that time, but I have heard about the SMG hydraulic pump.

Thanks,
Andy

The "wait until the beep stops" approach does not work for me. I thought that the replacement of the expansion tank part would solve the problem; I was wrong. My M3 did no start on the first attempt for the past 2 days. I agree with you guys that it must be a fuel delivery problem. I will contact BMW to complain about it; they have to issue a TSB to fix the problem. We might have to petition them.

 

[bmwphd]

BMW NA said they are unaware of the M3 starting problem and recommended talking to the service manager. I'll talk to her.

 

[bmwphd]

Have you tried this? 1) Put the key in position 2, wait for the seatbelt beep to go away, 2) without depressing the clutch pedal move the key to the start position and hold it there for a couple of seconds (I hear some mechanism working), 3) start the car the usual way. It worked for me this morning but I have to reproduce it several times to see if it really works. I figure this is less harsh on the car than actually having the engine crank and choke on the first attempt.

 

[bmwphd]

I may be wrong, but in all my experiences with fuel injected cars, going back to 1981 Jaguars (German Bosch-Jetronic), in cold start problems of sorts where you have to prime fuel system by holding the key in On-position, nearly without exception the culprit was loss of fuel pressure over time. Overnight, for example. This was due to a tiny leak in system, even on connectors. As some posts show, fuel expansion tank, for example. Sometimes, faulty (leaking) injector(s). I doubt any of these would show up in diagnostics, but may be? My '01 just started to have this problem, I plan to check all fuel system out. I remeber replacing injectors and pressure regulators on my early cars. But these leaks can be anywhere, including fuel pump. :dunno:

It has to be a fuel delivery problem. I took the car to the dealer again; they will let it sit overnight and try to reproduce the problem in the morning...

 

[bmwphd]

^^^ i did that, and they dont find anything...its gay as ****...i called BMWNA and obv. they have no idea about the problem...this sucks.

So at least two of us brought it to the attention of BMWNA. Does anybody know how all of us can file a "formal" complaint, petition, etc? I don't want to spend all this money on this car and get frustrated every time I get into it - I bought it to have fun.

 

[bmwphd]

loud air pump?

When I start my 06 M3 in the morning the secondary air pump is very loud; it turns off after 10-15 seconds. Does anybody else have a loud air pump on their M3? My car is in the shop for the cold start problem and the SA said they would replace the secondary air pump. To me that sounds like eliminating the effect and not the cause but let them have a try.

On another note - of paranoia that is - does anybody think that BMW put the engines that did not pass muster in the previous years in the 06 production cars?

 

[bmwphd]

they did not fix it

They replaced the secondary air pump which was very loud but the starting problem is still there. I'll take it back to the dealer - this is so frustrating.:bawling:

 

[bmwphd]

your in delaware...im in philly...its tHE GAS!!!!!!!

I guess we have to switch to jet fuel... :idea:

I think there's a fuel leak somewhere; otherwise why would it always start on the 2nd try?

Have you taken your M3 to Otto's?

 

[bmwphd]

Check this thread: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=114721

Wow! What's up with the Gov't?!

 

[bmwphd]

BMW NA recommended gasoline

Here's part of a reply from a BMW NA rep:

"I am sorry to hear of your continued concerns. I am happy to confirm
BMW recommends Top Tier gasoline."

There's a website dedicated to thir Top Tier detergent gasoline. Here's the list of top tier retailers.

QuikTrip
Chevron
Conoco
Phillips
76
Shell
Entec Stations
MFA Oil Company
Kwik Trip/Kwik Star
The Somerset Refinery, Inc.
Chevron-Canada
Aloha Petroleum
Tri-Par Oil Company
Shell-Canada

 

[bmwphd]

and i have NONE of those near me...AWESOME!!

Do you have any Texaco's around? Some of them sell gasoline with Techron (the stuff in Chevron's gas). Even though Chevron bought Texaco a while back apparently not all Texacos sell the good stuff.

Here's how to tell if they have the good stuff: http://www.texaco.com/findatexaco/find_techron.asp

 

[bmwphd]

That's funny... I've always used Shell 93 and still have the same issue occassionally.

I switched to V-power Shell and I still have the problem... The colder the ambient the worse the problem. This morning it was very hot and it started right up.

The top tier gasoline has better detergency than the others; I think the ethanol causes the cold starting problems.