I am having some very serious problems with my BMW. It is an 81 320is with a 2.0 upgrade. In any case I am having some really weird starting problems and I am wondering if any of you have encountered this.

When my car desires it does not start, it does not even turn over. When I turn the key nothing happens. The battery is charged and the car has plenty of electrical power. I thought it was the starter. I first took it in after my car did this at the US / Canada border in May. I took it to my shop in Victoria and they could not find anything wrong with it, because the car was starting again. They told me to wait until it broke and then to take it back and they could replace what needed replacing.

Well here I am and the car won’t start again. This time I took it in to another repair shop hoping it was finally repairable. They didn’t fix it and said I need to take it to a BMW shop. I am not an idiot and I know how simple these cars are, they do not need to go to a BMW dealer. If I had the tools I would have changed the starter myself.

Do any of you have any idea what the problem with my car might be? Again when I turn the key everything powers up, there is no power dimming, there is no click, and there is no turn over, there is nothing. It only happens when my car is in the mood. I have to take this car on the ferry and I am very scared that it won’t start.

Help!!

Spalding

yes , sounds like a warn solenoid on your starter. i would also check the ignition control unit for damage or a loose connection(a little plastic device covered by a rubber boot next to the strut tower on the front left strut).you're right the ignition system is very basic. to tell if it's the solenoid or the ignition control unit,next time it won't start remove a spark plug wire and see if it sparks when you turn it over. if there is spark it's the solenoid if there's no spark its the ignition control unit assuming your coil is good.