Re: Starter solenoid contacts maybe bad (archive)

that is for a gear reduction starter made by nippondenso ,the m3 uses a bosch starter and does not have starter contacts. it does have a starter soleniod which can/does fail, these cars also have a starter interupt signal thru the OBC ( the one you have to enter code for) and there is a relay box for the OBC and the starter relay may be going bad. do a little diagnostics if you can and see if voltage is getting to the starter solenoid from the key switch (look for 12v + at smaller of two small eyelet wires on soleniod or at pin 11 of Diag connector)with the key in the start position of ignition switch.
I know that sometimes the contacts on your starter solenoid get worn or 'burnt' and the solenoid magnet pulls the contacts togethor but sometimes it just doesn't make contact. You still have power to all your normal start circuits (fuel pump etc.) because of this. I know on Toyotas (nippon-denso) you can replace just the contacts, but I don't know if you can do this to a Bosch starter.
Jake, Tucson AZ
89 M3

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