# Bmw wont start-formerly battery drain

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-wont-start-formerly-battery-drain/28095>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [March 21, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-wont-start-formerly-battery-drain/28095 "2009-03-21T20:07:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![95bmw530](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/b5a626/32.png) [@95bmw530](https://community.cartalk.com/u/95bmw530)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-wont-start-formerly-battery-drain/28095/1 "2009-03-21T20:07:17Z")

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I charged and then tested the battery and the alternator according to Tester’s instructions and it checked out just fine. Before I charged it I heard a fast clicking when I tried to start it. Now I hear more like a slow grunt?? Helllllp!

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-wont-start-formerly-battery-drain/28095/2 "2009-03-21T20:49:47Z")

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Did you mention mileage in your previous post? Do a amperage draw test on your stsrter,you are getting into starter replacement range.

Some interesting features of your 3.0 V-8 almost all of these engines had a defective engine block. Fixing this problem was the “most” in everyway in BMW’s history. Google “nikaseal engine”

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**Author:** ![95bmw530](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/b5a626/32.png) [@95bmw530](https://community.cartalk.com/u/95bmw530)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-wont-start-formerly-battery-drain/28095/3 "2009-03-21T20:57:27Z")

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I just had the 120k service. How do I do an amperage test? I do have a multimeter with amperage capabilities. I usually work on houses, not cars. I really appreciate your help. I will check the web site too. thanks.

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-wont-start-formerly-battery-drain/28095/4 "2009-03-21T21:32:31Z")

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You will need a 0-400 amp gague,not really normal stuff to have around. You can get a idea of the amp draw by monitoring the battery voltage while cranking,like to see it stay around 11v min.

If the car runs its off to AutoZone for a starting/charging system test.Like to see the draw about 125 with about a 200 inital surge. Have you done a parasitic draw test? (a parasitic draw will not keep a fully charged battery from operating the starter nominally).

The web reading is just interesting,the sympton of the block defect is low compression. Pretty low mileage,have you checked you engine grounds? I think they are near the engine mount pedestal (heavy brown cable)