Starting e90 320d in -7c

urfankhaliq · 12-21-2010, 05:22 PM

Ok so firstly im not sure if many of you will be able to help as i dont think you have many diesels across the pond and im posting from the UK....

This morning I tried starting my car in the -7c temp and everytime I put the key fob in and pressed the start button I got the coil light on for a second or two then it went off but car wouldnt start!!? I tried this over and over again with no joy.

The first press would turn ignition on and the second press would show the coil light? Normally the first press just starts the car.

So I locked the car to come in and check the book for some special instructions for the extreme temp. Meanwhile my brother went to try again and it worked first time!!

Any ideas??

hmmcolor · 12-21-2010, 05:36 PM

I hear it's a good idea to build a small fire underneath the front of the car.

jaybird124 · 12-21-2010, 06:05 PM

Maybe you're supposed to hold the ignition button down?

OnlyTruth · 12-21-2010, 07:48 PM

Dead battery?

timmahh · 12-21-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urfankhaliq

Meanwhile my brother went to try again and it worked first time!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oleg

Dead battery?

OP - Mayhaps it was so friggin cold the car couldn't start, but after repeated attempts the plugs warmed up enough to start combustion?

Do 335d's have glow plugs? Do any diesels these days?! I haven't started a diesel since I was a kid, we had to go flip a switch in my dads truck to warm up the plugs.

jaybird124 · 12-21-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmahh

OP - Mayhaps it was so friggin cold the car couldn't start, but after repeated attempts the plugs warmed up enough to start combustion?

Do 335d's have glow plugs? Do any diesels these days?! I haven't started a diesel since I was a kid, we had to go flip a switch in my dads truck to warm up the plugs.

They do have glow plugs. It states it in the manual. They just arent needed for regular starts, just for cold weather.

timmahh · 12-21-2010, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaybird124

They do have glow plugs. It states it in the manual. They just arent needed for regular starts, just for cold weather.

ah cool thx for the info

So OP - Mayhaps the gold plugs needed a few start attempts to warm up enough to start the engine? Do they make a plug in engine warmer for the 335d?

Kamando · 12-21-2010, 10:31 PM

335d does the same thing in very cold weather. I found out that if you continue to hold down the brake after the initial engine start attempt, that gives you the glow plug symbol, then the warmup and start process is performed automatically. No need to press the engine start button again after you see the symbol just don't let off the brake.

Coolieman1220 · 12-22-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamando

335d does the same thing in very cold weather. I found out that if you continue to hold down the brake after the initial engine start attempt, that gives you the glow plug symbol, then the warmup and start process is performed automatically. No need to press the engine start button again after you see the symbol just don't let off the brake.

^ good to know. also OP maybe your fuel is gelled?

DnA Diesel · 12-22-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamando

335d does the same thing in very cold weather. I found out that if you continue to hold down the brake after the initial engine start attempt, that gives you the glow plug symbol, then the warmup and start process is performed automatically. No need to press the engine start button again after you see the symbol just don't let off the brake.

Agree.

OP, I think you may have inadvertently interrupted the start sequence by removing your foot from the brake prior to the automatic engagement of the starter (post glow).

If it ever gets cold enough for glow plugs, I'll try taking my foot off the brake to see if it affects the start sequence. I usually don't get a glowplug wait until its around -15C or lower.

Cheers
D

EVTee · 12-22-2010, 03:53 PM

That's good to know, although I don't think I'll ever see the glow plug symbol where I live.

maswastage · 12-22-2010, 03:58 PM

Hm, my car engages the glow plugs even now when it's a little below freezing; I'll press the button, the coil symbol will come up for about half a second, and then the car will start normally. I agree with what DnA said- I think the start up process can be interrupted if you take your foot off the brake, which could have caused the OP's problems. If it's a habit for you to take your foot off the brake as soon as you press the button, then you may have been letting go too soon each time and interrupting the glow plug sequence.

12-21-2010, 05:22 PM	#1
urfankhaliq Captain 65 Rep 824 Posts Drives: BMW 530e G30 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Leeds iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW 325D Msport [0.00] 2003 BMW X5 [0.00] 2005 BMW 320D SE [0.00]	Starting e90 320d in -7c Ok so firstly im not sure if many of you will be able to help as i dont think you have many diesels across the pond and im posting from the UK.... This morning I tried starting my car in the -7c temp and everytime I put the key fob in and pressed the start button I got the coil light on for a second or two then it went off but car wouldnt start!!? I tried this over and over again with no joy. The first press would turn ignition on and the second press would show the coil light? Normally the first press just starts the car. So I locked the car to come in and check the book for some special instructions for the extreme temp. Meanwhile my brother went to try again and it worked first time!! Any ideas?? __________________ BMW 530e G30
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12-21-2010, 05:36 PM	#2
hmmcolor Second Lieutenant 2 Rep 259 Posts Drives: E90 335i 6MT Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I hear it's a good idea to build a small fire underneath the front of the car. __________________ 2000 Dodge Dakota 4.7 2007 335i 6MT
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12-21-2010, 06:05 PM	#3
jaybird124 Major 157 Rep 1,046 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Maybe you're supposed to hold the ignition button down? __________________ '17 M3 Imola Red/Carbonstructure Cloth, Competition, Lighting, 6MT Retired: '93 325i \|'99 Jeep Wrangler Sport \|'06 330i Sport \|'08 335i Sport \|'08 328i Sport \|'09 335d Sport
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12-21-2010, 07:48 PM	#4
OnlyTruth Lieutenant 17 Rep 547 Posts Drives: 2011 535 iX Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NY iTrader: (3)	Dead battery? __________________ 2011 535 iX lemoned
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12-21-2010, 10:31 PM	#8
Kamando Captain 56 Rep 617 Posts Drives: - Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: - iTrader: (3)	335d does the same thing in very cold weather. I found out that if you continue to hold down the brake after the initial engine start attempt, that gives you the glow plug symbol, then the warmup and start process is performed automatically. No need to press the engine start button again after you see the symbol just don't let off the brake. Last edited by Kamando; 12-21-2010 at 10:42 PM..
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12-22-2010, 03:53 PM	#11
EVTee Second Lieutenant 63 Rep 267 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	That's good to know, although I don't think I'll ever see the glow plug symbol where I live.
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12-22-2010, 03:58 PM	#12
maswastage Resident Diesel Junkie 56 Rep 1,070 Posts Drives: 2010 AW 335d Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Hm, my car engages the glow plugs even now when it's a little below freezing; I'll press the button, the coil symbol will come up for about half a second, and then the car will start normally. I agree with what DnA said- I think the start up process can be interrupted if you take your foot off the brake, which could have caused the OP's problems. If it's a habit for you to take your foot off the brake as soon as you press the button, then you may have been letting go too soon each time and interrupting the glow plug sequence.
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