So, I changed my Starter tonight

Mr. Wolfe · Thu, Sep-02-2010, 01:36:24 AM

Wow, a little easier than I expected. I mean, the 2 bolts holding the starter on are no picnic, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It took me exactly 3 hrs. with a few 5 minute breaks. I figured it would take 4-5 hours.

So I started off using this thread to get to the starter.
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...hlight=starter

To remove the 2 bolts holding it on, I just used a 10mm 12 pt. wrench. You know, the one that every home garage has. I have a 10mm ratchet wrench, but COULDN'T FIND IT! That would have saved me MAD time. I would say at least 30 minutes.

The BMW starter is way over priced. I mean, really, I got 44k miles out of mine. So I decided to buy the Autozone Duralast starter. $152.00 and looks IDENTICAL. Even better yet, it has a lifetime warranty. I asked the guy at Autozone, "what if it goes in 150k miles from now?" He said, "bring it in and we will give you a new one." That's something BMW won't do with their starter that costs 3 times more.

Anyways, here is a picture of the 2 starters together.

They look identical in every way and now I don't have to worry about the stupid Valeo starter that BMW used. Also, I put a Duralast starter in my daily driver almost 50k miles ago and it still starts strong with no problems.

Here is another quick picture just for the hell of it.

And here's a picture for anyone wanting to know what all is involved/removed from the car.

I am glad to announce that my car starts now!! That is a great feature to have in an M3. Owning it now is way more fun than the past week of watching it sit around and collect dust.

Anyways, if anyone is planning on putting a starter in, in the near future, don't sweat it. It will feel like a pain at first, but push on... it's not too bad.

Mr. Wolfe

deadlysyns · Thu, Sep-02-2010, 02:05:08 AM

Kinda odd your starter crapped out on you so early. I have 81k miles still on the same one I believe.

Mr. Wolfe · Thu, Sep-02-2010, 02:10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadlysyns

Kinda odd your starter crapped out on you so early. I have 81k miles still on the same one I believe.

I agree, but there are many threads on here about pre-mature start wear. Good luck, I hope you get another 81k out of her.

Mr. Wolfe

deadlysyns · Thu, Sep-02-2010, 02:20:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Wolfe

I agree, but there are many threads on here about pre-mature start wear. Good luck, I hope you get another 81k out of her.

Mr. Wolfe

I just had to change my battery last week. I got 81k miles/6 years out of it.

excessive · Thu, Sep-02-2010, 02:26:17 AM

did the new starter have any stampings on it, like it was a remanufactured OEM unit?
I would just have a big problem putting a Chinese made starter on a German car....

///MU · Thu, Sep-02-2010, 03:31:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Wolfe

I am glad to announce that my car starts now!! That is a great feature to have in an M3.

Congrats on getting the car running again!

Were there any early signs that your starter was beginning to go? For instance, if I leave my car parked out in the sun long enough and come back, my car won't start. I'm worried that it might be the starter as well.

AltF4 · Thu, Sep-02-2010, 03:50:04 AM

Honestly, I think BMW has been unnecessarily price gouging people.

"Geninue BMW" starter is 304.00 + 50.00 core charge from Pelican.

M42boy · Wed, Sep-08-2010, 05:01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AltF4

Honestly, I think BMW has been unnecessarily price gouging people.

"Geninue BMW" starter is 304.00 + 50.00 core charge from Pelican.

IMHO, a starter is a starter. I think the Duralast one will work fine and hopefully last longer than 44k miles the OE got. However, I've got 150k on my original starter (no records of a replacement), so i think it was a fluke that it failed so early.

Glad to see the Duralast one is basically identical. I'd go the same route.

Lifetime Warranty is a big bonus as well!

Mr. Wolfe · Wed, Sep-08-2010, 01:07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M42boy

IMHO, a starter is a starter. I think the Duralast one will work fine and hopefully last longer than 44k miles the OE got. However, I've got 150k on my original starter (no records of a replacement), so i think it was a fluke that it failed so early.

Glad to see the Duralast one is basically identical. I'd go the same route.

Lifetime Warranty is a big bonus as well!

I agree that it was somewhat of a fluke to only last 44k miles. BUT, I think the over under on this starter is around 100k miles. (pretty typical for any starter) If I get half of that out of the Duralast (expect to get more), I will still be happy replacing the starter for free and a couple hours of my own labor.

Plus every time it fails, it will give a chance to clean them terminals.

Mr. Wolfe

bmwm3smg2 · Thu, Sep-02-2010, 04:03:54 AM

Did your started just die completely or did you have the intermittent starting issue that others experienced? I noticed that my car takes a few more seconds to start nowadays. It's bugging the heck out of me because I've seen this happen to my friend's M3.

Thu, Sep-02-2010, 01:36:24 AM	#1
Mr. Wolfe Anti-Bling Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 9,423 In the garage: '03 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Above Pittsburgh	So, I changed my Starter tonight Wow, a little easier than I expected. I mean, the 2 bolts holding the starter on are no picnic, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It took me exactly 3 hrs. with a few 5 minute breaks. I figured it would take 4-5 hours. So I started off using this thread to get to the starter. http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...hlight=starter To remove the 2 bolts holding it on, I just used a 10mm 12 pt. wrench. You know, the one that every home garage has. I have a 10mm ratchet wrench, but COULDN'T FIND IT! That would have saved me MAD time. I would say at least 30 minutes. The BMW starter is way over priced. I mean, really, I got 44k miles out of mine. So I decided to buy the Autozone Duralast starter. $152.00 and looks IDENTICAL. Even better yet, it has a lifetime warranty. I asked the guy at Autozone, "what if it goes in 150k miles from now?" He said, "bring it in and we will give you a new one." That's something BMW won't do with their starter that costs 3 times more. Anyways, here is a picture of the 2 starters together. They look identical in every way and now I don't have to worry about the stupid Valeo starter that BMW used. Also, I put a Duralast starter in my daily driver almost 50k miles ago and it still starts strong with no problems. Here is another quick picture just for the hell of it. And here's a picture for anyone wanting to know what all is involved/removed from the car. I am glad to announce that my car starts now!! That is a great feature to have in an M3. Owning it now is way more fun than the past week of watching it sit around and collect dust. Anyways, if anyone is planning on putting a starter in, in the near future, don't sweat it. It will feel like a pain at first, but push on... it's not too bad. Mr. Wolfe __________________ 2003 Alpine/Cinnamon ///M3 Coupe 6MT ZCP Wheels l 4.10 Diff. l KWv2 l JVT l ESS l H&R Sway l AR-20's l 10mm/15mm Spacers l ZHP Shift Knob l FK 452's l RE l PF

Thu, Sep-02-2010, 02:05:08 AM	#2
deadlysyns Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,037 Reputation: 0 Location: DFW	Kinda odd your starter crapped out on you so early. I have 81k miles still on the same one I believe. __________________

Thu, Sep-02-2010, 03:50:04 AM	#7
AltF4 In for pics... Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,277 In the garage: '02 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Austin	Honestly, I think BMW has been unnecessarily price gouging people. "Geninue BMW" starter is 304.00 + 50.00 core charge from Pelican. __________________ 2002 E46 M3 ~ SMGII VMR V710 : TR MT01 : ZCP Brakes : StopTech : PFC : AR20 : UUC / Corsa Ground Control Susp/Sway : RE FCAB : DICE : BW : AFE : PF : DEPO : Scoops Coby Wheel : Black Trimming : Custom Alcantera / Brushed Alum Dove Grey

Thu, Sep-02-2010, 04:03:54 AM	#10
bmwm3smg2 stock for now... Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,806 In the garage: '02 BMW M COUPE Reputation: 0 Location: NJ	Did your started just die completely or did you have the intermittent starting issue that others experienced? I noticed that my car takes a few more seconds to start nowadays. It's bugging the heck out of me because I've seen this happen to my friend's M3. __________________ Erwin

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Thu, Sep-02-2010, 02:26:17 AM	#5
excessive Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 705 Reputation: 0	did the new starter have any stampings on it, like it was a remanufactured OEM unit? I would just have a big problem putting a Chinese made starter on a German car....