Car will pop start but wont turn over. New starter did nothing

[JoeDellio]

Its a 09/94 (95) 318i 5 speed. One day it just wont make any noise when the key is turned, but it will pop just fine. I havent had this car that long but Im sure I dont have any of the EWS crap, and itll pop anyways. I figured it was the starter so I replaced it, same thing, itll pop and run fine. I keep reading of a starter relay but cant find it, my cables seem to be fine and all have good contact. This is a FL car so everything is pretty clean wire wise as far as rust and corrosion is concerned. I hear a non-fully charged battery can be the culprit, but my lights are super bright and I dont have a battery light when driving. It wont even jump start. Any idea of where I should start looking? This is super annoying.

EDIT: Now that Ive looked into it I have realized I have EWS I. Right before this happened I was towed home with my car running so I could steer and brake (snapped a rear cv shaft), after I shut it off it wouldnt start back up. I dont know if it thought something was wrong?

[nicknikolovski]

When you say pop start, do you mean push starting? This a very strange issue. It could still be your battery, test it. And then when you get it running, make sure the alternator is charging correctly. Check for battery voltage at the starter solenoid wire (the smaller wire) with an assistant turning the key to the start position. If no battery voltage is present check the wiring between the ignition switch & starter solenoid.

And I'd hate to say it but your car being a '95 has got EWS II which uses a coded key & control unit to enable and disable the engine ecu & starter. This could be playing up.

[JoeDellio]

When you say pop start, do you mean push starting? This a very strange issue. It could still be your battery, test it. And then when you get it running, make sure the alternator is charging correctly. Check for battery voltage at the starter solenoid wire (the smaller wire) with an assistant turning the key to the start position. If no battery voltage is present check the wiring between the ignition switch & starter solenoid.

And I'd hate to say it but your car being a '95 has got EWS II which uses a coded key & control unit to enable and disable the engine ecu & starter. This could be playing up.

its an 09/94, no EWS2, I cant check the starter solenoid voltage because of the location of the starter on this engine.

[JoeDellio]

F*ck it, Ive wasted enough time looking for relays and crap, Im just got push button starter it.

[dwtaylorpdx]

Is the brake light fuse blown? cause it won't crank if it is....

Dave

[seadog]

Hey Joe, You didn't answer the earlier question.. do you mean it will push start, cause if it won't it may be fuel delivery issues as well.

[JoeDellio]

SEADOG
My bad, yes it will push start, which is weird. I say that because according to my research into my EWS I, if it is activated it will cut fuel and the starter, so Im not thinking that is the problem because I can push start it. Ive looked at the diagrahms for my starting system and I think if its my EWS I immobilizing the starter I can tap my push start relay in AFTER the starter immobilization relay wiring to get around it and see if its the wiring. What I really need to do first is test my voltage at the solenoid like everyone says to do, and what is obvious to do, but on the M42 in the E36 the manifold couldnt be more in the way.

DAVE

I am 99% sure my brake lights work. After experiencing my first electrical problem with my BMW and learning a little bit about it I wouldnt be surprised if my low washer fluid wasnt letting it start due to a safety issue.

Ill chime back in with the diagrahm Im using and how she turns out with the button.

[JoeDellio]

UPDATE: I started to do the switch and I started messing around. The Green wire from the ignition and the Yellow/Black are the ones I messed with. When I twist these together the car starts via the key. BUT, only when they are twisted together down by the relay. If I twist them together up by the actual ignition I get nothing. I pulled out the relay to see if it was indeed bypassing it but when I took the relay out I got nothing. Bizarre. I get Im just gonna twist em' up down by the relay and roll with it.

[DesktopDave]

If it was my car I'd be tempted to delete the whole idiotic EWS system.  Stupid bit of engineering.  I don't know that much about it.  I'd suspect that it's a few relays, with short life spans, that can flake out & keep the car from starting but make it a PITA to determine what's wrong.