jobuzulu

First, thanks to everyone with tips/advice/education on getting this issue fixed! I finally used the meter to measure voltage at the primary lug (getting 12v) then the trigger wire (was getting nada). when I went to pull the trigger wire off of the starter spade the connector stayed on the spade and the wire came out. Measured the bare trigger wire voltage when I engaged the ignition...12 volts. put a new connector on the wire and the dang thing fired right up.

So, on the bad side, I paid for a new starter I didn't really need...but on the bright side, I paid for an M3 starter I didn't really need--but it's a beast!!

If anyone needs an original style starter here in the NW let me know...you can get it dirt cheap. If not, I'll keep her for spare.

Holy cow! Over 30 02s! Yep, exactly the place...go out there occasionally to climb Teneriffe or mt Si and always see his cars parked out front. Awesome Sasquatch pic...think I saw him out there last night!

Marty, Will do, thanks for the tip! On a side note...do you happen to live in the North Bend area below Mt Si? Whomever does live in that area has a sweet collection of 2002s in their front yard...at least 4 or 5 from what I could tell.

Awesome, thanks for the info! Will def pick one of these up when I get a chance to confirm the voltage is less than 12v

Yep, I can (could) use a screw driver on the original starter, touching the terminals, to bypass the solenoid and actually start/drive the car. This is what led me to think it was a bad solenoid on the original starter.

Now that I've changed the starter and have the same problem, I suspect a problem with the power delivery to the solenoid. Buying an Ohm-meter today (I know, should have done this already) to check the voltage at the starter.

Synopsis of actions taken to date on this problem:

new battery

new negative battery cable

cleaned terminals (multiple times)

new M3 starter

Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated, especially if you think I'm going in the wrong direction!!

6 years US Air Force enlisted - B1 Bomber avionics tech

5 years US Air Force officer - flew as weapons controller on awacs and then ground weapons controller for a couple of years, calling CAS in support of the Army (OEF & OIF). Still do this in the ANG.

Currently contract software test engineer in Seattle for a large aerospace company but have recently been hired by NATO as the Operational Test Manager for their new AGS (Global Hawk) program. Will be moving to Brussels sometime in the next few months. Bought my 2002 earlier this year (it's not prisitine by any measure). It's my first really old car and it's def been a learning experience!

So...replaced the starter with the M3 S14 starter ordered from Ireland Racing. put the trigger wire on the bottom spade as I've seen in other threads. Cleaned all terminals once again. Still just getting the click coming from the voltage regulator (driver's side, inside left fender). Any other suggestions?? thanks!

Success!! (sort of)

Along with the negative line from the battery to the engine I have grounding strap from the battery to the frame.

I cleaned the terminals very well on the battery and on the starter. Still just the click (from the voltage regulator). So, I used the wooden wire brush handle and a rubber mallet to jar the starter a bit. After doing this I re-attempted to attach the negative cable to the battery (with positive already attached) and got all kinds of sparks and the car jumped and tried to start, i.e. it turned over. I had the wife come out and engage the brake and turned the key in the run position. Touched the negative to the battery again and got the car to start but now it seems the starter is stuck in "engage" position. Currently have the battery disconnected of course.

Should I attempt to "tap" it some more or just call it good and get a new starter?

Thanks again everyone for the help.

Ok, couldn't wait until morning to jump the terminals on the starter...ran out to the garage real quick and used a screw-driver. Got some nice sparks and the starter was spinning when I did this. But when I try to start it I still just get the click. Will clean terminals tomorrow. Thanks again gents for all the help!

There's not a good spot around my neighborhood to do a bump-start but if cleaning the terminals doesn't pan out then I'll try jumping the starter terminals.

I replaced the negative battery cable when I put in the new battery (it was cruddy). I will clean the + battery terminal and clean it at the starter also, first thing after work tomorrow (the + on the starter is very clean, fyi...the starter looks nearly new). Thanks very much for the help!

So..I bought a 74 2002 this summer and it has had some modifications (320i alternator, etc). I only drive it (drove it) once a week and it has been getting more and more difficult to start. For the last month I've had to jump it off to get it going but once I do I can drive it for the day and it starts fine. Now I can't even jump it off, just get the "click-click". Thought it was possibly the battery but it apparently wasn't after putting in a new one with the same problem. After reading many other posts on this forum I'm thinking it may be my starter (the current one looks fairly new, not sure if it's the M3 modded version...I don't think it is). Any other ideas before I fork out the cash for a new starter? thanks much

thanks again! Forums like this are great because much smarter people than myself can help keep you out of trouble! They've mentioned they'll come down on the price also

Thanks for the information...The dealer mentioned it came from Germany (I obviously mistook that for it being a Euro model) and the euro plate made me think that too...You can def tell the car was red before and the "white" paint-job wasn't done very well...the interior has definitely been updated (not all original), which isn't a big deal to me, but I would like to be able to drive the car on a semi-regular basis without worrying about the engine/transmission/brakes.

Thanks! Knew it wasn't a 2000, but wasn't sure what displacement engine it had...figured one of you would know the quickest

Awesome, thanks! (and the ad says the model is a "2000", not a 2002)

Never had an older BMW before and was thinking of buying this one...can anyone tell from the pics what size engine the car has? It's originally from Germany...wasn't sure if it was a 1.6/1.8/ or 2.0. The ad says it's a "2000" which obviously isn't the case. Thanks for any help!!!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/ctd/2438580697.html