I've tried searching everywhere for the solution but here's what's goin on:

One day I got in my 2003 MCS with 41,000 miles and it started up fine just like every other time. An hour later when I tried to start the car again I turned on the key and it would not start. The battery is fine and the lights, radio, ac all come on but the the engine doesn't crank or make any noise at all. My girlfriend helped me push-start the car and everything worked just fine. I have a broken collarbone now and I am unable to push-start the car and I don't like doing that either since South Florida has no hills to make things easier...

I can't find any starter fuses and I was thinking the problem may lie in the sensor that tells the car when the clutch is pushed fully but I cannot tell what may be wrong just by looking at it as there is nothing out of place.

I was thinking about checking for current at the starter to see if the starter is bad but does anybody have any help with this matter??

By the way, I have tried using both keys.

 

happened to me. we took it to our mechanic and he said it was something with the diagnostics and we had to take it to bmw and we took it to them. initially we thought someone tried to steal my car but it was just the ignition. we just had to replace the ignition.

and when you start it or turn the key twice the lights and everything come on? and if you turn it all the way it doesnt even make a starting noise?

 

Yeah, everything turns on just like normal but there is no sound or anything when I try to turn the key all the way to start it. What looks to me like the clutch sensor is pretty solid and doesnt look broken or out of place or unplugged. How much did BMW charge for the part and what about the labor? I'm going to stay as far away from them as I can because of bad experiences I've had in the past but I'm looking for a ballpark and I need my car to start...

 

When something like that happened to me it was the battery. I also checked fuses etc. because the radio and lights were working fine, so I figured it was a starter or ignition problem. But... it turned out to be the battery. If you haven't replaced the battery in your car yet, you might want to have it checked just in case.

 

Either the starter not getting a juice or your clutch switch is bad or dirty.
The clutch switch is in the top of the clutch pedal. Follow the clutch pedal and poke your head underneath and you will see an on & off switch.
Spray it with w-40 and might clear up.
If the starter is visible, bang it with hard object see if it will fire up.

 

Before you start guessing and buying parts, start with the simple an obvious first. Have you jumped the battery to a good battery? Do this first. Use good cables, cheap cables aren't worth the effort.

YD

 

given that you could bump start it I'd ask can you JUMP start it?

battery problem is much more probable then the clutch switch

if this is an 03 on the original battery I'll bet a glazed donut on the battery

 

It doesn't take a whole lot of power to run the radio or even the lights. It does take a lot to start a car.

I'm with Capt the battery is most likely kapoot! Have the battery tested, most parts houses will do that for free.

 

It takes about 550 watts to run my radio and probably a fair bit more for the fuel pump, A/C, and such. Anyways, tried jumping it today. Didn't work. It is such an easy car to push start thought...pop the clutch at 4 mph or so in second gear and it roars to life. Dropped it off at Naples Auto Electric for a free estimate that I'll get tomorrow. I'll let you guys know. I'm betting on the lock cylinder or the clutch sensor.

 

a really toasted battery won't jump . . .

 

+1

I hope for your sake it is something relatively inexpensive. I'd guess an ignition switch will be painful.

 

Took her in for a free diagnostic...turns out they said the battery is bad and that caused the starter to break?? Does that make sense? It has always cranked just fine. Also, where can I find a good price on a starter? They want 300 bucks:(

 

just buy new battery and try it again.
if the prob is the starter (which i mentioned) buy a used one if you cant afford $300. i saw between $100. to $80.
http://car-part.com/

 

my battery went out about a month after i bought it (it was an 04 that i bought 4-17-09) and push started it, got home, tried to jump it later with a suburban... and it still wouldn't start, so i pushed it one more time and went to autozone. Thats also when i learned that you should NOT close the sunroof, roll up the windows, and take a turn at the same time... power steering just disappeared...

 

check the grounding strap on the right side of the motor this happen to me