Having some issues with not starting, but issues that say it's the BCM. Happened only after a HUGE rainfall. I have swapped out headliner, so maybe some water got in somewhere. No sunroof.
Question is: where are some of the ground points I should check out??
I know of the one close to the SC pulley, and obviously by the battery. Where are some others? Any underneath car connected to starter? Etc?

 

Have you tried to push start the car if it is a manual? Does it start if push started?

The only way you would've gotten water into the car at that point would be from a botched windshield, window left open, or a weatherstrip not properly installed. Have you pulled the carpet back to inspect the BC1? It is rather easy to open up once it is out of the car, inspect it for corrosion or signs of water ingress.

Have you done any work on the car AT ALL in the past weeks? If so, what?

Have you confirmed the battery is good? As in properly tested.


You need to start with where the ignition starts, and that is the ignition switch, follow the starting system all the way to the DME and starter signal until you find the problem.

 

Main ground is the easy one too see on the engine mount....
There are are a few extra grounding points ...most are like the wires you see by the passenger side front bumper....a flat plastic loom with (usually) brown wires going to it if I remember...
There is one near the back area near the passenger door if I recall...
But if the car so t crank, it would be the BIG one on the engine mount....

 

What year on your car?

There was a year that has a spot weld on the firewall that rubs the loom and shorts the wires. Not all the R53s had this.

Very noticeable when wet or humid.

Behaves like a BCM issue.

Check with Helix13.com. Their guy Mikey is a pro at this error.

 

It's a 2005. All of a sudden, it can fire up.
Never had an issue before, this car has been a tank. Haven't had battery tested. Yellow top Optima.
I've taken out the BCM, battery and disconnected just about every connection on the fuse.
It just "clicks" when trying to start. Miles and time are reset and it displays a not correct outside temp. Headlights flicker on, too.
I've located the loom with several grounds, but don't see or feel any moisture.
I recently did the headliner and swapped to R56 seats, but has run good for a while in between.

I will have to check the locations everyone has posted.

 

Cleaned up the passenger wire touching the engine mount to body. Nothing.
I get the power steering pump to make a humming noise, though, with the key in the ignition after an attempt to start...

 

Any update?

 

Haven't had a chance to jump on it. I'm actually going to check the wires on the starter, hoping it is one of them.
Like I had said before, zero issues and then drove through one of the worst rain storms I've encountered with this car.

 

I'm in the same boat with you. I'll keep you updated as well. Have you tried to roll start it yet? That's the big "what the hell" I'm facing right now. Why wouldn't it roll start?

 

I didn't attempt to push start. It started a few times after what felt like a million attempts, and very random. I was out of town, about 4 hours away, and once it started I drove it home and made sure not to stop; hasn't started since after a few attempts. I removed the BCM and fuse panel, to look for corrosion, but nothing. I'm pretty sure water did not get inside the car.
As far as push start, everything has to be connected for it to run, so let's say a spark plug wire wasn't connected, it wouldn't matter if you push started.

 

Well, replaced the starter and same issue...however we bid to bench test the starter before installing, so it may be.
Still experiencing electrical issues. Hooked up battery to a tender and will try again.

 

Has anyone had immobilize issues? Like what would I be looking at cost wise for a unit?? Could this be the cause??

 

Have you pulled up the carpet/mat on the passenger side to check for moisture/water yet ?

You made reference above to a down pour shortly before this was happening and a NAM member referenced the BC1 as plausible cause.

 

By the way, been reading subsequent posts you have. Is it fair to say that it cranks, but just doesn't turn over ?

 

You can hear the starter solenoid clicking but that's it.
When I unusually put the key in ignition, the outside temperature may read real funky, like off, after I try starting, I get the solenoid click and nothing, then my driver's window partially rolls down and all the interior (warning) lights remain off and come back on.
I have the fuse box pulled and the BCM completely exposed. No standing water, or anything wet.

 

Drivers side

 

What should I be noticing here? I see that snapped purple wire...

 

just a hot mess!!! The purple wire is connected to the plug "behind" it in the picture.
It may end up being the ground wire from on the passengers side motor mount. I removed it to see and I don't even get the splendid clicking. It actually broken a piece of the engine mount, so that will have to be replaced...

 

Long story short...ended up being the battery. I had an Optima Yellow Top fail two weeks out of warranty.
Ended up having to pay for a battery at MINI, a diagnose fee and a restocking fee for an engine mount bracket, (I broke the flange where the bolt goes).

 

Wired the ground this way, instead of getting a new engine mount bracket from a broken flange.
I may add another to the top.