This one is just driving me nuts.
I have an 03 Cooper S, manual with only 28k miles.
and recently when I try to start it not all of the dash lights light up and the fuel pump does not prime and it will crank but not start. So I flip the key back and forth a few times and randomly the dash lights kick on and you can hear the fuel pump prime and if fires right up. Sometimes it takes 20-30 tries, other times it fires up right away.
Ive swapped the fuel pump relay with other relays and have the same issue.
I've even pulled the fuel pump relay and had everything kick on adn the car fired right up, (and then died because the fuel pump was not on )
So I'm thinking some kind of ignition relay? but I have not been able to find anything like that.

any ideas? its driving me crazy!
Thanks in advance!

 

How strong does it crank ?

Could be a bad ground, poor connection at the battery terminals/clamps, or if it's the original battery from 2003, maybe it should be tested....could be it needs to be replaced.

Not sure the relation between fuel pump relays and the dash lights other than this.