When your car is running normally everything is fine, nevertheless if it begins to have regular problems you might begin to speculate, specifically if your car won’t start. In this post we will teach you where the starter of a BMW 3 Series is, it will help you to solve your ignition problems. To achieve this, we will first illustrate the function of a starter, then, where is the starter on a BMW 3 Series , and, finally, how to change the starter of a car.

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Function of the starter on your BMW 3 Series

We begin this content by detailing the function of the starter motor on your BMW 3 Series. The starter is an electric motor which is powered by your battery, its function will be to make your engine run at a high enough speed to start it (usually around 300/400 rpm). It is built from three most important parts:

  • The Solenoid: This part is an electrical relay that will act as a switch, it will be activated by the key of your BMW 3 Series and let the current from your battery to the engine unit of your alternator.
  • The engine unit: Most important component of your alternator, it is the one that will drive the flywheel of your BMW 3 Series and create enough speed for your engine unit to begin.

  • The engagement pinion: This is the last part of your starter, it is the toothed wheel that will be in direct contact with the flywheel, it enables to transmit the force from the starter to the engine.

Where is the starter on a BMW 3 Series?

Now that we have quickly described what a starter is and how it works, we will answer the question that most of you have to ask yourselves where is the starter based on a BMW 3 Series? It is quite easy to discover a starter, indeed, it is a large part that will almost always be placed in a similar location. We let you see the two possible spots for your car starter down below.

Location of the starter on traditional BMW 3 Series

First and most common case, where to discover the starter of a BMW 3 Series with a conventional motor (implied without start and stop). The starter has a specific objective, to start the engine unit of your car, for that, it must always be near the engine unit flywheel of this one because it is the part that it actuates when it is used. The flywheel is based at the junction between your gearbox and your engine unit.

Location of the starter to BMW 3 Series with start and stop

And now second possible starter location of your BMW 3 Series . This case is much less frequent. It just relates to engines equipped with start and stop, and a good part of them will be equipped with a starter placed close to the flywheel. Nevertheless, on some specific series or engines, the starter of your BMW 3 Series might be built in in your alternator, it is then known as a starter-alternator, to discover it nothing much easier, find your accessory belt and you should discover the big starter block.

How to change the starter on a BMW 3 Series?

Finally, we’ll explain to you quite quickly how to change the starter of a BMW 3 Series. This process is not necessarily complex, it can be considered by people who have a minimum of basic mechanical experience and adapted tools. Follow down below the most important steps to carry out this intervention:

  • Disconnect the battery on your BMW 3 Series, if you don’t know how to do it, don’t hesitate to consult our content which details how to do it without taking any risk.
  • After finding your starter, loosen the fasteners that hold it in your engine unit block, there will in most cases be 2 or 3
  • .

  • It will be time to disconnect the power cables from the starter motor of your BMW 3 Series, nevertheless before doing so we advise you to take a picture of the set up to avoid making a mistake when reassembling.
  • It’s possible that to take out it you might need to take out auto parts like the gimbal.
  • Remount the new starter, being careful when connecting the connectors.
  • Reconnect your battery and test your starter.

To find more tips on the BMW 3 Series, take a look at the BMW 3 Series category.