Bmw x1 extremely slow crank no start

[Cyniical]

I'm currently struggling trying to diagnose the issue with my car.

Initially car broke down on the side of the highway. Put itself in neutral, I pulled off to the side of the road and turned the car off and it wouldn't start again.

Took the Battery to AutoZone and it was completely dead. Replaced it with a brand new battery and now the dash is lighting up properly but I'm just getting a click from the starter. No attempt to turn over nothing.

Visually inspected the ground cable and it was green but didn't appear to be fraying or anything other that discoloration. I still attempted to ground the engine via jumper cables with no luck. So i assumed it had to be the started.

Ripped the starter out put in a brand new one and the car sometimes still just clicks but sometimes it will get the engine to roll over. Extremely slowly and only once or twice before just clicking.

Screw it I know I've tested the ground wire but I don't know what else to try at this point so I bite the bullet and get a new ground cable and install that and STILL have the same extremely slow crank but no start.

At this point I'm just scratching my head. I've never been the best at troubleshooting hence just throwing parts at it so and I'm just a DIY guy trying to save some money in labor. I work in aerospace not cars haha.

I've read that it could possibly be a bad IBS but I haven't found a solid way to test that theory. Or possibly a bad fuse but I wouldn't even know where to start with that. I'm assuming that my engine isn't locked up based on everything seeming electrical from the get go with the car throwing itself in neutral and then not even getting a click. But at this point I'm thinking the worst.

If anyone has any suggestions or anything that I can troubleshoot or look into myself before giving up and sending it to the dealer or a shop please let me know!

Thank you for reading my extremely drawn out post but I was trying to limit the amount of replace the starter, or replace the ground strap responses.

[cwickberg]

Originally Posted by Cyniical

I'm currently struggling trying to diagnose the issue with my car.

Initially car broke down on the side of the highway. Put itself in neutral, I pulled off to the side of the road and turned the car off and it wouldn't start again.

Took the Battery to AutoZone and it was completely dead. Replaced it with a brand new battery and now the dash is lighting up properly but I'm just getting a click from the starter. No attempt to turn over nothing.

Visually inspected the ground cable and it was green but didn't appear to be fraying or anything other that discoloration. I still attempted to ground the engine via jumper cables with no luck. So i assumed it had to be the started.

Ripped the starter out put in a brand new one and the car sometimes still just clicks but sometimes it will get the engine to roll over. Extremely slowly and only once or twice before just clicking.

Screw it I know I've tested the ground wire but I don't know what else to try at this point so I bite the bullet and get a new ground cable and install that and STILL have the same extremely slow crank but no start.

At this point I'm just scratching my head. I've never been the best at troubleshooting hence just throwing parts at it so and I'm just a DIY guy trying to save some money in labor. I work in aerospace not cars haha.

I've read that it could possibly be a bad IBS but I haven't found a solid way to test that theory. Or possibly a bad fuse but I wouldn't even know where to start with that. I'm assuming that my engine isn't locked up based on everything seeming electrical from the get go with the car throwing itself in neutral and then not even getting a click. But at this point I'm thinking the worst.

If anyone has any suggestions or anything that I can troubleshoot or look into myself before giving up and sending it to the dealer or a shop please let me know!

Thank you for reading my extremely drawn out post but I was trying to limit the amount of replace the starter, or replace the ground strap responses.

need to register your battery. check codes, remove both battery cables hold them together for about a minute or two and then let thy car sit about 15 minutes. test battery. hook cables back up to battery. then try again.

it can get expensive just replacing parts on a BMW without knowing what's wrong. it would also help to let us know what kind of X1 you have, how old, how many miles

[Cyniical]

I did register the battery. Nothing jumps out to me specifically when pulling codes but I can post a screenshot when I get home tonight.

What is the purpose of holding the terminals together?

It’s a 2013 X1 X28i with about 167k miles.

[cwickberg]

Holding disconnected BMW battery cables together (positive and negative) is a technique for a "hard reset" or "capacitive discharge," which drains residual energy from capacitors to clear stubborn electrical gremlins or module issues. Crucially, the cables must be disconnected from the battery terminals first.

How it Works: Disconnect the negative terminal first, then the positive. Use a jumper wire or cable to connect the disconnected positive and negative car cables together, which forces a cold reboot of the car's computers.
Risks & Safety: Do not touch the cables together while connected to the battery, as this will cause a direct short circuit. Ensure they are removed from the battery, and it is advised to place a towel under the disconnected terminals to prevent accidental contact with the battery.
Purpose: This process is used for resetting modules, resolving issues with non-responsive components (like a trunk not opening), or addressing unusual battery drain. It is often used on BMW models to force a full system power-down.