Hello
I am the proud owner of a 94 BMW 840 CI 3989 cc which I purchased in FEB 2006. As I only drive the car once or twice a week I have encounterd virtually no problems apart from a sticking starter motor.This tends to happen When I have been stationary in traffic or moving very slowly for more than ten minutes and then switch the car off, this has happened most notably in the Summer. Recently after a flat battery I allowed the car to idle for fifteen minutes then took it for some petrol. Guess what the starter became stuck or would not engage when I returned to the car. After fifteen minutes of embarressment I was able to start the car again...phew.

Thanks alot. Lawrence

the replacement of the starter would seem to be in order.

As you have described, the starter heating up seems to be casuing it to stick. Can you hear the stater spinning when you try to start the car? If so then the starter is working but the bendix device is sticking. BMW parts as you have discovered are not cheap. You may only need to buy a sarter (bendix) solinoid and not the whole starter. Check web stores to see if it is available seperately.

Many thanks for the reply. When trying to activate the starter there is no activation at all therefore a hot expanding starter makes sense. I will of course inspect to ensure adequate protection from the exhaust system is given and retest.

Many thanks again