R56 Starting problems. Could it be the starter itself?

It could be the starter but I would recommend you check the battery and charging voltage first.

First check the battery terminal are clean and properly tightened. Then get hold of a multi-meter and check the voltage across the battery terminals, it should read about 12.6 volts if fully charged. Then get the car started, it sounds like you may have to bump start it. With the engine running you should get between 13.7 and 14.7 volts when carrying out the same test. If you have access to jump leads and a second car you could also try jumping the car, if the car still doesn't turn over then it could point towards the starter motor but get it checked by somebody who knows what they are doing as unnecessary parts are expensive.

A dash cam will not flatten a car battery in a few days even if its on all the time. I have one fitted with a motion activation sensor and the car is not started for weeks on end sometimes with no effect on the battery.


good luck

That's the CAS unit reporting fault. Yellow means leave it a while and fix the fault. Red means hard lock-down.

Have you seen the same symbol in yellow a few times before this happened? It's a common fault for the electronic steering lock to become unresponsive / slow and eventually the CAS (security computer) doesn't like it.

It can also be simply that the key fob and CAS have somehow lost their coding to each other.

Do not worry too much, if you get it to a good service centre they should be able to re-program the CAS unit and clear faults over the OBD port. Prior to getting the vehicle moved to the service centre, confirm they have the facilities and know-how to reprogram a CAS unit since it needs proper BMW equipment I think.

Also worth knowing that before you shell out for a whole steering column unit (because it comes with the steering lock, but I think is very expensive) it actually is possible to drill out the two security bolts (m5 or m6 IIRC) that hold the steering lock to the column and replace it for a good used item while keeping the existing column. I did that with mine; took the column out of the car and drilled the bolt centre on a drill press with a cobolt drill then removed with a screw extractor. Replacement steering lock goes in and service centre re-programs the CAS unit to clear the red lock out.