1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Replaced the engine, now won't start

Got it started. It was my fault.
1. My battery was bad (fixed that earlier)
2. I powdercoated my engine mounts. The main engine mount bolts were not touching bare metal. Cleaned the surfaces and it started.

1 more brake to finish then have to purge fluids and take it for some engine brake-in runs.

Thanks everyone for your help. Quite a learning experience.

 

Nathan: thats "one" of the things that tickled my mind right off the bat... but after speaking with Mini/BMW they seem to be strongly indicating that codes not matching "isn't possible" unless there's been parts with the immobilizer that were replaced - stating that nothing changed, key should be read by system and allowing the start.

Mini/BMW suggested the standard, go back and check and clean all connections, battery, etc. (which I thought I did pretty intensively when re-installing the engine) I've pulled the starter (again) and physically hooked it up to 12v. It works, no problems with the relay or starter. It works fine in a "manually" hooked up situation. I re-cleaned all the contacts associated with the starter, as well as over by the relay block to ensure that the ground cable by the relay block is making good contact. It definitely is.

At a bit of a loss as to what to check/look for now... I have a well charged marine battery that I tried boosting with, and have directly hooked that up and still no crank over. I'm getting a new battery - just to eliminate 1 more thing from the possibility of it causing a problem.

Anyone else with ANY ideas? Any thoughts would help immensely. TIA

 

ok. trying the key in acc position for a bit while I look at anything else. BTW, getting full 12+V at the starter. Just seems like "something" is not allowing the system to "turn on" the relay to allow the engine to crank... things used to be sooo simple with engine rebuilds

 

have new battery coming shortly. Hopefully that will work. I've re-checked and re-done all the ground straps and checked power across all of them to verify. Guess the OE battery is toast.. been on a "smart" charger all afternoon and still giving me a "black eye" so although showing over 12V, I think just no umph left in her cells. Fingers crossed a new battery will do the trick!

 

New battery was no help.

Does anyone know how to confirm or restart the key 'ping' sound? Neither key pings. Everything is still original (engine just rebuilt).

 

Both keys when brought close to ignition (not inserted, but flat against it) will cause the car to "chime" or "ping" or "ding" multiple times - with the driver door open.

:confused5: