my E30 suddenly won't start! I'm stranded!

[jrdeamicis]

If its not even cranking

The wiring @ the C101 is bad
The Starter is dead / dying / on its way out
I would look for +12V @ the solenoid to verify the key is getting to starter.

As far as the bolts go, one from the top, one from the bottom. Two person job.

You may need to vice grip that bottom bolt.

[2.5-12]

Get it from underneath the car. Stick a wrench on it then go back to the top and loosen the nut.

great other than the fact there is 0 chance of getting a wrench or socket on the back nut. automatic trans line is in the way.

[2.5-12]

If its not even cranking

The wiring @ the C101 is bad
The Starter is dead / dying / on its way out
I would look for +12V @ the solenoid to verify the key is getting to starter.

As far as the bolts go, one from the top, one from the bottom. Two person job.

You may need to vice grip that bottom bolt.

no solenoid noise or starter noise at all, I dunno what C101 is.

ordered a new starter, cant get the current one out. the bolt head is not reachable no matter what I try to get at it with. I swear there is no way to get this off.

[2.5-12]

is the bolt head on the back a Torx T-12? can I use a 10mm 6-pt socket on it to hold it still?

still having a hard time getting a socket up there

[crashoverride7]

you need an extra pair of hands for this. get a long extension, probably 22inch. universal at the end of it. then have a buddy reach in and put a wrench on the bolt from the top. use said super extension to get to the bolt from the bottom on the other side. turn until loose. its tough, but it can be done. i had a lift and two helpers when changing my clutch and it still took me 2 hours to get these bolts.

[blueapplesoda]

when you do get them out, tap the starter housing to the same thread pitch as the bolts so that you can just use two bolts and bolt them directly into the starter housing from the trans tunnel. no more reaching up the arse of the m20 and trying to fit a wrench anywhere. Just lots of extensions blah blah

[2.5-12]

starter turned out to be ok, I have to figure out, now, how I can start the car jumping the solenoid 12V trigger to the battery but I can't start it with the key.