No start. Thinking its the starter

[Tbolt]

So in the past three or four months ive experienced what I would call a "freak" no-start. Basically I would drive somewhere, let it sit for awhile and then it wouldn't start. Turning the key and there was nothing, the headunit and lights would come on but wouldn't do shit. The first time this happened I just kept turning it and about 15minutes later it was like magic and started right up and never had the issue again for a couple months (and i drive it 500+ miles a week).

Then today I go to a cookout and park on a hill and bee-bop around for a few hours. Go to start it and nothing...the lights/HU would come on but no turn or anything. So I roll-start it and it fired right up and I zooted home.

What do you guys think? Im thinking the starter...maybe alternator? Battery is less than 2 years old but its a duralast so I guess that could be it too.

[BlueBMW]

I'd say starter. It sounds like when it gets hot it locks up. Once it cools down it frees up again. They're cheap, just do it! :D 6 cyilinder or 4 cyl? I've done one on a 325i and it wasn't too bad from the top, not sure on the 318 since I haven't done one yet.

If not that.... umm... anyone else chime in?

[Tbolt]

6 cylinder.

a member pm'd me and I think he hit it right on. He thinks its the oil pan ground. both times its happened I have scraped my oilpan. so ill check it out.

I may replace the starter to just to be safe. is it an easy job?

what about the ignition coil

[Kershaw]

ignition coil is incredibly easy.

starter is not very hard either. you may have to pull the intake manifold. i have a starter with only a few thousand miles on it, if you're interested, let me know.