I have a '93 325 is (E36) everytime I turn off the engine and want to restart it I have to jump it. Cause being the battery is completely dead, but it starts with a portable jumpstarter and runs fine. I've taken it to a shop but they can't seem to trouble shoot whats wrong with it. I've replaced the battery and alternator both are less then 6 months old. Can someone please help or have any suggestions? :)

You might have some other electrical problem. Did you or your mechanic check your OBD codes? Presumably you have OBD I since it is an early E36.

If I remember correctly, you put the key in position two (check engine light and odometer on, but not started) and step down on the accelerator 5 times. This should reveal any fault codes.

I have a '93 325 is (E36) everytime I turn off the engine and want to restart it I have to jump it. Cause being the battery is completely dead, but it starts with a portable jumpstarter and runs fine. I've taken it to a shop but they can't seem to trouble shoot whats wrong with it. I've replaced the battery and alternator both are less then 6 months old. Can someone please help or have any suggestions? :)


A friend of mine had a problem like this. Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, and then pop the hood and open up the jump terminal in the back left of the engine compartment (looking at the car from the front) and check it for corrosion. Wire brush the metal contacts. Make sure the contacts are clamped on the wire fully (all the copper strands clamped in the contacts).

Also make sure your grounds are clean and tight. Make sure the Positive lines aren't grounded.

when "jumping" are you jumping at the battery of the hood terminal? have you checked to see if you are even getting power to the terminal?

when "jumping" are you jumping at the battery of the hood terminal? have you checked to see if you are even getting power to the terminal?


when the key is in the second position there is some power, but not enough to crank the engine. i will check to see if the terminal is dusty, but i don't think so. thanks for the help!

There's probably a drain somwhere. My old Buick had this problem. The ECM was fried and I went through 4 batteries. The first three were actually defective. Maybe your're getting bad batteries. You can check to make sure the plates inside aren't melted together. Maybe you're computer is bad, but that wouldn't really explain a draw on the battery... :dunno