Car won't star... help!

[alfresco80]

I just bought a '98 318ti several weeks ago and it's been running fine until today...

I got home from work and the car won't start. The battery seems fine because the power locks, lights, etc. all work, but when I go to start the car all the dash lights turn and stay on, a weird pattern displays instead of the mileage and the clock is reset to 0:00. There's a quick start noise and then nothing.

The prev. owners said they had this problem but it was due to the laser cut keys being screwed up. They said they had the keys replaced and it's been fine since... obviously not fine though.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Am I missing something about a bad battery? Also, how much do you pay for labor at a good shop? There's a great shop where I am in CO, but they charge $98/hr, is this typical?

[SebSter]

does the engine crank at all?

[alfresco80]

the engine cranks for like 1/2 a second and then that's it. If I turn the key again it won't start at all.

[SebSter]

hmm thats weird then i dunno, maybe it does have something to do with the laser cut key it might be an anti theft mechanism..

if it didnt crank at all then i would say its the starter, same happened to me a few months back, the link from the starter to the ignition was rusted and just broke off...had to replace the starter

[bmwm5lover]

check your distributor cap maybe, recharge battery(bimmers REQUIRE FULL CHRGE, or so i have experienced)