No Start
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
E550 Cab
No Start
Something weird is going on. 2012 E550 Cab. Door opens normally but when pressing start button nothing happens. Jumping battery has no influence, key battery has no influence manually turning key has no influence. This has happened now as 5 times over a period of a year or so. Car has 80k miles on it always garaged.
Then after some time something clicks in the car and it is all normal again. So ignition does not kick in as normal just nothing.
Any ideas what would be at stake as I dare not use it as normal if this happens in an awkward place, like once at the BMW dealer parking lot when getting parts for a BMW........."Do you need a new quality car?" Was first question by helpful BMW salesperson. Anyway it is a conundrum and I wonder if anyone has experienced the same behavior and found a remedy.
Thanks
H
Then after some time something clicks in the car and it is all normal again. So ignition does not kick in as normal just nothing.
Any ideas what would be at stake as I dare not use it as normal if this happens in an awkward place, like once at the BMW dealer parking lot when getting parts for a BMW........."Do you need a new quality car?" Was first question by helpful BMW salesperson. Anyway it is a conundrum and I wonder if anyone has experienced the same behavior and found a remedy.
Thanks
H
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 267
Likes: 61
From: Chicago
Bi-Turbo E550 Coupe (W207)
Have you checked the alternator or starter electric motor? I had a vehicle once and did similar to what you described, one of them had gone out.
Last edited by ibbij; Apr 16, 2026 at 04:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
E550 Cab
The "click" sound prior to being responsive again is puzzling me. I dont think it is starter or alternator as battery is full and never a problem turning after the ignition goes on.
Let's see if someone else would have some other experience still, and I will check with dealer and indie MB shops as well.
H
edit
what would a low or bad auxiliary battery cause. Would that cause the start button to not work? Ie not turning ignition on at all, even with key turning in hole under start button.
H
Let's see if someone else would have some other experience still, and I will check with dealer and indie MB shops as well.
H
edit
what would a low or bad auxiliary battery cause. Would that cause the start button to not work? Ie not turning ignition on at all, even with key turning in hole under start button.
H
Last edited by BenzHasse; Apr 17, 2026 at 11:01 AM. Reason: Adding thought
Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 146
Likes: 35
Mercedes e350 coupe
Hi.
Years ago, I had a Mercedes that was doing the same as yours. The culprit ended up being a camshaft position sensor. And once I had a BMW doing the same as yours. The culprit ended up being a faulty battery cable. And once I had a Volkswagen that was doing the same as yours. I traded it in.
yup.
Years ago, I had a Mercedes that was doing the same as yours. The culprit ended up being a camshaft position sensor. And once I had a BMW doing the same as yours. The culprit ended up being a faulty battery cable. And once I had a Volkswagen that was doing the same as yours. I traded it in.
yup.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 6,802
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
drive authorization failure
The "click" sound prior to being responsive again is puzzling me. I dont think it is starter or alternator as battery is full and never a problem turning after the ignition goes on.
Let's see if someone else would have some other experience still, and I will check with dealer and indie MB shops as well.
H
edit
what would a low or bad auxiliary battery cause. Would that cause the start button to not work? Ie not turning ignition on at all, even with key turning in hole under start button.
H
Let's see if someone else would have some other experience still, and I will check with dealer and indie MB shops as well.
H
edit
what would a low or bad auxiliary battery cause. Would that cause the start button to not work? Ie not turning ignition on at all, even with key turning in hole under start button.
H
I guess you don't have use of an OBD scanner so the MB Specialist is your best option to get this worked out.
This is a proverbial needle in a hay stack... Finding necessary clues require testing tools.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Apr 18, 2026 at 10:20 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
2012 E550 Cabriolet
I have the same car, 65k miles, which had identical symptoms: stopped for gas, then no start so pushed to side, etc. Besides embarrassing, the unreliability is problematic. I had no codes, independent shop drove it for several weeks, etc. Finally guessed it was maybe EIS, $1200 later it's reliable, no re-occurrence. So it was fixed 1yr ago, and perfect since.
Last edited by RML; Apr 20, 2026 at 09:03 AM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 6,802
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
marginal EIS reliability
I have the same car, 65k miles, which had identical symptoms: stopped for gas, then no start so pushed to side, etc. Besides embarrassing, the unreliability is problematic. I had no codes, independent shop drove it for several weeks, etc.
Finally guessed it was maybe EIS, $1200 later it's reliable, no re-occurrence.
So it was fixed 1yr ago, and perfect since.
Finally guessed it was maybe EIS, $1200 later it's reliable, no re-occurrence.
So it was fixed 1yr ago, and perfect since.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 6,802
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
