BMW Repair: 1997 328i, hi john, flywheel

Question
Hi John,
My radio and windshield wipers recently quit working, I replaced the fuses and they blew immediately.  Any ideas on what causes this?  Also, where is the starter located?  When I turn the ignition, there is a winding noise and no engagement to the flywheel(?).  Would be a bad starter or something else?  Thank you.

Answer
On the windshield wipers and radio:
- Did they both go out at the same time?  Or did one go out and later the other?
- Does the fuse blow when the fuse is put in? Or after the unit is turned on?  If immediately upon fuse replacement, there is a short in the wiring.
- try them separately:  replace both fuses and see if turning one on blows it's fuse, and if it blows the others fuse.



On the starter...if there's the winding noise but no engagement, it's likely the solenoid that engages the starter's drive wheel to the flywheel.  The starter is located ahead of the flywheel, and is not to difficult to remove and have tested or replaced.