Hopefully one of the most knowledgeable M5 mechanics is reading because he lives in your same town. Get him to look at it, best advice I have ever posted on this board but for the time being here is some reading material that will at least let you know what is going on.
View attachment tarting-problem-immobiliser-ews.pdf

 

If you can't get it fixed give us a holler maybe we can help you out.

 

Hi mate,

I think Jussi gave you my phone number,if we are talking about the same car.

I can help you out with that problem,no worries:cheers:

PM sent...

 

Luckiest post on a forum ever!!!

"hi guys, new member here, just wondering if you can help me with this spurious fault that could bean electrical nightmare?"

"No probs, there's a guy on here that knows pretty much everything about S62's and lives 5 doors down from you"

Job done.

I love this place.

 

Great, Raikku will help me with this. I have already been in contact with Raikku earlier, he will change my rod bearings when he has time, so I had his number..

 

Today my 1999 E39 M5 first started to alarm suddenly when it was parked. After that it won't start. Inpa error:

What is this and how can I fix it? What could have caused this?

My car is showing the same INPA error. Anyone know what the source or solution is?

 

Can you re scan it and post the whole report. There are different variables.

 

Last time I scanned, I cleared error codes. Scanned today, and error memory is still clear. The car has been sitting for about 8 weeks after clutch change among other things. I hear a click and sounds like fuel pump is open, but don't get any cranking or turning over. I first suspected the battery as my aftermarket head unit was flashing a low battery shutdown warning. I tried to jump the car no effect. Had the battery checked and its at 12.6v. Then suspected crank position sensor. I went from a JB racing flywheel to OEM. The sensor wasnt shimmed with the JB flywheel. I changed the crank sensor with no effect. After the new crank sensor I scanned error memory and got the 'EWS 66' error. I'm not sure if this was a result of the jump, and am not sure why the error isn't showing again. I am also starting to suspect my starter because when I try and start with the headlights on they do not dim. I haven't tried to activate the starter or anything.

 

Three different guys tried to fix this with various softwares, no luck. I ordered new coded EWS module; no luck. So I towed it to a local BMW dealer and they diagnosed it to be broken ECU (DME) so they changed it. After that everything was ok!

DME just couldn't connect with the EWS module..

 

Best guess and it is only a guess but if you hear a click under the passenger seat, it is not an ews error but a starter failure. The click under the pass seat is the relay that controls the starter. If you hear that click it is a very good sign it is not ews. If the path to the starter or the starter fails to fire the code is triggered but is not real in some situations.
In the past I have got under the car and jumped the large red wire to the small control wire(black) this should roll the starter and if the engine fires the wire from the relay to the starter is bad. If the starter refuses to engage it is a starter error. If the starter engages but the car refuses to fire then it is likely an EWS error. There are 2 small wires at the starter one engages the solenoid(black) and one feeds the fan to the computer(black green) make sure you jump the correct wire. BLACK!
Key must be in key position 2. Those are step 1 there are other things.Do step one and report.

 

Thanks Sailor. I will try this later this week.

 

Resolved

Got the car started. Sure enough it was the starter. Checked over the connectors one of which really wasn't in full contact. The EWS 66 error is still showed up though.

Sailor you were right about it being thrown due to non start event. Thanks for all the responses!

 

Have you cleared the code, and it still came back, once you had the car starting?
The code getting thrown is a known glit when there is no feedback from the engaged relay. It should not come back if the solenoid on the starter goes click.