What do i need

OK i bought my first car and its a 87 325e 5 speed. and i charged the battery and all the lights will be on but it wont turn over. the car has been sitting for 5 long years. i can jump it to start it but when i shut it off it wont turn back on. So anyone have any ideas what it could be.

if it's been sitting for 5 years, that car's battery is flat. replace that first.

'93 190E 2.6 » days
'92 318ic » weekends
'85 280TE » resto

And make sure the terminals are clean. Rick

as the others said, if it runs when jump started but no other time, the battery is really close to completely dead, incapable of being recharged.

Garateed after that period of time, the battery is on it's way out the door.

Out of curiosity, did the car run, once jumped, without the jumper cables on it?
Was the car running for a good period of time before you turned it off again?
i.e. did you take it for a spin around the block without problems?

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1989 - E30 - M20 - Manual. Approximately 270,000 miles
2000 - E46 - M52TUB28 - Manual. Approximately 110,000 miles

trust me on the battery thing. i have the exact symptoms on the 280TE, just haven't gotten around to purchasing a new battery yet.

'93 190E 2.6 » days
'92 318ic » weekends
'85 280TE » resto

The car should not be run without the battery connected. The alternator will try to maintain too high a voltage and do some damage. A new battery is what is needed.

Bob in Everett

DO NOT run the car without the battery connected!