Ive had the car for a few months now and ever since I bought it I felt its spins over longer than it should before starting, but as its always started I've just kinda lived with it. But the other day it nearly didn't go after about 10 seconds of turning it over and then the same again today, but both times it did start. It does seem like fuel starvation to me, but the filter was changed less than 2000 miles ago and just before I got it the guy put a new pump on (the one near the n/s/r wheel) although it was a cheap one off ebay (it still turned over longer than it should before and after the pump was fitted) Also the battery is correct and less than a year old.

Anyone shed any light on this? I don't really want to spend out on a new tank pump just to 'see' if it fixes it.

its a 2003 td6

Had the same issue and it was an injector. Fortunately it was the first one and easy to change It started like your symptom an gradually got so bad I thought the battery would go flat Took me about 30 minutes to fit the new one and I now add Miller injector cleaner to my tank to try and ensure it doesn't happen again.

^ had the same issue, and the same resolution. The dodgy injector drains all the pressure off the fuel rail so it won't start. When it is running there's enough pressure for the other cylinders to run ok.

Could be something else though, like a fuel pump.

Until you get it sorted carry a can of easy start around in case you get stranded, but don't rely on the stuff - get it sorted.

ooo great, how did you find out which injector it was? is there a test that can be done while they are still fitted? and dare I ask how much are they?

Thanks for the replies though (I think)

Leak off test. I didn't do it, it failed before I got round to it and then the garage fixed it. I hear it's quite easy to do.

ok thanks. If it was an injector, would it turn over for longer the longer you leave it between starts? (ie more fuel leaked the longer its left) As mine seems to take 3-4 seconds every time no matter how long its left (other than the 2 times mentioned above)

dunno. Mine was variable.

It could also be the glowplugs if its taking longer to start the longer you are leaving it. FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
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Get it plugged in I had the same symptoms, injectors were the cause.

Could be the glow plugs, but im thinking injector like the others. I had exactly the same in my e39 530d (same engine) was one faulty injector. Just turned over for ages then fired. Is the glow plug light going out quickly? This will usually take longer to go out if the glow plugs are faulty.

It may throw up a fault code and indicate which is the duff one, but a leak off test will show for sure. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
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Glow plug light only stays on for about a second or so. I don't think its glow plugs tbh, sounding more and more like an injector from all the comments. I will get it plugged in and hope it shows something.

leak off test is better for detecting overflowing injectors
you can say from diagnostics but requires experienced operator
(real time dispaly rather than fault codes as such)