97 740i: WEIRD problem, possibly EWS related? *STARTS, but wont START twice*

So the car is a '97 740i, here is the problem:



After a few hours on the trickle charger, the car will start right up.



Once you go for a drive (even a brisk 5 minute ride), turn the car off, and try to turn it on again, it wont start. It wont even crank. Turning the key only leads to a faint alarm sound coming from somewhere that's definitely not the alarm's horn. The alarm LED does not flash. Enabling/Disabling the alarm with the remote does nothing. No matter what you do, the car won't crank. You turn the ignition, all the lights/radio work, but the car doesn't even attempt to turn over. Possible EWS issue?



Here's where it gets weird. If you trickle charge the battery overnight, and try to start up the car, it will fire right up. Once the car is running, the battery reads over 13.5 volts, showing the alternator is doing its job, right? Then why does it fail to start after running for a few minutes, turning the car off, and trying to turn it on again? I've tried 3 different keys, including the valet key, same issue.



The battery is good, new one from interstate, has plenty of cranking amps to start the car.



Any ideas? :wavey

97 740i: WEIRD problem, possibly EWS related? *STARTS, but wont START twice*