im starting to really hate bimmers

[eddybilt]

Rasta....thanks for the support I called the dealer this am they are really sorry and will triple check the problem.I will mention the AC blower motor when I drop it off tomorrow. The vibe I got from my SA was that they didn't have a clue what the problem was and that the part the replaced (final stage resistor old style was the likely problem) was just an attempt based on past experience...I think if I'd left the car or another day it would have probably been dead again. Anyway it's gonna be there for a couple of days after they claim to fix it this time.....just to be sure.

[rastaFarai]

yup. good idea. As long as they aren't charging you a "diagnostic fee"

That's the dumbest thing to me, i understand if you don't want people leaving and going to the indies, but if that's the case, credit the diag fee if they get it fixed with you.

Yah, they never know - it's hard to find a drain. Usually they can hook it up to a machine with the car off and they can see where the current is being drawn.

again.. good luck.

[eddybilt]

They charged me the diagnostic fee the first time after the last discussion with the SA I don't think he would have the balls to try that again.....I'll keep you posted on what happens...... fingers crossed...

[eddybilt]

I'm back......after spending 5 days at the stealer My SA called and said the problem with my car was a loose Battery cable. Cable was tightened and I was called to come pick up Vehicle. Because I've had alittle experience with cars (restoring 2 complete cars)and tinkering with vehicles over the last 40 years the cable excuse to me was BS..I called SA and asked them to check each day for 3 days to see if car would start each morning....he claimed it did.
I went to pick up car yesterday. While waiting for the car to be delivered two people that were behind me in line had their cars delivered and they drove off. I noticed while I was waiting I heard in the distance a Beemer alarm sounding. My car arrived..dirty but otherwise running.I jumped in car drove it 50 feet to customer parking(my girlfriend was looking at a 3 series with sales person).Cut car of locked doors with remote and went to find my girl. After about 15 min we returned to find that my car again was completely dead. This makes the third time in 2 weeks that this has happened. Anyone know of a good repair shop in the SF/Bay Area Because East Bay BMW Who's serviced several of my cars with no problems DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR!!!!!!!!!!

[x5mmm]

Originally Posted by eddybilt

I'm back......after spending 5 days at the stealer My SA called and said the problem with my car was a loose Battery cable. Cable was tightened and I was called to come pick up Vehicle. Because I've had alittle experience with cars (restoring 2 complete cars)and tinkering with vehicles over the last 40 years the cable excuse to me was BS..I called SA and asked them to check each day for 3 days to see if car would start each morning....he claimed it did.
I went to pick up car yesterday. While waiting for the car to be delivered two people that were behind me in line had their cars delivered and they drove off. I noticed while I was waiting I heard in the distance a Beemer alarm sounding. My car arrived..dirty but otherwise running.I jumped in car drove it 50 feet to customer parking(my girlfriend was looking at a 3 series with sales person).Cut car of locked doors with remote and went to find my girl. After about 15 min we returned to find that my car again was completely dead. This makes the third time in 2 weeks that this has happened. Anyone know of a good repair shop in the SF/Bay Area Because East Bay BMW Who's serviced several of my cars with no problems DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR!!!!!!!!!!

did you get this fixed yet? keep us posted.

[eddybilt]

I'm back......After dealer called and said that my second new battery from Kragen was defective.I authorized them to install a new 265.00 bmw battery and again check it for the next 3 days. They claimed to start it every day.I went to pick up X again. While waiting I heard my alarm in the distance AGAIN. 5 minutes later my car arrived and was left running. I got in took the key out of the ignition went to open trunk and guess what????? dead again. I took the key back to SA and said fix my FKN CAR. He doubted that the car was dead until he tried to start it while other service customers looked on (Oh did he have egg on his face)
For the next 3 days he called me every morning to give me an update on my car. On the third day he called and said they did find a drain (which is what I told him the car had 4 visits earlier).The part was (climate control computer??) at a cost of about 1000.00 and that they had put almost 22 hours trouble shooting the problem and that they would give me a one time goodwill repair costing me nothing.
The end result they detailed my car inside and out and after testing again for 2 days delivered my car to me at work. No problems for the last 3 days then my "check brake light" light came on. The same light that they repaired by modifying the ground was out again.
My car now has 36,000 miles not bad for a 2003 and I'm leery about taking it on a road trip the end of this month New Mexico from SF Bay Area Ca.

[eddybilt]

Heck I feel like typing.... This is what the dealer repair order said.
"Customer states engine wont start. Checked battery draw after car is sleeping. Found 275 milliamp draw. Also car did not actually go to rest state. Accessed rear power distribution box and checked current out of each circuit. Fuses 200-207. Fuse 200 had 275 milliamp current flow. This fuse supplies power to front distribution box. Removed glove box and monitored current and pulled fuses. Almost 45 fuses. Pulled IHKA fuse and found current dropped. Removed IHKA and checked current on wire suppling IHKA. Found 240 milliamps flowing to IHKA. Also interior temp fan was operating. Replaced IHKA and coded. Rechecked current draw. Car went to sleep and current draw is 30 milliamps. Normal Battery soc should be checked for the next few days to insure car owner had a trouble free car. This is a onetime goodwill repair".

[nra0707]

Eddybilt, I'm feeling the same pains you went through, only I am dealing with the difficulty that my dealer doesn't want to diagnose due to the presence of an aftermarket subwoofer wire that the previous owner installed. The killer is that my 04 4.4 still has 3 months of factory warranty on it and they won't honor it with that wire still hooked up.

I noticed my climate control makes a whining noise when the temp/air is turned on. I wonder if I have a similar issue. I've used my car only 2x in the last month and the rest of the time it's been a 5000lbs paper weight in my driveway. It's making me miserable.

[eddybilt]

..... and the beat just stopped again. After sitting 2 1/2 days car is dead again.....jumped it took it back to dealer...the SA is starting to get pissed....I guess the next step is to get the factory involved.
Well at least I got a 2008 X3 as a loaner. My only question with this loaner...what's up with the shifting.....feels like I'm starting in 3rd gear then it shifts up .....computer seems confused as to what gear it should be in.
Anyway we'll see what happens with my x over the next week....
Sorry to hear about your car....I guess there are certain cars that just develop gremlins..... and we have two of them.

[eddybilt]

Doooooh