Almost Engine Fire

[snowymountains]

So today I started the X5 to warm up for the wife and noticed an odd smell. I really didn't think much of it. She took off and 10 min later called and said she was broken down.

I ended up getting it towed back to the house and got it in the garage.

Opened up the hood and started looking around and what I found was that something shorted out. The wiring from the junction box under the intake manifold to the alternator, the intake adjuster, etc fried plus the plastic cover on the throttle body, part of the intake manifold, etc. See picture.

Has anyone seen this happen before?

I am thinking maybe the starter, alternator or throttle body, shorted? Maybe a mouse was hungry!