Rainstorm opened Windows/Sunroof - Took a soaking!!!!

[stim141]

Last night had to leave my car outside - had lighting/rain. About 5am woke up to take the dog out - all windows and the sunroof were all open. Car took a beating to say the least - ShopVac sucked out well over a gallon of water from the seats and carpet. When I tried to move it initially it would go into drive then jump back to park. Tried a few times and it seem to reset itself.

Any suggestions - going to rain most of the weekend - so airing it out isn't an option in the sun. Most of the water the squishy stuff in the carpets and seats are out - just damp no standing water.

So - should I get BMW involved in this one? Anyone else notice this - saw a single post that was entered in 2007. Under no circumstances should this happen. Keys were pretty far from the car and I know you have to be pretty close for the all open function to work with the key - tried it from the inside of the house and it wouldn't work until very close. Also held it for a while.

[Thunder22]

You need to get the padding out from under the carpet ASAP. The surface areas of the carpet and seats will dry, but that padding will hold water and you're looking at mildew and mold.

[stim141]

Used a water extractor as well and its feels extremely dry - will try lifting the carpet next - but I'm also calling my Service Advisor. Cars a lease but I still keep it pristine. Tried the all open/all close from the keyfob and it now doesn't work. So its got to be the module.

[Thunder22]

Originally Posted by stim141

Used a water extractor as well and its feels extremely dry - will try lifting the carpet next - but I'm also calling my Service Advisor. Cars a lease but I still keep it pristine. Tried the all open/all close from the keyfob and it now doesn't work. So its got to be the module.

That's another problem, the electronics. You might want to disconnect the battery until everything dries, unless it's already been damaged when you tried to start it.

You might want to try to buy a bag of silica gel/desicant and put it in a few bowls/containers in the car, hopefully it will absorb more of the moisture.

Tough situation... good luck.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by Thunder22

You need to get the padding out from under the carpet ASAP. The surface areas of the carpet and seats will dry, but that padding will hold water and you're looking at mildew and mold.

[FunfDreisig]

FWIW I now carry my X5 key on a carabiner style key ring and hang it from a belt loop. Because in the last 8+ years I have locked, unlocked, opened the rear hatch and rolled down all the windows on our old E53 X5 completely by accident when the key was in my pocket.

I'm not saying that is what happened, just that it is possible to do by accident while walking away from an X5.

Funf Dreisig

[Penguin]

I've heard of some people havin luck using uncooked rice to dry things out. Of course, you have to make sure it is dry enough that the rice doesn't turn completely soft and disintegrate.

[stim141]

Ok, basically spent the day sucking out the water out of the carpet, then pulled the rubber gaskets at the bottom of the door - removed the rear seat then lifted the carpets. Yes the rubber pad was soaked with water. Used my extractor again and towels - a hairdryer on low. Removed most of the water from the pad. Most collected toward the edges. Removed the tan trim clips that stuck into the body with a OEM trim puller. Tomorrow will reassemble everything together. Turned the car on super high heat for about 30 minutes to throughly dry the interior out - it helped with the leather and carpets.

Should be ok now all the standing water is removed and some air can get under the carpet. Unfortunately its not about 80F right now and its pretty humid - otherwise would be dry by now.

Don't know if it was my fault or the electrical storm - keys were in the house but I tried pressing the unlock far from the car and the windows do go down when held so I could have put them in my pocket and when watching a movie last night it could have triggered it. Don't know - in the future will keep the keys out and the car in.

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by stim141

....I tried pressing the unlock far from the car and the windows do go down when held...

I used this feature a lot in the 8.5 yrs we had our 2001 X5.But I never quite figured out exactly why the range varied so much. Sometimes I could get the windows to roll down from way far away. Other times I had to be so close I could just open the door and roll them down quicker The one variable that seemed to make the most difference, was whether I was moving toward the X5 or standing still. When I really really wanted those windows to open (think 105F in a black top parking lot), I'd stop walking towards the X5 before I held the button down. This trick usually worked even at far range.

Ironically the unintended use of this feature is most likely to bite people in their own driveways. Where they are inside (so they don't hear the unlock beep) but the keys are still within range and not moving.

Once again this may not be what happened in this case. But others may want to think about where they put their keys in their own home

Funf Dreisig

[Penguin]

Here's a trick that really works with most car remotes. Now, you're not going to believe it at first, but try it and you'll see.

If you touch the remote to your chin when you activate it, it will increase the range. It sorta uses your skull as a bigger antenna.

I haven't tested it with the X5 style remotes, but I have tested it with Ford Focus, Ford Taurus, and Z4 keys/remotes, and using the lock/unlock function it clearly increases the range.