Bought my one owner lowish mileage 2003 Z4 3.0i E85 auto 3 years ago as a 60th birthday toy. Absolutely fantastic, never missed a beat, until now. Got a real panic on because MOT due soon.
Didn't run the car much over the Christmas period, but did start her now and again. Went out to it mid-Jan and the battery was completely dead. Took it off, charged it up, re-fitted it and had lunch. Went out after to reset the clock and check the radio. Struck her up while I did this then when setting the clock the roof went down on its own without pressing the button and wouldn't go back up again. Unfortunately it was raining. Got the roof up manually and left it. Went out the next day to investigate, struck her up and the roof went down immediately again. This time I couldn't get the roof up manually, it just wouldn't go. Again, lashed it down and ended up having to keep it outside overnight with the only the roof cover on. Went out the next day, turned the key and immediately the roof went most the way up on its own. Finished off locking it manually and took fuse 31 out to isolate the motor. Many other things not working now and quite a few warning lights on, including the airbag light.
She went into the main dealer on Monday and they couldn't connect to several ecu's. Brought her home having nothing done and comments like 'this is going to be an expensive job'.
Many other things stopped working, too many to list, but she still drives a treat.
Had a mobile auto electrician out yesterday and got a better diagnosis. Clearly water got in somewhere, just a matter of finding it. After lots of investigation I'm going to start by looking at the airbag ecu behind the handbrake. I'll be happy to get the warning light off so she passes the MOT and the address other stuff later.
Has anyone experienced such a thing and is the airbag ecu the best place to start?
Thanks in advance for any ideas. Zedwight
Didn't run the car much over the Christmas period, but did start her now and again. Went out to it mid-Jan and the battery was completely dead. Took it off, charged it up, re-fitted it and had lunch. Went out after to reset the clock and check the radio. Struck her up while I did this then when setting the clock the roof went down on its own without pressing the button and wouldn't go back up again. Unfortunately it was raining. Got the roof up manually and left it. Went out the next day to investigate, struck her up and the roof went down immediately again. This time I couldn't get the roof up manually, it just wouldn't go. Again, lashed it down and ended up having to keep it outside overnight with the only the roof cover on. Went out the next day, turned the key and immediately the roof went most the way up on its own. Finished off locking it manually and took fuse 31 out to isolate the motor. Many other things not working now and quite a few warning lights on, including the airbag light.
She went into the main dealer on Monday and they couldn't connect to several ecu's. Brought her home having nothing done and comments like 'this is going to be an expensive job'.
Many other things stopped working, too many to list, but she still drives a treat.
Had a mobile auto electrician out yesterday and got a better diagnosis. Clearly water got in somewhere, just a matter of finding it. After lots of investigation I'm going to start by looking at the airbag ecu behind the handbrake. I'll be happy to get the warning light off so she passes the MOT and the address other stuff later.
Has anyone experienced such a thing and is the airbag ecu the best place to start?
Thanks in advance for any ideas. Zedwight
