Electrical Issues/Demonic possession...I think?

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Evotz

Member
 Portland OR
I have a 2003 Z4 2.5 that has been basically flawless until last night. After my long day at work I got into the car and immediately noticed a very predominate humming sound in the cockpit. I had not inserted the key into the ignition and everything in the car was off. I searched the car to find the passenger door twitter to be the source of the noise. Again with no key in the ignition I hit the radio button and the radio turned on and played :cry: ?!?!?!?(noise stopped at that point). I turned off the radio and the noise returned after about 10 sec. I turned the car on and there was a noticeable lag (only a couple of seconds) but the car started normally. I drove for 20 miles with no issues. But when I stopped the sound returned. The radio is stock and there has been no modifications to the system. At this point I figured a cracked wire to the speaker. But this is where is gets weird.
When I turned the car on again the headlights did not turn on. They were on automatic and have worked without issue up to this point. I turned car off and back on and on the third try the head lights came on but the gauge lights did not (rest of dash worked correctly). Off and on, off and on…the car started, headlights on, but not the gauge lights. Frustrated, I left it alone for an hour and checked again. Now the humm is going strong when I opened the door, starts fine, headlight go on, and gauge lights work. OK . But I turn it off now the humm returns and the gauge lights STAY on. :| Off on, off on, they remain on. I am now even more confused so I wait an hour and try it again, they stay on. During this off and on process I turned light switch to each of the positions with no effect, I moved the gauge light dimmer through the entire cycle and no effect. Then as I sat there wondering what to do next, a loud 'pop' went through the radio speakers (car was OFF no key in the ignition) and the lights turned off, buzzing stops and all is quiet.

This morning the buzz was definitely present, the lights worked and the gauge lights turned on. Tonight turned it on no headlights on automatic, no dash lights, buzz still there, radio works without key. Headlights do work if turned to manual on but no dash lights. Radio when car is turned on shows –I- on readout but when turned off the radio plays ??????

I have NO IDEA where to even start on this. :evil:
ANYONE????
Is there a fire risk in this should I disconnect the battery???
 
Evotz, does sound odd, you say Christine hasn't done this sort of thing before?

Reference the radio, that does work without the key in the ignition.

Does sound like an odd combination of events - across unrelated parts of the car. I know it's the numpty suggestion, but I would try disconnecting the battery for 20 minutes, let the car shut down fully and reconnect, see if it resets itself. Next action would be to pop the air vents out, radio out and disconnect the radio.

Yes, I am aware I have just told you to turn it off and on again.

Good luck - am sure someone else will have more targeted advice.
 
Evotz - good to see you back from 2008!

Agree with PS, go for a simple 'reset' strategy first by disconnectimng the battery. May be the battery is on its way out as this can often have some oddeffect on the electrical function of the car - when was the last time you changed bthe battery, if the original from 2003 then your would be lucky if its still rtaining charge.

As for the humm through the speakers this may indicate an earthing fault somewhere in the system. Sorry I can't be much more help.
 
PawnSacrifice and AlanJ, thanks for the suggestions!
I am currently in the 20 min disconnect period. One can only hope. :roll:
The battery is old (nearly 5 years, so maybe) I will have the charging system checked today. I have never had this many divergent systems all act up at a single time (well maybe my 64 Triumph TR4... but then again it was supposed to do it :lol: ) It has to be a central system fault so the battery does make sense.

Christine... not sure if want to give her that moniker, at least not yet! :evil:

Will report update tonight.
 
Update:
So I did the battery disconnect for approximately one hour this morning. Reconnected the system.
No buzzing, lights came on when started, cluster lights came on, everything seemed to work. I was optimistic. :) Left for work and merged onto the freeway, used my left turn indicator and it worked but it would not then turn off!!!! Switched to right then left then off then right and left all to no effect. Great, I am that old man driving down the freeway with his left turn signal perpetually on!!!! After a mile or so it just stopped. :cry: A bit latter, with great hesitation, I tried the right turn indicator…..same thing!!!! Finally went off after a little bit, so no more turn signals today for me….
Took the car to the dealer for opinions. Turns out the battery was old and definitely undercharged. Ok maybe this is it. Brand new battery in (I did it in their parking lot not wanting to pay the $136 instillation fee since my year does not have the battery tending circuit and does not need to have the system registered to a new battery). Fired right up. Lights all work. Alarm works, turn signal works…problem solved…..maybe. :) Drove the car to the front of the dealer building, got out of the car removed the key from the ignition and the key warning beeper would not turn off! :| The car would not lock on the key fob but did lock and arm when I manually locked it. Got the service rep… still beeping …turned it on, beeping stopped but turn it off the beeping starts and will not stop. 4 to 5 times cycling off-remove the key-insert key-turn-on finally stopped. Set up appointment next week of an 'extensive electrical diagnostic' (all I hear is $$$$$$ :o ). Got in the car to drive home and used the turn signal again….now not working in the car…no clicks, no cluster indication but they are flashing on the exterior lights. :( ????? But everything else ‘appears to be working as it should’. No buzz, headlights work and cluster lights are on.

Ok three questions before I christen her Christine and call my local priest.
1. On a 2003 does the radio normally work without the ignition turned on (I honestly never tried it before this started)
2. Do the electronics take ‘time’ to adapt to the new current load of a new battery?
3. Any ideas!!!!
 
Evotz, my answers would be:
1. Yes definitely, on all BMW's - my first 1993 E36 already had this.
2. No.
3. Seeing as the hum from the speakers was the first symptom, I would go with AlanJ's suggestion. Other than that and given the multitude of strange symptoms, the "extensive electrical diagnostic" sounds like a good plan. If none of this works, get the holy water...
 
I had similar demonic electrical experiences with my 2004 BMW Mini Cooper Convertible when it was two weeks old, window madness, rear lights coming on at will, brake lights all mixed up etc, turned out to be a faulty BC1 base (central) control unit which was replaced under warranty and was subject of a selective recall. The fault was down to the connector failing and not having a sealed cover allowing moisture in to the unit.

More recently my SLK had a long list of electrical gremlins with central locking, lights, alarm and an electrical drain, finally diagnosed as a control unit.

So my guess is a control unit or some damage and a short in a main loom. Hope it's not too $$$$$$$$$
 
Update: I am now one week and 3 days after the start of the haunting of the Z. I have accepted PawnSacrifice’s concept and have rechristened her: Christine. In my guilt ridden state, there was an important fact that I failed to tell you all: this all started after I returned from a 2 week trip to Hawaii where I drove another car, I cheated on her. To add greater insult to injury, I left Christine outside in the cold winter rain during my infidelity, as my house is being remodeled and the garage is full of furniture. She felt jilted and got mad! I finally acknowledged my sins and begged forgiveness. Last Saturday I promised her new shoes (ordered: 265/19/30 rear and 235/19/35 front), a hot bubble bath (full detail) and a spirited romp through some twisty country roads this weekend. NO MORE PROBLEMS at all now. :lol:

Honestly, I believe it was the battery. After talking to several BMW mechanics they all stated that BMW modules act very ‘odd’ if the load voltage drops too low. I have also been told that the general module (under the dash passenger side) and the associated relays can have issues and fail causing multiple ‘odd’ responses as well, so I will take a look at them as well this weekend.

Either way, Christine and I are back on the road together. :driving:

Thanks again for all the help!
 
Evotz said:
Update: I am now one week and 3 days after the start of the haunting of the Z. I have accepted PawnSacrifice’s concept and have rechristened her: Christine. In my guilt ridden state, there was an important fact that I failed to tell you all: this all started after I returned from a 2 week trip to Hawaii where I drove another car, I cheated on her. To add greater insult to injury, I left Christine outside in the cold winter rain during my infidelity, as my house is being remodeled and the garage is full of furniture. She felt jilted and got mad! I finally acknowledged my sins and begged forgiveness. Last Saturday I promised her new shoes (ordered: 265/19/30 rear and 235/19/35 front), a hot bubble bath (full detail) and a spirited romp through some twisty country roads this weekend. NO MORE PROBLEMS at all now. :lol:

Honestly, I believe it was the battery. After talking to several BMW mechanics they all stated that BMW modules act very ‘odd’ if the load voltage drops too low. I have also been told that the general module (under the dash passenger side) and the associated relays can have issues and fail causing multiple ‘odd’ responses as well, so I will take a look at them as well this weekend.

Either way, Christine and I are back on the road together. :driving:

Thanks again for all the help!
Click to expand...

Glad it worked out with Christine :thumbsup: But if it's working I would be tempted to leave well alone unless you have diagnostic kit, you might upset her again!
 
:thumbsup:

When I first got mine, the passenger window enjoyed going down at will whenever it felt like it.

Got it sorted under warranty, never happened again. :D
 
She is back!!!! :evil:

Soon after the last post, we were out running errands and I hit a MAJOR pot hole. :headbang: I took her in subsequently due to tracking issues only to find that the rear passenger wheel was way out of alignment. I got that fixed but also was advised that the rear tire was worn excessively due to the misalignment. I run 235/19/35 and 265/19/30 so they had to be special ordered. The new tires arrived but when they were mounting them the same rim cracked! While I could have had it welded up the rim was noticeably bend as well. SOOOO called Elliott at ModBargins and he hooked me up with four new rims but they too were back ordered so it took a couple of weeks to get in. (Side bar: Elliott is great to work with, kept me informed of the process and even gave me a sympathy discount on the order!!!) :D

When the rims arrived I went to start her up and the battery was completely DEAD. Brand new BMW heavy duty battery, left for no more that 4 weeks lounging in the garage and it was dead. This is not normal, correct??? :|

Got her started, drove to get the tires mounted (looks great! Will post pictures). I thought all was fine. After three days of daily driving, all of the electrical symptoms returned plus a few new ones. (When start her up, 50% of the time the radio starts with the –I—. If I leave it this way the windows will not work. Hit the radio to turn it on and the display now looks fine, time correct, radio station correct and windows work. Other thing new is alarm operates but the lights do not flash to indicate activation or disarmed. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t)

I have tried the reset multiple times (really I disconnect the battery every night) but each night by the time I get home symptoms begin to return. Last night I put the battery on a charger to see if that will maintain the charge. I am going to try to check the charging system and the load on the system this weekend. I hope it is a defective battery but I suspect that I have a faulty module or a wiring harness short or some other demonic possession that will require me to go back to the dealer for ‘extensive electrical diagnostic work $$$)

But she sure looks pretty!!! :wub:
 
Ok new pattern.....
50% of the time when started the radio display shows --I--. When it does and I leave it this way: Turn signals do not work and windows do not work. If I turn the radio on the display corrects itself to proper time and station AND the windows work and turn signals function.

Any idea??? Thinking to completely disconnect the radio as a test but it still does not make sense to me that the radio is the fault.
 
Not had any experience on the Z, but i had a Ford that went haywire, windows operating themselves, radio on and off at will, strange headlamp operations etc, all down to a bad earth on the startermotor (how that worked was beyond me, but the RAC man who fixed it for me in 20 seconds flat said the power tries to find another ground. You would think I would know that, working in a power station. Seems car electrica are AC, DC and MagiC)

I would check all the earths on the wiring loom, if i had a copy of the wiring diagram which, unfortunately, I don't

Steve
 
I'm having these same issues after my battery went dead. Any other updates?

I found if I played around with the battery it would change what was wrong with the car.
 
Honestly I have not figured it out but for the moment the problems have resolved. But I do have a theory involving humidity and general moisture as a possible contributor to the issue.

After talking to three different certified BMW techs it was decided that it had to be a module (one proposed it was the one on the passenger side firewall-his logic was it was prone to moisture). Last winter I had noticed that it seemed that there was a lot more humidity in the car then what I remember from previous years. While I could never find water in the car or evidence of a leak it just seemed wet. But it was a miserable wet fall and winter so who knows.

Anyway, I decided to bite the bullet and take her in for extensive electrical diagnostics. BUT once I decided to do it, the symptoms completely disappeared! So for the last few weeks I am just waiting. I hesitate to take her in and pay the money if it is not acting up.

The one thing that I did do (as noted earlier in the post) is replace the battery. Initially the symptoms did return. One night in frustration, I disconnected the battery and put it on a charger over night to insure full charge. After that the symptoms dramatically reduced. I am not sure if was coincidence or not but...

So for right now I am waiting. She does seem to respond positively to warm bubble baths and spirited runs to the coast. :driving:

Good luck and let me know if you discover any effective exorcism techniques.
 
Just for a bit of a note on dampness doing weird stuff.

My M-sport seats were from a breaker, and despite them feeling dry, they were actually clearly quite damp inside still.

For about 3 weeks the passenger seat would do weird things with heating and occupancy sensor, flashing lights on heating control, occupancy sensor working in different ways etc... eventually one day they just started all working fine. Once seat heating started working properly, the heating was run on them all the time, as were my car heaters, and eventually the occupancy sensor just worked too iirc.


Either way, damp can play havoc, and a dicky battery can cause issues too. Throw in maybe a bad earth, and you have a recipe for disaster.

My 2p. Get a storage heater, clear the garage, get the car in there to dry out, and if problems persist, look around for weak earthing!

Dave
 
Ewazix said:
I had similar demonic electrical experiences with my 2004 BMW Mini Cooper Convertible when it was two weeks old, window madness, rear lights coming on at will, brake lights all mixed up etc, turned out to be a faulty BC1 base (central) control unit which was replaced under warranty and was subject of a selective recall. The fault was down to the connector failing and not having a sealed cover allowing moisture in to the unit. More recently my SLK had a long list of electrical gremlins with central locking, lights, alarm and an electrical drain, finally diagnosed as a control unit. So my guess is a control unit or some damage and a short in a main loom. Hope it's not too $$$$$$$$$
Click to expand...

As I said it sounds like the problem I had on my 2004 Cooper with damp getting in to a control unit, even sounds like a similar location. I'm told that it can be sealed with silicone if you get it out and it's clean and dry, but the connectors corrode so have to be checked.
 
My issues have been solved. I had to replace the airbag control module located in the center console (airbag light was on), and found the passenger side carpet soaking wet under the passenger seat.

My soft top drain on the passenger side was plugged, allowing water to get in on that side only. After drying the carpet, and clearing the drain my problems have not returned.
 
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