HELP!! E89 Park Sensor - Help I'm stuck in France!!

[sgreen503]

Nictrix wrote: ↑
I suppose you could try disconnecting the battery again to see if it fires up.

RobbiZ4 - But don't close the trunk lid in that situation! Place a carpet, pullover or similiar between the car and the lid to not get it locked.

RobbiZ4 - This will make you laugh. What I didn't say in the previous post is that I did exactly that earlier, put one of those horse shoe foamy neck things you use on flights (but very obvious to the eye) bit of foam between the boot lid and the car so half of it was hanging out, to avoid the previous debacle. Guess what, I came back an hour later and some kind soul spotted it, popped it back in the boot and closed the lid. There was no way it could have been sucked up. So had to do the whole front end jump start to open it again. Least I left the bonnet catch/front window/doors unlocked so wasn't such a pain in the arse. but still......

 

[Pondrew]

There's the problem, a Uk car will need a French battery translated.

No help, but still funny!

 

[javis20]

By the way, how did the locksmith get the door open? Pull window down with a plunger or use a slip stick?

 

[RobbiZ4]

Guess what, I came back an hour later and some kind soul spotted it, popped it back in the boot and closed the lid.

Yeah, lovely, helpful neighbors.

The correct solution is:
Open the lid up to your face and take a look into the two slits on either side.
Lock (push) the two flippers of the softclose (inside of the slits) manually with your finger to the front until you hear it clicking, so that both motors wil run and lock it. With this pre-locking you can place the lid on the car.

This is your live insurance for work in the trunk, on the battery and on the roof!

Unlocking is done simply by pulling on the BMW emblem.
​

 

[inkey$]

Nightmare!!!
Seriously, just get it to the BMW dealership once you have the car running again. You're massively hamstrung in an underground carpark running the risk of it not working again when shutoff.

 

[sgreen503]

By the way, how did the locksmith get the door open? Pull window down with a plunger or use a slip stick?

He went straight into the mechanical lock on the drivers side. Took 2 minutes. It was so tight couldn't see what he was doing

 

[CliveN]

Just a point. The OP mentions he is in Rouen. The German poster who is willing to help seems to think he is in Reims. They are 150 miles apart - Normandy and Champagne. Just in case it wasn’t noticed.

 

[RobbiZ4]

I'd recommend a contact to the BMW workshop in Rouen...

Thanks CliveN, it was a typo und got corrected.

 

[CliveN]

Excellent. Here’s hoping that the OP gets this fixed once and for all. Having stuff like this while terrible for the OP is brilliant for the community as it shows there is help around and we can learn solutions in the longer term

 

[sgreen503]

Well guys its finally at the BMW garage in Rouen. But this road trip ends here. They want 10 days to fix the car. Saying parts will need to be ordered and they are very busy.
So off to Madrid by plane unfortunately.
Thanks again folks for the help. Update will follow

 

[RobbiZ4]

OMG,
in general parts will be delivered the next day.
Problem I see, that you leave and loose the control over their activities. Finally you will get a new car.

Reading the error codes would be my first order of business, not more. Could be done by every other workshop as well.
That is worth to stay another day.

 

[pvr]

I thought you had European recovery? If you are not taking the car, isn't it better to have it recovered back home and you can sort it in the UK rather than getting an eye watering bill in France.

 

[sgreen503]

I thought you had European recovery? If you are not taking the car, isn't it better to have it recovered back home and you can sort it in the UK rather than getting an eye watering bill in France.

Nope. No European recovery. And the bill is going to be eye watering whatever the country. As far as I am concerened I did the correct thing. I've just paid €280 to get it to the garage. If I took it somewhere else to get the error codes read and they couldn't fix the car. Its another €280 to tow it to somewhere (probably the BMW garage) who could fix it. As we all know I have spent the last 4 days taking 1 step forward, and 2 steps back and I can't take the stress of taking further chances with local garages. No one can say for sure they could sort it quicker than BMW and it may not take 10 days. Its in the best place to be fixed.

 

[Nanu]

After the issues you have had to endure, you need at least some holiday.

Get to Madrid, have some tapas and plenty of Rioja and forget the car until the garage phones you. Get some enjoyment from the trip.

What happens then, just deal with then.

 

[sgreen503]

After the issues you have had to endure, you need at least some holiday.

Get to Madrid, have some tapas and plenty of Rioja and forget the car until the garage phones you. Get some enjoyment from the trip.

What happens then, just deal with then.

Thanks mate. I do indeed intend to enjoy my holiday. The car was just part of the adventure. I must say now that onus isn't on me to fix it. I feel like a weight has been lifted. In Paris right now enjoying the delights this wonderful city before I fly to Madrid on Monday. Can't forget to appreciate life for the curve balls it sometimes sends you on. Wanted or not.

 

[MikeyH]

Enjoy, you deserve it

 

[CliveN]

Enjoy. Don’t forget to tell us what was needed when you get the car back from the dealership.

 

[sgreen503]

Enjoy. Don’t forget to tell us what was needed when you get the car back from the dealership.

Will do CliveN!

 

[sgreen503]

Hello all!!!
For those of you who went through my protracted ordeal a few weeks back and wanted to know what the outcome was, we'll here's the info.
A few things first.
1) It turns out I am an idiot. Can't remember who asked who would play me in the film version of this 'adventure' but I'm going for Frank Spencer.
2) Despite replacing the front and rear suspension, oil change, oil filter, spark plugs, air filter, checking tyre condition and feeling pretty pleased with myself... I didn't check the battery.
3)So, the guys at BMW fixed it after 4 days, but I was off by that point in a hired Alfa Romeo Tonale Specialze (absolute rubbish btw, all mouth no trousers) carrying on my trip from Madrid to Porto (lovely place), then Lisbon (s**thole) and back to Madrid, before arriving back at Rouen tonight.
4) So, according to BMW the cause of all this was a completely flat battery. And despite me changing it for a new one, by that point it needed a complete software reset. Which was done, and low and behold the car is good to go.
So, a quick game for you guys. What did those lovely people at BMW charge me considering it's been in the garage for 2 weeks, had a software diagnosis and reset?

I shall reveal the price tomorrow morning when I pick her up and she is firmly in my possession, I'm not gonna do it now because with my luck the garage might burn down overnight, and will probably cite my car as the issue. But given all the info from above, what are the guesses?
Steve

 

[pvr]

I will go for 175 eur