Merry Christmas.. to my Dead Zed !! =(

A

Andy

Veteran
 Warwickshire
Merry christmas to one and all.. looking for some festive help from a hopefully common thing..

I took my 2006 Z4m out yesterday to grab some booze for today and as soon as I started it, the light came on on the dashboard to say a bulb had gone. I didn't pay too much attention, and tried to get to the dealer before 5pm, which I did but they were closed - fair enough on Christmas Eve I guess.. So i went to the pub on the way home, only to notice my front right indicator was stuck on.

I worked out the blown bulb to be the sidelight on the same side, and assumed it was somehow replacing the missing sidelight with a permanently-lit (orange) indicator and whilst a bit wierd I didnt think too much of it.

However - the light won't go off. I called BMW Emergency services saying the battery would be flat by morning so they sent a chap out to diagnose from - Roger's Rescue. Fair play to the guy at 9pm on Xmas eve in the end, he had the access panels off to the bulb and got to it in the driving rain - but then couldn't help as he didnt carry the bulb, and there isn't one in the toolkit.

So I put the car in our barn (near the mains electricity) and left it overnight. Tried to fire it up at lunchtime today, and despite the indicator still being on when i got there, there wasn't enough juice to start it. So I charged it and it ended up resetting the car by running it flat i think - one Xenon flashed on and it made a pretty wierd noise as the solinoid tried to fire.

So anyway - all this from a failed bulb? Has anyone else experienced such grief for just a sidelight going? It's pretty bad that a failed bulb will ultimately kill the car.

It's going to the dealers in the morning and I'm going to have a shout - there's quite a few small faults with it now (annoyingly the bonnet won't stay up either - great when ur messing about with bulbs in the rain) and I want them to keep it till its done.

Thanks for reading (allbeit hopefully everyone is drunk by now).. and answers on a postcard much appreciated =)

xx
 
Why didn't the repair man remove the bulb to stop the battery draining further or at least once it was in your barn or pull the fuse(s) for the lighting circuit in question. I'd be worried that this could have ruined your battery. That said I have saved many a dead battery using my grandads WW2 era battery charger, its huge and hums loudly :D

Also a bit silly to not bring some spare assorted bulbs when attending a bulb fault LOL. Reminds me to buy a spare bulb kit for the car for when I go to europe next year, I assume BMW sell them?
 
Adam D said:
Why didn't the repair man remove the bulb to stop the battery draining further or at least once it was in your barn or pull the fuse(s) for the lighting circuit in question.
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not sure about the fuse but i was told that removing that bulb would kill my indicator permanently (which would be worse as i did eventually drive it tonight) and maybe the other beam in that cluster. he wasnt the proper bmw guy but they were so keen on coming, even on xmas eve yest at 8pmpm.. apparently i can get one of them out box day if needs be. it's on some trickle charger thing that only charges periodically to keep it working, not 24/7 so it should now be ok, but only thanks to my kit - not theirs.

id just love to hear of another zed with a failed sidelight that did / didnt do this.. but hopefully in the morning ill get it sorted =)
 
quick update - called the bmw guy to come replace the bulb on box day and again had it in pieces & then still no bulb. They did show me a trick to kill the indicator & it's as simple as.. just go to ignition 2 and off again, after you stop the car.

Decided to risk a busy dealer on Thurs, so went to Sterns in Worcs for 2hr hoping they were just taking their time on the vallet.. i wish.. whilst drooling over an imola m3 v8.

Instead the bulb swap didnt do anything and so they had the headlight out to test, ending up confused & unable to explain it. It's booked in for the 7th and ive now given them a list of 12 mostly minor things which need sorting and left it at home for my dad to take in.

Annoyingly after i got home and had forgotton about it, both windows randomly lowered themselves fully at different times later in the evening, not fantastic in the rain as it took me an hour or so to notice. So it's locked away in a barn now and off the road until dad can take it. grr.. diesel power only for 2wks..
 
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