Hi Scotty,
I bought a used 2011 BMW 328 ixdrive, has about 140500 kms, automatic car from my family friend's mechanic.
Sorry in advance for all the backstory, but it'll probably help:
A few days after i bought the car, all these modular malfunctions showed up, and none of the gauges were moving. Eventually, it stopped running. My family friend (who was also a mechanic and now sells auto parts), came to help fix it. We jump started the car, disconnected and reconnected the battery, and it ran fine.
Next day, we took it back to the mechanic that sold the car. He did some tests and everything seemed to be fine. He mentioned that he detailed the car and also did an "engine shampoo"? as in he also cleaned underneath the hood.
Same day i take my car back, same things happened -- all these module problems came up, none of the rpm or km/h gauges were moving, blinkers not turning off. So next day, my dad and i did the same things as last time.
It has now been about a month since that happened. This morning i went to the garage, and i could hear a humming sound which was new. I checked the car and could see the red light indicating to take it to the mechanic was on, and all the same problems once i started the car.
Clearly something is wrong with the battery or wires. My suspicion is either there is something wrong with the battery, there's a corroded wire, or something isn't turning off after I shut down the car, so it's draining the battery.
I don't know if it helps to mention, but it's also a push to start car. First time might have been a user error, as i've never driven a push to start car. Now i'm being extra cautious and it's still happening.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
BMW’s are so complicated. Especially with the electronics.
Here is just one example of a YouTuber with problematic electronics on a BMW. He was removing modules, swapping modules, getting outside help, diagrams, relays, and the like.
Not sure if it is the same problem as yours. But the video gives you a general idea of how hard it is to diagnosis BMW electronic type problems. He doesn’t solve it in this video, but it’s a good start to tracking stuff down.
Oh yes, that helps narrow it a bit more! My car isn’t to this extreme, but it helped greatly.
I took a video of the first time it happened. I’ll post it within this thread
OMG an "engine shampoo"! Water and soap (and the grease and oil that the soap cleaned off the engine) are deadly for all those electronics stuffed under a BMW's hood. You might want to start using electronics contact cleaner on all the connectors under your hood - unplug each connector, clean with spray contact cleaner, replace connector.
If you need to clean something off under the hood, spray the cleaner on a paper towel or rag, then wipe.
When are car manufacturers going to spend the money it take to put "beauty covers" on top of the engines and spend it on waterproofing the electronics?
Oh I didn’t know something like that existed — contact cleaner. Thanks!
I suggest you get rid of that car. Common sense tells me this is just the beginning of problems with it.
Good luck!
