E65 electrical catastrophe

sam5357 · 09-02-2009, 10:26 AM

Ok, so my one really good friends mom is having some issues with her 04' 745iL. So the car has 56k miles and is a complete piece of crap, well only electronically. As my friend was dropping of his gf two weeks ago and the thing just died. Prior to this they were having some issues with the DSC/ stability sensors and such, they got those replaced and all was well for a while. Anyways he calls me has no clue what to do, I say try a hard reset, by disconnecting the battery for at least half hour. He tries that nothing happens, so he calls AAA and they give the car a jump, and it starts. He decides to drive the thing back to Rahal BMW. Now it gets kinda funny, on the way back, on I-70, it decides to sh*t its pants. First it tells him transmission failure, limits him to about 50mph. Then all of the lights start turning on and off, all of them. Then the DSC failure stuff happens again, shuts it self off, and jams it self in park. This all happened in about a minute. It has now been at Rahal for the past week and a half, and they have no clue what is causing these problems. It throws no codes, but the vehicle still is showing the same symptoms. According to Rahal the special BMW electronics people have come to look at the P.O.S. It is now completly apart and still cannot figure it out

What are your thoughts about this? lol

Ted13B · 09-02-2009, 10:33 AM

BMW's are very sensitive to voltage issues. I'd start with the alternator and charging circuit to make sure it was getting adaquate voltage. I'd also check for damage from the jump start-voltage spikes are not friendly towards electronics!

BMWstudent · 09-02-2009, 10:37 AM

was he on I-70 when it put itself in park?

that would be terrifying. nothing else to add though... I've never even ridden in an e65

phlfly · 09-02-2009, 10:54 AM

Battery or less likely alternator. When battery is almost dead, BMW will turn on a "Christmas tree" inside the car.

sam5357 · 09-02-2009, 11:04 AM

Yeah it put itself in park on I-70, they said they have tried the alternator and all the other common problem areas. I just told him this is why you guys should not have bought a 7 series lol.

anysubat · 09-03-2009, 01:26 PM

There must be some problem with the wiring system of the car.Will suggest to go to the particular car showroom and consult.

09-02-2009, 10:26 AM	#1
sam5357 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 263 My Ride: 2002 325i View My Garage	E65 electrical catastrophe Ok, so my one really good friends mom is having some issues with her 04' 745iL. So the car has 56k miles and is a complete piece of crap, well only electronically. As my friend was dropping of his gf two weeks ago and the thing just died. Prior to this they were having some issues with the DSC/ stability sensors and such, they got those replaced and all was well for a while. Anyways he calls me has no clue what to do, I say try a hard reset, by disconnecting the battery for at least half hour. He tries that nothing happens, so he calls AAA and they give the car a jump, and it starts. He decides to drive the thing back to Rahal BMW. Now it gets kinda funny, on the way back, on I-70, it decides to sh*t its pants. First it tells him transmission failure, limits him to about 50mph. Then all of the lights start turning on and off, all of them. Then the DSC failure stuff happens again, shuts it self off, and jams it self in park. This all happened in about a minute. It has now been at Rahal for the past week and a half, and they have no clue what is causing these problems. It throws no codes, but the vehicle still is showing the same symptoms. According to Rahal the special BMW electronics people have come to look at the P.O.S. It is now completly apart and still cannot figure it out What are your thoughts about this? lol

09-02-2009, 10:54 AM	#4
phlfly Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Leesburg N. VA Posts: 397 My Ride: 325i wagon View My Garage	Battery or less likely alternator. When battery is almost dead, BMW will turn on a "Christmas tree" inside the car. __________________

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09-02-2009, 10:33 AM	#2
Ted13B Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 325 My Ride: 07 Z4 Coupe View My Garage	BMW's are very sensitive to voltage issues. I'd start with the alternator and charging circuit to make sure it was getting adaquate voltage. I'd also check for damage from the jump start-voltage spikes are not friendly towards electronics!

09-02-2009, 10:37 AM	#3
BMWstudent Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 220 My Ride: hates potholes View My Garage	was he on I-70 when it put itself in park? that would be terrifying. nothing else to add though... I've never even ridden in an e65

09-02-2009, 11:04 AM	#5
sam5357 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 263 My Ride: 2002 325i View My Garage	Yeah it put itself in park on I-70, they said they have tried the alternator and all the other common problem areas. I just told him this is why you guys should not have bought a 7 series lol.

09-03-2009, 01:26 PM	#6
anysubat Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Folsom Posts: 13 My Ride: BMW E46 View My Garage	There must be some problem with the wiring system of the car.Will suggest to go to the particular car showroom and consult.