Car broke down. Help!!

Schm · 01-31-2010, 05:25 PM

Hello everybody. Just a feeler if any tech or service-oriented people out there know anything that could help me out. Yesterday I was at a car wash and when I was about to leave I couldn't get my car to start. I did the normal, called AAA and they came out and determined my battery was still good, but the car wouldn't start still. The steering is also locked up, and the engine doesn't even turn over. I got the car towed to a parking lot near me because it was too late to get it serviced anywhere and the AAA mechanic doesn't know how to work on e90s (Not that I would trust him anyways, but I kind of need a car right now.) My car has never broken down before and it was really unexpected that it would just die out of nowhere. I was just wondering if anyone here had any theories about what could be wrong with my car.

VTECaddict · 01-31-2010, 05:49 PM

Sounds like the steering column/lock malfunction. Do you get a steering wheel error when you try to start it up?

Kylekuu · 01-31-2010, 05:52 PM

cranking over? any lights whatsoever inside? electronics showing up?

bsamoul · 01-31-2010, 05:52 PM

335 or not?

chrisnetcom · 01-31-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsamoul

335 or not?

It's in his sig.

Did you spray under the hood? Does it crank (not turn over)?

Schm · 01-31-2010, 06:03 PM

330i. No, it won't crank over. No, I didn't open the hood and spray it. The electronics show up fine. Radio works fine, door ajar light works up fine. I don't think the main display pops up with anything though. The engine does not turn over at all, completely unresponsive.

chrisnetcom · 01-31-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schm

330i. No, it won't crank over. No, I didn't open the hood and spray it. The electronics show up fine. Radio works fine, door ajar light works up fine. I don't think the main display pops up with anything though.

Hmm. The starter might have gone out. Very weird.

Kylekuu · 01-31-2010, 06:28 PM

got a multimeter? see if the starter is getting juice. Is there a fuse for motor/starter(don't have my manual handy)? check your fuses first.

John 070 · 01-31-2010, 06:40 PM

My car died twice (for no reason), but mine is a 335. I find that the normal troubleshooting (fire or fuel) doesn't work with these cars, basically we have to take it to the dealership.

They replaced my IBS sensor and updated my software, hasn't died since...good luck.

NaTuReB0Y · 01-31-2010, 06:43 PM

my steering wheel locked up all the time....and the car won't start....

but give a yank or twist....and try again.....

no serious problem yet......

chrisnetcom · 01-31-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

my steering wheel locked up all the time....and the car won't start....

but give a yank or twist....and try again.....

no serious problem yet......

Uh...that sounds like a serious problem to me.

Schm · 02-01-2010, 02:11 PM

Alright, I got off the phone with the dealer, BMW of Tucson a little while ago. They say that since the previous owner put in a non-BMW battery, it is a battery issue. They say that I am going to have to buy a new battery. I had my dad, who has been advising me throughout this process, call my dealer at home, Baron BMW, and ask if they had ever head of this before and they said that they had not. Also, BMW of Tucson said that the final price for the battery would be 400, while Baron said that the price of a battery install is about 250-300. I think that the 400 includes the 135$ hour-inspection fee or whatever.

My question to you, the best and the brightest e90 owners, is
1. Is this an actual problem, and

2. Am I getting ripped off even more than normal by the stealership? I was hesitant to bring it to the dealer, as I typically bring it to European Auto Tech, a really good independent shop in Tucson, but the dealer was open earlier and I needed the car gone early.

xplicitstylez · 02-01-2010, 02:14 PM

i also have a 330i. i do think it is the starter because a month ago i had to change my started because every time i started the car it would grind. get the starter checked out. its under cpo and factory warranty

Nalod · 02-01-2010, 03:15 PM

Need a "BMW" Battery?

IS this for real? What does a Special battery do that a good battery won't?

chrisnetcom · 02-01-2010, 03:34 PM

You're getting jacked. Go to a different dealer. They have a portable jump kit that will attempt to start the car when a battery/car is shot. If that doesn't work, how could it be the battery?

bsamoul · 02-01-2010, 09:12 PM

It doesn't make sense that it's the battery.

Schm · 02-04-2010, 12:31 PM

Alright, just a small update. I got the car back from the dealer. I went in with the idea that I was going to ask as many questions and prod as hard as I could for more info. Basically, is what I was told was that the previous owner replaced the original battery with an Exide one, and it was leaking. This was the reason that the battery tested positive but wouldn't start. I don't know if anyone else has had this problem, but it was pretty damn weird. So, $490 or so later, I realized how it wasn't a major electrical gremlin (as I suspected), and I should have taken it to my indie shop like usual.

01-31-2010, 05:25 PM	#1
Schm Colonel 164 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri iTrader: (3)	Car broke down. Help!! Hello everybody. Just a feeler if any tech or service-oriented people out there know anything that could help me out. Yesterday I was at a car wash and when I was about to leave I couldn't get my car to start. I did the normal, called AAA and they came out and determined my battery was still good, but the car wouldn't start still. The steering is also locked up, and the engine doesn't even turn over. I got the car towed to a parking lot near me because it was too late to get it serviced anywhere and the AAA mechanic doesn't know how to work on e90s (Not that I would trust him anyways, but I kind of need a car right now.) My car has never broken down before and it was really unexpected that it would just die out of nowhere. I was just wondering if anyone here had any theories about what could be wrong with my car. __________________ 2006 E90 330i.
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01-31-2010, 05:49 PM	#2
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Sounds like the steering column/lock malfunction. Do you get a steering wheel error when you try to start it up? __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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01-31-2010, 05:52 PM	#3
Kylekuu Captain 30 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 08 328xi, 84 318i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kenosha, WI iTrader: (0)	cranking over? any lights whatsoever inside? electronics showing up?
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01-31-2010, 05:52 PM	#4
bsamoul Major General 165 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California iTrader: (2)	335 or not? __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com
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01-31-2010, 06:03 PM	#6
Schm Colonel 164 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri iTrader: (3)	330i. No, it won't crank over. No, I didn't open the hood and spray it. The electronics show up fine. Radio works fine, door ajar light works up fine. I don't think the main display pops up with anything though. The engine does not turn over at all, completely unresponsive. __________________ 2006 E90 330i.
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01-31-2010, 06:28 PM	#8
Kylekuu Captain 30 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 08 328xi, 84 318i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kenosha, WI iTrader: (0)	got a multimeter? see if the starter is getting juice. Is there a fuse for motor/starter(don't have my manual handy)? check your fuses first.
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01-31-2010, 06:40 PM	#9
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	My car died twice (for no reason), but mine is a 335. I find that the normal troubleshooting (fire or fuel) doesn't work with these cars, basically we have to take it to the dealership. They replaced my IBS sensor and updated my software, hasn't died since...good luck.
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01-31-2010, 06:43 PM	#10
NaTuReB0Y Powered By 36DD 337 Rep 7,369 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Inland Empire iTrader: (12)	my steering wheel locked up all the time....and the car won't start.... but give a yank or twist....and try again..... no serious problem yet...... __________________ 2006 E90 330i Jet Black \| 20" WORK VS-XX \| FK452 \| H&R Sport on Koni Yellow \| REMUS QUAD
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02-01-2010, 02:11 PM	#12
Schm Colonel 164 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri iTrader: (3)	Alright, I got off the phone with the dealer, BMW of Tucson a little while ago. They say that since the previous owner put in a non-BMW battery, it is a battery issue. They say that I am going to have to buy a new battery. I had my dad, who has been advising me throughout this process, call my dealer at home, Baron BMW, and ask if they had ever head of this before and they said that they had not. Also, BMW of Tucson said that the final price for the battery would be 400, while Baron said that the price of a battery install is about 250-300. I think that the 400 includes the 135$ hour-inspection fee or whatever. My question to you, the best and the brightest e90 owners, is 1. Is this an actual problem, and 2. Am I getting ripped off even more than normal by the stealership? I was hesitant to bring it to the dealer, as I typically bring it to European Auto Tech, a really good independent shop in Tucson, but the dealer was open earlier and I needed the car gone early. __________________ 2006 E90 330i.
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02-01-2010, 02:14 PM	#13
xplicitstylez ThreeThrityFLY 70 Rep 442 Posts Drives: Alpine White 330i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY,NY iTrader: (0)	i also have a 330i. i do think it is the starter because a month ago i had to change my started because every time i started the car it would grind. get the starter checked out. its under cpo and factory warranty
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02-01-2010, 03:15 PM	#14
Nalod Major 79 Rep 1,073 Posts Drives: 2013 535i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NorthCarolina iTrader: (0)	Need a "BMW" Battery? IS this for real? What does a Special battery do that a good battery won't?
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02-01-2010, 03:34 PM	#15
chrisnetcom New Member 0 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2005 330Ci Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	You're getting jacked. Go to a different dealer. They have a portable jump kit that will attempt to start the car when a battery/car is shot. If that doesn't work, how could it be the battery?
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02-01-2010, 09:12 PM	#16
bsamoul Major General 165 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California iTrader: (2)	It doesn't make sense that it's the battery. __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com
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02-04-2010, 12:31 PM	#17
Schm Colonel 164 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri iTrader: (3)	Alright, just a small update. I got the car back from the dealer. I went in with the idea that I was going to ask as many questions and prod as hard as I could for more info. Basically, is what I was told was that the previous owner replaced the original battery with an Exide one, and it was leaking. This was the reason that the battery tested positive but wouldn't start. I don't know if anyone else has had this problem, but it was pretty damn weird. So, $490 or so later, I realized how it wasn't a major electrical gremlin (as I suspected), and I should have taken it to my indie shop like usual. __________________ 2006 E90 330i.
	Appreciate 0 Quote