Weird Electrical Issue

toddkageals · Tue, Mar-09-2010, 12:51:38 AM

Guys,

I have a weird problem with my 2002 M3 Vert. This happens every few weeks or so. Today I was driving along and the CD player started cutting out every few seconds, then the clock and miles on the trip odometer reset, the windows opened slightly to their "dropped" positions and would not come back up after the doors were closed, I got a red light on the close top switch, I think the Nav. display might have went off and then on again but I am not positive. After I stopped the car and reset everything by turning the key off and then on again, everthing was fine. The clock/date had to be reset but otherwise everything went back to normal. It's done this about 5-7 times in the last couple of months. Anybody know where I should start looking for this?

Thanks,

Todd

bleufiend · Tue, Mar-09-2010, 01:23:53 AM

Possible bad alternator over or undercharging? Not sure if faults would store for it that could be read.

RedM3/4 · Tue, Mar-09-2010, 02:09:16 AM

have the battery terminals cleaned first, and check the battery voltage while there.

ADS

e46m3smg@16 · Tue, Mar-09-2010, 02:52:54 AM

hey man. i had the same problem. really confused me. it happened to me when i was on cruise control then everything cut out and the nav wet off then back on. i wasnt sure what it was and couldnt find much helpful info online. after like 6 times of doing that it just went away. hasnt happened since.

///M Rat · Tue, Mar-09-2010, 07:38:19 AM

Have your battery tested.

Gregs///M · Tue, Mar-09-2010, 07:29:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Rat

Have your battery tested.

And alternator.

smaglik · Tue, Mar-09-2010, 10:25:01 PM

check your ground points.

toddkageals · Wed, Mar-10-2010, 12:54:35 AM

Guys,

Thanks for the replies. I don't think the battery is an issue. The headlights don't even dim when I start the car and even through this very cold winter I have had "0" problems cranking/starting the car. The car has 70K and the alternator was replaced by BMW before I got it. I guess there is no way to rule out the alternator but I don't see any evidence that it's not charging. Obviously the problem is intermittent so I guess I can't rule out some short in the alternator. Where are the ground points on an E46 M3 vert. ? I THINK that any failed device on the Ibus can cause this sort of problem but I am not sure. The car was not doing this when I bought it and I have only done two thing that I can think were electrical in nature. I installed the hardtop installation kit but that's just plugging it in. I also replaced the nav. unit with a MKIV that I bought used. So....I was hoping to find someone who had similar issues who might be able point me in the right direction. Prior to the most recent occurence the problem had not occured for about a month or so. I almost wish it would just quit working so I could find the source of the issue!

smaglik · Wed, Mar-10-2010, 02:42:03 AM

well, on the older ones, there is one near the battery, one near the back of the block, and one under the dash. in fact, the first thing you do when you take ownership of an e24 is to clean the grounds...hehe

i have not had to troubleshoot that on the e46 yet, so i do not have personal experience. there was a thread awhile back where a member had similar odd issues, and reconnected something under his seat, and it fixed the issue.

check your bentley, it should be in there.

kid_m3 · Wed, Mar-10-2010, 04:22:55 AM

My coupe did the same thing. It ended up being a wire underneath the drivers seat.

Tue, Mar-09-2010, 12:51:38 AM	#1
toddkageals Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 169 Reputation: 0	Weird Electrical Issue Guys, I have a weird problem with my 2002 M3 Vert. This happens every few weeks or so. Today I was driving along and the CD player started cutting out every few seconds, then the clock and miles on the trip odometer reset, the windows opened slightly to their "dropped" positions and would not come back up after the doors were closed, I got a red light on the close top switch, I think the Nav. display might have went off and then on again but I am not positive. After I stopped the car and reset everything by turning the key off and then on again, everthing was fine. The clock/date had to be reset but otherwise everything went back to normal. It's done this about 5-7 times in the last couple of months. Anybody know where I should start looking for this? Thanks, Todd

Tue, Mar-09-2010, 02:09:16 AM	#3
RedM3/4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,249 Reputation: 0	have the battery terminals cleaned first, and check the battery voltage while there. ADS __________________ 98 M3/4, Supersprint catback, UUC red tranny mounts, Rogue SS w/UUC dual selector rod, wired V1. Sold to my son, still in the family! 06 SMG/ZCP - April 09, Dinan over Konis, RAC RG63, homelink with off-delay (working), multifunction steering wheel buttons, RacingBrake Front kit.

Tue, Mar-09-2010, 10:25:01 PM	#7
smaglik Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 907 Reputation: 0 Location: Flagstaff	check your ground points. __________________ 2002 BMW M5 2007 Nissan Xterra 2009 Honda Fit

Wed, Mar-10-2010, 02:42:03 AM	#9
smaglik Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 907 Reputation: 0 Location: Flagstaff	well, on the older ones, there is one near the battery, one near the back of the block, and one under the dash. in fact, the first thing you do when you take ownership of an e24 is to clean the grounds...hehe i have not had to troubleshoot that on the e46 yet, so i do not have personal experience. there was a thread awhile back where a member had similar odd issues, and reconnected something under his seat, and it fixed the issue. check your bentley, it should be in there. __________________ 2002 BMW M5 2007 Nissan Xterra 2009 Honda Fit

Wed, Mar-10-2010, 04:22:55 AM	#10
kid_m3 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 936 In the garage: '04 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Houston	My coupe did the same thing. It ended up being a wire underneath the drivers seat. __________________

Tue, Mar-09-2010, 01:23:53 AM	#2
bleufiend Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 94 Reputation: 0 Location: Lakeland	Possible bad alternator over or undercharging? Not sure if faults would store for it that could be read.

Tue, Mar-09-2010, 02:52:54 AM	#4
e46m3smg@16 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 6 Blog Entries: 1 Reputation: 0 Location: sacramento	hey man. i had the same problem. really confused me. it happened to me when i was on cruise control then everything cut out and the nav wet off then back on. i wasnt sure what it was and couldnt find much helpful info online. after like 6 times of doing that it just went away. hasnt happened since.

Tue, Mar-09-2010, 07:38:19 AM	#5
///M Rat Brilliant in chaos Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 5,424 In the garage: '74 PORSCHE 914 Reputation: 0	Have your battery tested.

Wed, Mar-10-2010, 12:54:35 AM	#8
toddkageals Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 169 Reputation: 0	Guys, Thanks for the replies. I don't think the battery is an issue. The headlights don't even dim when I start the car and even through this very cold winter I have had "0" problems cranking/starting the car. The car has 70K and the alternator was replaced by BMW before I got it. I guess there is no way to rule out the alternator but I don't see any evidence that it's not charging. Obviously the problem is intermittent so I guess I can't rule out some short in the alternator. Where are the ground points on an E46 M3 vert. ? I THINK that any failed device on the Ibus can cause this sort of problem but I am not sure. The car was not doing this when I bought it and I have only done two thing that I can think were electrical in nature. I installed the hardtop installation kit but that's just plugging it in. I also replaced the nav. unit with a MKIV that I bought used. So....I was hoping to find someone who had similar issues who might be able point me in the right direction. Prior to the most recent occurence the problem had not occured for about a month or so. I almost wish it would just quit working so I could find the source of the issue!

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