More problems with my E90

rizzee

After getting the clutch, flywheel, and service done in November it was recommended that I change the brakes at the front along with the passenger side front shock.

I have it booked in for tomorrow morning and I need two tyres too which will be done.

Just on my lunch break there I was pulling out of the garage and my passenger front door lock had a bit of what can only be described as a ''spasm''. The locking mechanism went from unlocking and locking itself quickly for a number of seconds and then stayed locked.

I parked up and the passenger door is completely unresponsive and won't open via the unlock button in the car as well as the fob.

Anyone know what this could be?

Getting sick of the expense of the car at this stage, becoming very unlucky with it

biko

Maybe the actuator shorted out.

rizzee

Good point. I'll check out videos online and fuses when home this evening.

rizzee

Yup, twas the actuator.

biko

Sound, thanks for updating in case someone else has a similar issue

Kintarō Hattori

rizzee wrote: »

Getting sick of the expense of the car at this stage, becoming very unlucky with it

Just as a matter of interest how old is it and what's the mileage like? Our own is a 2005 with just over 202,000 km on the clock. In the 3+ years that we've owned it, it's been really quite reliable.

rizzee

It's a 2008 318D with 181,000km. I've owned it since March 2017 (Had 162,000km then I think) and it came with 1 year (limited) Mapfre warranty (which doesn't cover a lot - well, at least nothing that's been on my list so far)

2 services between March and October then I had a shakey engine/gearbox in November, brought to mechanic and the flywheel/clutch had to be done.

Was also recommended about the front brake disks and pads, rear control arms, tyres, passenger shock and absorber and a few hoses (?) under the car. Then the door actuator the other day!!

Quite a big list but i'm in a fortunate position to have gotten it all done now and collecting it this evening. No point trading it in for another, as I know what work has been gotten into it now. Will do me another year or so.

rizzee

Just a little update on this.

Driving the last few months with above problem (passenger door only opening from inside); the last 2 or 3 weeks the passenger door has stopped working; the little notch (up when open, down when closed) still ''shudders' when I lock the car.

Changed a lot of fuses the other day. Nothing. Have to have a good mess around with it.

MrCostington

Hi rizzee,

Just in the remote case it helps you, I had door electrical door problems on my '02 Audi. Problem was a broken wire between door and A pillar, and also bad connection due to corrosion in the plug/socket in same place. May be worth pulling back the rubber to have a look. I have a thread about it in the dIY section

Bmw123d

rizzee wrote: »

Just a little update on this.

Driving the last few months with above problem (passenger door only opening from inside); the last 2 or 3 weeks the passenger door has stopped working; the little notch (up when open, down when closed) still ''shudders' when I lock the car.

Changed a lot of fuses the other day. Nothing. Have to have a good mess around with it.

Sorry only seen this now it’s the door lock common across the range of bms of this age

rizzee

Yeah I know, it's the actuator. Just have to get around to fixing it now before another door goes!

rizzee

The blower went last week :pac: Everything below the radio buttons... blower, AC, back window heater button.... Getting ridiculous. Changed fuse, it's not that.

Bmw123d

rizzee wrote: »

The blower went last week :pac: Everything below the radio buttons... blower, AC, back window heater button.... Getting ridiculous. Changed fuse, it's not that.

This will be ur climate control module. It’s all built into the unit in the dash. There are 4 torx screws holding it in place. U could get a second hand one in the breakers for it and with any luck it won’t have to be coded to the car some do some don’t so wouldn’t know till u get it and plug it in. If u want to get one il fit it for you and code it if it needs to be. Always happy to help out my fellow boards friends.

rizzee

Hi,

Thanks for your suggestion, however, I don't have climate control?

I was looking at a few videos on Youtube and I'm thinking it's the blower itself, I took out the cabin filter and it was fine (only changed a couple of months ago) and checked behind it at the blower and didn't seem anything wrong. Apparently water getting in there is a common problem?

Anyway, I must get the door sorted on the next service in 1/2 months and can get access to the blower under the glove box so will get it looked at... Pain in the hole

Bmw123d

rizzee wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for your suggestion, however, I don't have climate control?

I was looking at a few videos on Youtube and I'm thinking it's the blower itself, I took out the cabin filter and it was fine (only changed a couple of months ago) and checked behind it at the blower and didn't seem anything wrong. Apparently water getting in there is a common problem?

Anyway, I must get the door sorted on the next service in 1/2 months and can get access to the blower under the glove box so will get it looked at... Pain in the hole

Sorry I thought u did have it as most BMW’s now have the digital control panel. If the rear window heater etc isn’t working it’s nothing to do with the blower motor.
But how do u know it isn’t working. If it is then yes your blower could be faulty your correct in saying that they do get water into them this does happen.

As I said before I’m quite fimiliar with all bms and there problems.
I only offered as a helping point but hey look if u wish to bring it to a garage to have it sorted that’s totally your choice. Hope u get it sorted.

And as others on hear will give u there opinions that’s all well and good but unless we have the exact model year engine and what particular modules are fitted then every ones answers are just guesses. But by looking at the car and checking it out it’s a different story you would have ur answer quickly.

Sounds like ur having a lot of trouble with ur car. And I’m sorry to hear that. But all ur problems are still all common faults on ur model.

Anyways all the best with whatever garage u choose to get your work done. Just remember at the end of the day it’s a bmw so replacement parts are not going to be the same price as say parts for a fiat punto

rizzee

Bmw123d wrote: »

Sorry I thought u did have it as most BMW’s now have the digital control panel. If the rear window heater etc isn’t working it’s nothing to do with the blower motor.
But how do u know it isn’t working. If it is then yes your blower could be faulty your correct in saying that they do get water into them this does happen.

As I said before I’m quite fimiliar with all bms and there problems.
I only offered as a helping point but hey look if u wish to bring it to a garage to have it sorted that’s totally your choice. Hope u get it sorted.

And as others on hear will give u there opinions that’s all well and good but unless we have the exact model year engine and what particular modules are fitted then every ones answers are just guesses. But by looking at the car and checking it out it’s a different story you would have ur answer quickly.

Sounds like ur having a lot of trouble with ur car. And I’m sorry to hear that. But all ur problems are still all common faults on ur model.

Anyways all the best with whatever garage u choose to get your work done. Just remember at the end of the day it’s a bmw so replacement parts are not going to be the same price as say parts for a fiat punto

Really appreciate the info and advice... thanks.

Have a mechanic in Charlestown, a VW/BMW specialist who gives the family cars services at a decent rate with genuine parts the last couple of years, so it was no disrespect to yourself

Where are you based anyway?

Bmw123d

rizzee wrote: »

Really appreciate the info and advice... thanks.

Have a mechanic in Charlestown, a VW/BMW specialist who gives the family cars services at a decent rate with genuine parts the last couple of years, so it was no disrespect to yourself

Where are you based anyway?

Hear look no skin off my nose at all. Based in Naas anyway. Was just lending my advice and if ur getting a good rate then that’s great to hear. I just like to help people out because a lot and I mean a lot of places are way over priced. And then u also have plenty of people who claim to be specialist and know this and know that but do they actually really no it all? No they don’t because everyday is a school day.
Anyways I hope u get her sorted if u need any info just ask

biko

Title updated as we are now past door locking issues and onto other issues

rizzee

Got a new door lock last week and all good for now... Just the blower to be sorted in the recall and then there's the bulb that's permanently off in the back but i'm not worried about that. Touch wood all is OK and can get another year or so before I change up

rizzee

Had the recall and didn't sort the blower problem! Took it apart today and still don't know what's the problem.

Fuse is fine and there is electricity going to the main wire. Blower spins freely.

Everything below the radio doesn't work... Blower, ac button, traction button and rear window heater.

GeneHunt

rizzee wrote: »

Had the recall and didn't sort the blower problem! Took it apart today and still don't know what's the problem.

Fuse is fine and there is electricity going to the main wire. Blower spins freely.

Everything below the radio doesn't work... Blower, ac button, traction button and rear window heater.

Hi Rizzee, had you any joy with the above issues since? I'm not familiar with BMW cars, but I would think the blower isn't the root of the problem! The fact that you have lost the AC, blower, traction Control and the rear window heater must be something else, it could be the controls module in the dash (the section under the radio). I know you said you checked the fuses, but could there be a second fuse box located somewhere else (possibly local to the battery)?

You mention there's electricity going to the blower, I'm guessing as the blower looks to have three wires going to it (from your photos), one of the other two is probably to control the speed of the fan, 0, 1 ,2 & 3. So it having electricity could mean nothing if the controls are not working to tell the fan to start.

rizzee

Hi there, sorry I had this thread unfollowed.

I got it sorted in the end - there was a main fuse and the blower resistor was fried? All good now

Leaving for a 700km round trip this morning.... 10km from my house the thermometer warning light came in in yellow and red.... Straight away limp mode and 20kmph max speed with the foot down, lots of chugging and the car kept cutting out when driving home Scary stuff. Its parked up in the driveway now. Any ideas?

The light seems to mean engine overheating. I don't know how as it was 10km from my house. I added a bottle of coolant and still the same story. Don't think that was the issue anyway.

Half thinking of cutting my losses by fixing and getting rid. 202k kms full year nct, 8 months tax and full service history if anyone is looking

Keyzer

Had a 2005 320i, bought it in 2009.

Absolutely loved driving that car but by god it cost me a fortune in maintanence...

Alanstrainor

rizzee wrote: »

Hi there, sorry I had this thread unfollowed.

I got it sorted in the end - there was a main fuse and the blower resistor was fried? All good now

Leaving for a 700km round trip this morning.... 10km from my house the thermometer warning light came in in yellow and red.... Straight away limp mode and 20kmph max speed with the foot down, lots of chugging and the car kept cutting out when driving home Scary stuff. Its parked up in the driveway now. Any ideas?

The light seems to mean engine overheating. I don't know how as it was 10km from my house. I added a bottle of coolant and still the same story. Don't think that was the issue anyway.

Half thinking of cutting my losses by fixing and getting rid. 202k kms full year nct, 8 months tax and full service history if anyone is looking

Was it low enough to warrant a litre of coolant?(guessing the bottle was a litre?). BMW's are notorious for cooling issues, if you were very low on coolant then you have leak somewhere. Could be anything, rad, expansion tank or hoses etc. 10km is more than enough for the engine to overheat if it was out of coolant. I wouldn't drive it anywhere until you know more.

tphase

rizzee wrote: »

Hi there, sorry I had this thread unfollowed.

I got it sorted in the end - there was a main fuse and the blower resistor was fried? All good now

Leaving for a 700km round trip this morning.... 10km from my house the thermometer warning light came in in yellow and red.... Straight away limp mode and 20kmph max speed with the foot down, lots of chugging and the car kept cutting out when driving home Scary stuff. Its parked up in the driveway now. Any ideas?

The light seems to mean engine overheating. I don't know how as it was 10km from my house. I added a bottle of coolant and still the same story. Don't think that was the issue anyway.

Half thinking of cutting my losses by fixing and getting rid. 202k kms full year nct, 8 months tax and full service history if anyone is looking

Had a similar issue with my E61, was due to a faulty temperature sensor. The ECU thought the engine was overheating and would shut it down.Had to get into the hidden dash menu to see the engine temperature and it was obviously too high

€17 replacement sensor fixed it.

How to access the hidden menu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4twRvy20i5A

rizzee

Thanks a mil for all replies.

I haven't had time to the car out, it's been parked up since yesterday morning. I'm meeting the mechanic the weekend so will take a look.

I've decided to stick the car up online and sell it when this is done.

rizzee

tphase wrote: »

Had a similar issue with my E61, was due to a faulty temperature sensor. The ECU thought the engine was overheating and would shut it down.Had to get into the hidden dash menu to see the engine temperature and it was obviously too high

€17 replacement sensor fixed it.

How to access the hidden menu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4twRvy20i5A

Just off the phone to mechanic. This could be the problem. Car was parked up all day today, mechanic started and accessed the menus, was reading over 100 Degrees from a cold start. He's ordered a sensor due to be delivered and fitted tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

If the temperature sensor was acting up could it really have that bad an impact on a car? Fairly crazy if it does!

GeneHunt

rizzee wrote: »

Just off the phone to mechanic. This could be the problem. Car was parked up all day today, mechanic started and accessed the menus, was reading over 100 Degrees from a cold start. He's ordered a sensor due to be delivered and fitted tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

If the temperature sensor was acting up could it really have that bad an impact on a car? Fairly crazy if it does!

So fingers crossed it's the sensor and not a warped head! so Christmas may not be cancelled yet!!!

If it is only a €17 sensor is it still going to the market, or is there a stay of execution!!!!

tphase

rizzee wrote: »

Just off the phone to mechanic. This could be the problem. Car was parked up all day today, mechanic started and accessed the menus, was reading over 100 Degrees from a cold start. He's ordered a sensor due to be delivered and fitted tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

If the temperature sensor was acting up could it really have that bad an impact on a car? Fairly crazy if it does!

yes it can - as far as the ECU is concerned, the engine is overheating so it will put it into limp mode or shut it down. Don't think mine was reading that high when cold but it does look like a simple sensor fault. Fingers crossed it fixes it for you and you get a few years of trouble-free fun out of the car:)

https://www.mister-auto.ie/engine-coolant-temperature-sensor/febi-bilstein-37032_g830_a10137032.html

rizzee

@GeneHunt fingers and toes crossed I'll have good news this afternoon!! I'm in a bit of a pickle. I know the car inside out and have the full service history but the maintenance costs are huge and next month it's an 11 year old car so tougher to sell. The only thing that hasn't gone <yet> it's the waterpump/belt. That's game over for me so I think I will be cutting my losses and sell while it is 100%.

@Tphase, thanks for that Hopefully it is this simple fix.

rizzee

Sold tonight to first viewer

Tommyboy40

rizzee wrote: »

Sold tonight to first viewer

Best thing to do with a BMW! I've only had 1 but the unreliability and the dealer experience put me off owning another

tphase

rizzee wrote: »

Sold tonight to first viewer

was it the temperture sensor?

rizzee

tphase wrote: »

was it the temperture sensor?

Yep, you hit the nail on the head with that one.

tphase

good stuff - it's not often I get something right!