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Electrical Gremlins??


MOSE
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I wanted to post this to try and get some advice or some idea of other M3 owner's experiences regarding the car's electrical system

I have had my M3 from new for almost three months now and recently it has started to develop a mind of its own. First thing I have found is that the driver's door window, seem to go up and down whenever it likes, whether out driving or stationary. On several occassions when I have parked the car in a public carpark, I have returned to find the window completely down. Other morning, I went out to find that the window had gone down again, so had been open all night long. Seats and carpets were soaked from all the recent heavy rain.

Second thing I have found is that the boot opens as and when it likes. So does anyone think I got any electrical gremlins or is there a logical explanation for this? BMW have run some diagnostics on the car and cannot find any fault.

A few other things I have found on the car recently is a constant rattling from the soft top, and passenger side seat is constantly rattling. Also, when car is in reverse, the dashboard vibrates a lot, quite noisy at times.

I would really value other owners comments as BMW seem to think that these rattling and vibrations are part and parcel of owning an M3. I tend to disagree and have expressed my disappoinment in their aftersales service.

Cheers

MOSE

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Yep car is an E46, registered new in November 04. I was back in the aftersales place on Saturday as the rattling/creaking and squeaking from the soft top is cracking me up. So.....a nice guy (well for 5 mins then became a tosser), decided he would come out on a road test with me, and agreed that it was "unusual" for a convertible E46 to have this level of rattling.

He tried bullsh*tting me about the car being a convertible and that the car would be subject to a few rattles here and there due to the decreased strength and rigidness of the car. Also tried telling me that its because the soft top has been exposed to too much damp/water/cold weather. BOLLOX....the car is tucked away in a nice cosy garage everynight. So, after telling him he could shove the car up his rear end, he said that they would take the car in and check it over. I'm pressing for a new roof. Also, they will look for the electrical gremlins.

In September, I bought my missus a 316tiES, and that car is faultless, havent had a moments trouble with it from day one. My car on the other hand has been plagued with minor stupid things, which have been resolved quickly.

Will keep you posted on progress.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Quick update. BMW had my car in for 3 days and told me that everything had been sorted.

After telling the guy that he could shove his M3 up his arse sideways, he eventually agreed that the car needed a new hood. Woopie!!!! So, after picking it up and driving it away, within five mins, there's that same annoying rattling and squeaking coming from the back. So, tomorrow its going back in.

Electrical gremlins were supposed to be sorted out....window was fixed and the boot needed a new lock and solenoid. Boot is fine now, no sudden openings while poodling along the M25. Window has started to do its own thing again though.

I'm a patient person, but this will be the fourth time the car has gone in for the hood rattling. Surely I cant be the only unlucky M3 owner with a dodgy rattle and squeak?? Its driving me friggin berserk!

MOSE

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us a4 cab chaps occasionally have the same squeek/rattle problem. sometimes cleaning the tops of the windows helps with the roof squeek.

i always try and get some oil between the linings etc if possible too onto the metal frame, but thats trickier.

cab ownership shouldnt be about the rattles though, you should be able to get rid of all of them. mines been squeek-free for 6 months or so since a couple of hours of playing with it last summer

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Must admit it is very worrying. Me and the missus went to the flicks the other night and I just couldnt relax knowing that my drivers window goes up and down of its own accord. And sure enough it was open when we returned to the carpark. I posted here the other day that on one occassion, when the weather was really wet and windy, the window had opened itself during the night and the inside of the car was soaking. Almost broke me heart frown.gif

I recall the guy at BM saying that they thought it might be the "comfort" setting on the windows?? Whatever that is, so they decomissioned it. Funny though, it still opens. Hopefully they will get it sorted out today. Think I would freak out as well if the central locking had a mind of its own, that is definately a worrying issue.

MOSE

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[ QUOTE ]

us a4 cab chaps occasionally have the same squeek/rattle problem. sometimes cleaning the tops of the windows helps with the roof squeek.

i always try and get some oil between the linings etc if possible too onto the metal frame, but thats trickier.

cab ownership shouldnt be about the rattles though, you should be able to get rid of all of them. mines been squeek-free for 6 months or so since a couple of hours of playing with it last summer

[/ QUOTE ]

Cab.....

Thanx for that advice! Car has gone in again today and hopefully this will be the last time. Last night, I went around the hood trying to look for weak spots, and I think I found the problem. On the rear left of the hood, to the side of the rear window, if you press the palm of your hand against the area where the hood meets the housing, it creaks like hell. I though this might be where the hood meets the rubber, but itisnt. Its the compartment that houses the hood thats the culprit. Tried the other side and no problem. So have noted this to BM this morning and at least they assured me that they would do whatever they could to rectify it. Which to be honest, does make me feel a bit better.

MOSE

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As you've probably seen in the gallery , mine's an old nail , but this new spec' all weather windows down drivin' (joke) is it owt to do with any sort of 'anti-trap mechanism' ? so you can't close the window on your hand ??? or a little persons ? ask you good old local bm' dealer , they'll not know what your talking about . JJ . FIREdevil.gif

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Update......Got car back yesterday. Was assuerd that the roof will no longer squeek, rattle or murmour. That the window no longer has a mind of its own. So.....gave em back the keys for the 330ci Sports they loaned me, walked up to my car, pressed the button on the key and all four windows go down on their own.

BLOOD openfire.gif

I walked back in there and this one has them foxed, BMW cannot understand why this is happening. So car is booked in yet again.

Started her up, drove off the forecourt and YES, the effing roof is squeekig and rattling. And a new fault....both wing mirrors are moving on their own, tilting downwards. So....am not a happy bunny at all at the moment.

They did a good job at cleaning the car up mind you, nicely polished and all the wheels cleaned and polished. Looked like new again. Also nice to be getting the loan cars to drive about in.

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