BMW window problem..

Stky10

I've got a 02 3-Series compact for the past 2-3 months that has developed one or two faults, one being the drivers airbag light being permanently on, and the window washer light being permanently on, even though I've filled it with water.

This morning though my neighbour started banging on my door to tell me the drivers window was open, and as it was raining it was letting in rain. I went out to it, and both it and the passenger window were open to the maximum. Now I was out in it about 9:30 last night, and with it being as cold as it was there was no way both windows would have been open at all, never mind to that level. There was also nobody else around the house to go messing with the keys. Nothing seems to have been taken from the car, so it doesn't look like it was broken into.

So as I see it there are two possibilities, (1) an electrical fault occured that lowered both windows or (2) someone in the estate has some sort of universal fob that lowers windows and is messing with me. Obviously I reckon its bound to be (1), but I'm just wondering...

So does such a fob exist? If its an electrical fault, will it take long or be expensive to track down and fix (ie would it be a once in a million needle in a haystack job or would it be a case of just replacing the circuit board and fuses)? Does anyone know a BMW specialist in the midlands/west, or am I stuck with having to go to a dealer? And finally has this happened anyone else or is this a freak occurence?

Lex Luthor

I'd recommend Furleys in Kells if you are near him or John Roche in Gort (I don't have their numbers)

As for your airbag light, it is more than likely caused by the harness under the passenger seat. This harness has a connector on it that has wires from the seat belt tensioner and the passenger seat occupancy sensor. More than likely this connector has been disconnected or loosened normally caused by the seat getting moved back & forth. This is a VERY common problem across the whole range. I recently had it occur on mine for the 3rd time so I got the connector removed and all the wires soldered together.

The issue with your windows could be as simple as a switch in the door for the window closure. Do you know if your windows were open and when you armed your car alarm, did they automatically close? This is done by a little microswitch being activated when the locks close. I have seen a BMW before display similar symptoms due to this switch being slightly in the wrong position or faulty. Yours sounds similar.

The problem with your window washer could be a faulty sensor.

Fey!

Another option with the windows is that you accidently kept the unlock button on your key fob held down, which will open both windows (may have jammed against something in your pocket).

As for the airbag light, Lex is right about the sensor. If it's the cable, they cost around €15-€20 and about €40 to fit, but the light has to be reset by computer, which can cost about €85 in the dealers. A specialist will do a reset for about €50.

As for the window washer light - have you refilled the bottle? It generally comes on when the fluid is low. Otherwise it could be a problem with the lead to the jets, which I know is a PITA on the 5 series; not sure what it's like on the 3.

Seth Brundle

You could also try Al in AC Cars

Stky10

Cheers for the all the help...

Being in athlone, Gort, Kells, and Dublin are all equidistant, but I'll have a think about it and get it sorted someway. I know Gort the best of the three and its maybe marginally closer than the others so I'd probably head there first.

I think there might be something in the idea of the fob buttons being held down. The fob has never worked since I got it, and I've been so busy I haven't had time to get it looked at (no BMW dealers in either Westmeath or Roscommon doesn't help), but the car was in the driveway closer to the house than it would normally have been, and the keys were stuck in the front door for a few hours, which they normally wouldn't. So its not beyond the bounds of possibility that the fob is not working right, it could have sent a signal to the car that lowered the windows.

The other possibilities don't really hold. It was so baltic last night that I'm 99% sure I wouldn't have had the window open at all, so it couldn't have closed automatically when I locked it via the key.

I think I'll get the connector in the passenger seat permanently connected as suggested. I'll get them to look at the window washer sensor as well. It was coming on intermittently for a while, and when I filled it it turned it off for half an hour, but then came back, and has been on permanently since.

Cheers though, some good helpful suggestions there...

Lex Luthor

Fey, I'd recommend the airbag light connector just being cut out and the wires soldered together. I think thats what most of the mechanics are doing with persistent failures. Mine was very sensitive and you would only have to barely move the seat and it would trip, no matter how much I thought I had the connector moved out of the way. I had it done recently as part of a few other jobs that were getting done, but it only took an hour so I'd estimate about €60 for the job to be completed by an independent. That way, it saves you vere having to go back for repeat visits to get it reset every few months. And once it comes on once, it will repeat.

Fey!

The local dealer here reset mine when he was doing some other jobs, without replacing the cable, and I've had no problems since (airbag).

OP - if it stayed off for half an hour (window washer light) after you filled the bottle, perhaps you have a leaky bottle??

Lex Luthor

kbannon wrote:

You could also try Al in AC Cars

Jaysus, Topazman shows up on this website too. Is there anywhere he isn't?

Fey!

Mr T is everywhere!!!

Seth Brundle

Mr T and Al from AC are different people!

Mr.Diagnostic

Hi,

Your car has a body module (AKA genaral module) which controls the functions you have named as being faulty. I have seen a few that opened the windows and/or boot when parked. I am not saying it is this module at fault but it sounds like it.
It needs to be diagnosed properly. One good start would be to try and initalise your key. If that fails then borrow another working key from another BMW and try that. If that fails then borrow the general module from the other car try that along with the borrowed key. The c/l should work but your car wil not start. If the c/l works then you have a faulty general module.
If this sounds too much trouble then book it in somewhere to have it diagnosed.

In the meantime, dont leave any valueables in the car

HTH