E46 issues... GRRRR!!!!

[TroyV]

This is meant to spread a little of my pain around. I'll first start by saying I really....really like my wife's 2003 325xi. It is absolutely unstoppable in any weather conditions, is ok on gas, runs smooth, is quick for a sedan, and really hasn't been very draining on the maintenance front.....for the most part.

This car, has a convenience package. The package allows you to use the key fob to open all the windows and moon roof remotely. This is great on really hot days when the car has been sitting in the sun. However, when it snows....almost always when it snows, the car thinks I'm holding the button down, and opens all the windows and moon roof.

The first time this happened, my wife, Robin was working inside her Mall, and her car was parked on the top floor of the parking garage. Not only was the car full of snow when she came out there, but a passer by swiped our TomTom. (to whoever that person was.....May you have diarrhea every minute of every day for the rest of your life....putz)

So far this has happened three times over the time we have had the car. Last night it happened again. The BMW forums have been almost completely useless. For some reason all the technically skilled people that post useful stuff about 3 series cars ALL drive E36 models. It seems as though a dominant amount of the E46 people on the forums are dolts looking for LED light packages and bluetooth hookups. I have searched every BMW forum out there, used every search option, and after an exhaustive search, I narrowed the problem down to either the door lock actuator on the drivers side, or a module behind the glove box that BMW calls the General Module 5. Both the actuator and the GM5 are costly, so I can't use my normal "just buy both things and be done with it" mentality on this one.

BTW: The GM5 has to be coded to the car, so a dealer has to be involved, EVEN if you buy the GM5 from an aftermarket source, you still have to bring it to a dealer for coding.

So...I'm sort of hoping it is the window actuator, though ripping the panel off of the door presents other issues....such as having to buy all new fastening clips etc..

GRRRRRR.....

Thanks for listening.

[breakaway500]

Is it possible to disable that particular function? I know on some cars you can program out certain features,but I am not familiar with the BMW setup.

[John F]

I feel your pain, Troy.
I inherited a 2001 325xi from my daughter when it started overheating a lot. (we swapped for my wife's 2001 Honda Accord we were trying to sell). This thing has been plagued with electrical issues all of the time my daughter had it, The dealer was useless and just a sink-hole for money. It was all minor things like the heater fan starting on it's own and dash indicators coming on and off. And it ate light bulbs. I'm in the process of putting a new head gasket on it so I can unload it! I have no use for a vehicle that requires a $500 electric radiator fan

[TroyV]

Mark, the GM5 has control of most of the interior systems, and there are a few relays on the PCB that can be replaced that pertain to the door locks/window actuators. I'm exploring the potential fix at the moment. I don't know if it can be programmed out. The forums mention nothing about that topic specifically as it pertains to my problem.

Thanks for the post John... Sometimes it is nice to commiserate with folks.

[breakaway500]

Todays cars are getting beyond the ability of most dealerships/technicians to diagnose. Scary thought...

[TroyV]

True. Compared to my E36, the E46 is just packed with all sorts of technical doodads. I sort of wish the wife's car was more like my 98 328is. That car has almost 3 times the miles (approaching 250k), and it is solid as a rock.

[DanDarcy]

Troy, you might not have a problem with the car. Those remote controls work of off radio frequencies and a stray radio way might be causing the problem. When it happens is the car near an airport or a flight path ? Sometimes the glide slope freq. wll set them off. Other radio waves can set it off too. Try to get that function disconneted and never leave the keys in the car. My wife had her Audi automaticly lock it self while she was standing out side the car. This was caused by the glide slope at Bradley Airport.

[TroyV]

Thanks for the suggestions Dan. I have read a little bit about that, and the BMW system runs an encryption specifically to prevent that from happening. My personal feeling is that it is possible but unlikely to be rogue RF. It happens at Robin's work, and at home, and only in inclement weather.

I'm thinking it is the micro switch on the driver door actuator. I'm going to pop the panel off this afternoon and see if there is a corrosion problem with the adjacent connector, or some other way that water/snow/salt is affecting the switch.

[dinoracer]

Troy

Wife's car had the same problem. Random events of both windows down - sunroof wide open. Only once in the rain, thank goodness. Took it to the dealer, they replaced the driver's door actuator under warranty, problem solved. Her car- 2007 Mini Cooper - not BMW, but built by BMW - I bet they use the same vendor for the part.

[boltonite]

have you tried replacing the fob's lithium battery?

[TroyV]

BMW service told me that the keys for the E46 are inductively charged when in the ignition. I'm sure there is still a battery in there, but the keys and the car are...wow... 7 years old now. I still look at it as the "new" car.. The issue happens when the keys are out of range as well as in. Sources on bimmer forums that have actual info to share all agree that it is almost never the key, but the actuator..

I did a bunch of digging yesterday and I'm pretty much satisfied that the driver door lock actuator is the culprit. The switch on that side (left rotation) is normally open......and the thinking is that moisture is causing a closed condition, thereby overriding the key, and telling the GM5 body computer to open the windows. Not being one to spend lots of money to test something I'm not 100% on, I bought a used but tested actuator off of eBay for 30 bucks. We'll know the result in a few days.

[offcamber09]

Should I cancel your appointment with the loaner for Tuesday?

[TroyV]

I was planning on keeping the appointment in the hope that I'd get the part in time to bring it to you and have you install it. I just got the tracking number last night, so I'm not sure if it is going to arrive in time.

If it doesn't arrive, would you mind switching the appt to the green car for the mid pipe swap? I have the mid pipe. I just need some cheapo post cat O2 sensors sourced. It needs flange gaskets as well.

[offcamber09]

Cool. You can check out the Catherham 7 we have in the shop. 1300# and 145 whp. See you Tuesday.

-Scott

[TroyV]

Update:

I found a door lock actuator on eBay out of another car and bought it. It turned out to be for the wrong side, but upon inspection, it is very easy to see why these actuators have this problem. The housings snap together and use a cheap foam gasket. The only compression on the gasket is created by the snap fit of the two housings. I can see gaps in the gasket. This seam lines up directly below the seam where in the window meets the weather seal. The water drops right to the seam on the housing.

I ended up buying a new actuator, which will be here is a few days, but I'm sure I'm going to seal that seam with some RTV before installing it.