Infamous Car Wash ECU Frazzle

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jsevd

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#1
Anyone in the Chicago area happen to have a ECU from a parted out 318 that might want to sell?

Decided to get the car washed today (nice sunny day in Chicago).

Got to the car wash, just finished the wash (hydro jet where the car stays still, and jets go around the car), the blowers were ready, turned the ignition, cars cranks but wont turn over. Agh!!

After spending 10 minutes trying to push the car off the wheels ramps, I call a tow, and the car is now sitting at repair shop awaiting diagnsos tomorrow morning.

I am holding out hope that the ECU is not completly shot, and perhaps the unit can be dried out and reset, but I am probably looking at $800 repair for a new unit.

I am so f**cking pissed that BMW had such a lousy design defect that would allow water to even come close to the ECU, much less be defeated by a damn car wash.

Major bad karma on me this week, I suppose (caught a bad cold earlier in the week, and now this).What are you going to do?? [:(]
 
J

jsevd

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#2
Forgot to mention that I obviously had no idea about this drainage problem until this afternoon, when I did some research on this forum when I got home and found some older posts the mirrored this issue.

Damn, wish I knew ahead of time! Hopefuly other first time owners may learn from my mistake who may be on this board.
 
E

epj3

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#3
Oh man, i'm so glad my ECU is in my glove box. That really sucks, hope it isnt the ECU but it sure sounds like it.

Could be bad connections to the fuel pump... if theres an under body wash, it could've gotten something wet that shouldnt be wet.
 
selavia

selavia

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#7
Can someone tell me for certain if this applies to a 1995 318Is. I've taken mine through a car wash just like you described, and luckily that didn't happen to me; however, if it was just luck I'd like to know. Personally, I prefer to wash my car myself anyway, but sometimes it's soo dirty and I don't have the time. But I won't go through another car wash until I hear if it's safe.
 
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jsevd

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#8
Well I be snickered, actually got some good news today.

My repair shop called me and looks like the car is running well again on its own power after drying out the past 24 hours. They are going to keep it under "observation" tonight and assuming it starts up tomorrow morning without issue as they suspect, I will consider myself lucky that only a few drops entered the ECU and thus did not short circuit the entire board. I'll pay the $75 inspection charges and be thankful for it.

Learned my lesson, by glory! I swear to hand wash from this point. Can I have an amen! [wave]
 
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