E85 Electrical failure- please help!!

[MarkG]

Hi everyone, I’m sure this will have been an issue at some point for others but here goes.....!

Firstly, I feel quite lucky to be sat at home in Derbyshire writing this as opposed to the backof a tow truck option!

Just been on holiday to the Isle of Wight (very nice I hear you say) and the weather’s been so nice that I’ve hardly had the roof up in 4 days. Only one other small car issue (which I’ll come to later!), so all good, UNTIL we got back in the car to drive off the ferry. Car started fine, tried to open windows, nothing happening Getting bit warm so try the roof, nothing! Try the air con - ok so at least we don’t melt. Feeling slightly stressed, I decide to pull up at the first convenient place in Portsmouth. Try everything again & then realise that in addition to the windows and roof, the indicator on the shift (it’s auto) not lit up, wipers don’t work, no remote locking / unlocking / alarm etc. BUT, the Drive indication on the dash is ok (auto/ Manual shift etc), Sport button illuminated and works, stereo and air con ok, lights ok, hazards ok Car starts and drives perfectly, trip computer etc ok. So made it home the 200 odd miles in good shape.

Can anyone help or have experience with this fault???

The other slight glitch was occasionally when starting, the gearbox warning light would stay on and when trying to set Shift to drive, car sort of lurches like there’s’ something not lined up right. Turn engine off and back on, light is off and car drives fine. This happened a couple of times over last few days.
My missus is telling me to get rid now, so it’s going to depend on how things go with getting this sorted!!

Cheers in advance!!

 

[MarkPlant]

Firstly hi from Sheffield, how old is the battery, even tho the car starts the z4 has all sorts of issues when battery is on its way out, an people will have different things not work but all from the same issue,

 

[MarkPlant]

Also get a code reader an see if that shows anything

 

[MarkG]

Thanks Mark, got a mate with a code reader that’s hopefully going to pop round later. Not sure how old the battery is, I’ve had the car about 15 months and not replaced it and no idea how old the current one is, so I’ll probably swap it anyway. I’ve heard of strange things happened when battery is disconnected, going into transport mode and such like, any tips to avoid further issues here?

 

[MarkPlant]

Transport could effect when battery whenswapped but those symptoms are not random, and that would just need coding out.

 

[Redline]

Agree with the battery. You will likely see lots of comms errors between the modules in the ODB codes which is likely to explain all the non functioning items. Get the battery capacity tested. That said - all the issues I suspect related to the body control module - Not familiar with what it's called in BMW or exactly what is controls, but, it looks suspicious that it is all body related items (with the exception of the roof control, but that is probably related).

 

[MarkG]

Thanks guys, just had an OBD reader on it and a communication error with body control module did show, although it would be good to know exactly what is actually controls as I’m finding it odd that things like the heated memory seats & electric door mirrors work but not the windows. The gear position sensor flagged as well so that looks like one thing that I can definitely get replaced at some point. I’ll get the battery voltage tested too

 

[MarkPlant]

Do the battery checks before other stuff, if there is a battery issue an you replace that it could cure the other stuff, let us know how you get on

 

[MarkG]

Thanks again Mark, will try that first & keep you all posted

 

[MarkG]

Right guys, I’ve disconnected and reconnected the battery & everything’s now working as it should, so many thanks for the help and advice with this. The controls module must have reset itself. I will be getting a new battery ASAP to be on the safe side, especially as it seems to be a common issue.
Thanks agein

 

[colb]

Always thought the Z3 and Z4 should have had battery condition instrument included in the instrument pods so it can be monitored. After an alternator fault developed on my Z3 I replaced it and added a voltmeter with usb sockets to one of the vacant switch blanks on the dash, that provided the battery state monitoring with the added bonus of a couple of usb sockets for phone or Satnav to be plugged in. Wired to the exhisting cig lighter socket was quite easy to access without stripping any of the trim out, managed it working in the footwell. Having done that to the Z3 I wanted the same on the Z4 but used a round version of the voltmeter as opposed to the rectangular one used on the Z3. Fitting this did involve drilling the plastic part of the dash trim but achieved that without any problem, wired to the cig lighter in the ashtray, simple to accesds the wiring by lifting out the ashtray and fising the wires from the usb voltmeter to that location to make the connections. If anyone fits one just ensure you position it so the steering wheel dosn't mask it from view when your driving so you can't see it, mine is a little masked but easy enough to see depending on the position of the steering wheel.

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