BMW Emergency Services to the rescue ...

Waffle · 06-16-2011, 05:49 PM

It started with the rear wiper and ended with the BMW technician in the boot of my X3.
Firstly the rear wiper stopped working and when the rain stopped I realised nothing on the wiper stalk would work but the wipers kept wiping. Pulled into services to stop the engine and lock the car hoping that this would clear the problem. No, the wipers kept wiping.

I continued to my destination. Now the remote key wouldn't work and neither did the central locking. Left the car locked with the manual key and the wipers wiping. No waring indicators or messages.

Called BMW and they came out within an hour

Within an hour the technician had overcome the problem (not sure whether it is fixed) and everything was working as it should.

He believes the fusebox near the glovebox lost power forcing everything to default mode which for windscreen wipers is on ! Disconnecting the battery cleared the problem. Getting to the battery was not without incident. There is no manual overide for the boot therefore it was fold the seats down, remove the contents of the boot and get in !!

. Seems crazy to me that there is a manual overide for the fuel filler cap but not the boot.

Could it happen again ? Who knows, it will be going back to the dealer for a thorough check.

WagonRider · 06-16-2011, 11:42 PM

Sorry to hear you'd problems but am glad the technician fixed it. I agree that its a good idea to have your dealer perform a diagnosis.

Just curious (if anyone knows this): I was wondering if BMW emergency service would do the same in US? That is, do they send out a technician to the location or just send a tow truck for the nearest BMW center?

walendvay · 06-17-2011, 12:02 AM

The days of rebooting our cars has arrived!!! Oh my!!!

sfax · 06-17-2011, 02:25 AM

Sorry to hear about that Waffle (and also a tad concerned!) Default for wipers is on?! Let us know if it comes back (I'm sure you will anyway!)

Powerrunner · 06-17-2011, 07:02 AM

So where is the "Alt Cntl Del" key on the X3? A reboot fixes the problem, that is frightening!

sfax · 06-17-2011, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerrunner

So where is the "Alt Cntl Del" key on the X3? A reboot fixes the problem, that is frightening!

No, frightening would be if the wipers kept going after the battery was disconnected

Harplayr · 06-17-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfax

Sorry to hear about that Waffle (and also a tad concerned!) Default for wipers is on?! Let us know if it comes back (I'm sure you will anyway!)

I guess the default “wiper On” is a safety issue.
Better to be annoyed than blind.

whispered · 06-17-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerrunner

So where is the "Alt Cntl Del" key on the X3? A reboot fixes the problem, that is frightening!

+1

LEDZEP · 06-17-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WagonRider

Sorry to hear you'd problems but am glad the technician fixed it. I agree that its a good idea to have your dealer perform a diagnosis.

Just curious (if anyone knows this): I was wondering if BMW emergency service would do the same in US? That is, do they send out a technician to the location or just send a tow truck for the nearest BMW center?

The latter, I'm afraid. And I can tell you from personal experience that BMW Roadside Assistance is horrible.

WagonRider · 06-17-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

The latter, I'm afraid. And I can tell you from personal experience that BMW Roadside Assistance is horrible.

Not having a spare doesn't help either.

Oh well, I just have to hope I don't run flat.

Waffle · 06-25-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waffle

It started with the rear wiper and ended with the BMW technician in the boot of my X3.
Firstly the rear wiper stopped working and when the rain stopped I realised nothing on the wiper stalk would work but the wipers kept wiping. Pulled into services to stop the engine and lock the car hoping that this would clear the problem. No, the wipers kept wiping.

I continued to my destination. Now the remote key wouldn't work and neither did the central locking. Left the car locked with the manual key and the wipers wiping. No waring indicators or messages.

Called BMW and they came out within an hour

Within an hour the technician had overcome the problem (not sure whether it is fixed) and everything was working as it should.

He believes the fusebox near the glovebox lost power forcing everything to default mode which for windscreen wipers is on ! Disconnecting the battery cleared the problem. Getting to the battery was not without incident. There is no manual overide for the boot therefore it was fold the seats down, remove the contents of the boot and get in !!

. Seems crazy to me that there is a manual overide for the fuel filler cap but not the boot.

Could it happen again ? Who knows, it will be going back to the dealer for a thorough check.

Dealer had the car for two days this week to try and locate a problem but no such joy. No one has reported a similar problem either. Still I had a nicely appointed 530d on loan. What a fantastic engine that is.

sfax · 06-27-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waffle

Dealer had the car for two days this week to try and locate a problem but no such joy. No one has reported a similar problem either. Still I had a nicely appointed 530d on loan. What a fantastic engine that is.

Sorry to hear that Waffle - Good luck with the investigation. Let me know when you're back in business and I'll keep an eye out for you in and around Reading

06-16-2011, 05:49 PM	#1
Waffle Private 19 Rep 84 Posts Drives: BMW F25 X3 xDrive20d SE Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	BMW Emergency Services to the rescue ... It started with the rear wiper and ended with the BMW technician in the boot of my X3. Firstly the rear wiper stopped working and when the rain stopped I realised nothing on the wiper stalk would work but the wipers kept wiping. Pulled into services to stop the engine and lock the car hoping that this would clear the problem. No, the wipers kept wiping. I continued to my destination. Now the remote key wouldn't work and neither did the central locking. Left the car locked with the manual key and the wipers wiping. No waring indicators or messages. Called BMW and they came out within an hour Within an hour the technician had overcome the problem (not sure whether it is fixed) and everything was working as it should. He believes the fusebox near the glovebox lost power forcing everything to default mode which for windscreen wipers is on ! Disconnecting the battery cleared the problem. Getting to the battery was not without incident. There is no manual overide for the boot therefore it was fold the seats down, remove the contents of the boot and get in !! . Seems crazy to me that there is a manual overide for the fuel filler cap but not the boot. Could it happen again ? Who knows, it will be going back to the dealer for a thorough check. __________________ BMW F25 X3 xDrive20d SE black sapphire \| black nevada leather \| wave wood \| 19" double spoke alloys \| xline \| xenons \| business advanced media package \| electric seats \| dab \| extended storage \| grey shade band \| auto
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06-16-2011, 11:42 PM	#2
WagonRider Leo 0 Rep 41 Posts Drives: F25 (X3) 28i Join Date: May 2007 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Sorry to hear you'd problems but am glad the technician fixed it. I agree that its a good idea to have your dealer perform a diagnosis. Just curious (if anyone knows this): I was wondering if BMW emergency service would do the same in US? That is, do they send out a technician to the location or just send a tow truck for the nearest BMW center? __________________ ---- WagonRider '11 F25 Titanium Silver/Oyster/Premium/Tech/Conv/CW/Apps '07 E91 Black Sapphire/Dakota/Premium/Sport/CW/IPod
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06-17-2011, 12:02 AM	#3
walendvay First Lieutenant 54 Rep 343 Posts Drives: '11 F25 28i; '13 E84 35i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pacific NW iTrader: (0)	The days of rebooting our cars has arrived!!! Oh my!!!
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06-17-2011, 02:25 AM	#4
sfax Brigadier General 92 Rep 3,855 Posts Drives: BMW X3 2011 F25 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Berkshire, UK iTrader: (0)	Sorry to hear about that Waffle (and also a tad concerned!) Default for wipers is on?! Let us know if it comes back (I'm sure you will anyway!) __________________ F25 xDrive20d SE __ professional multimedia package \| dynamic package \| climate package \| 309s \| xline \| xenons \| electric seats \| folding mirrors \| business speakers
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06-17-2011, 07:02 AM	#5
Powerrunner Second Lieutenant 3 Rep 275 Posts Drives: BMW X3 35i 2011 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Naperville iTrader: (0)	So where is the "Alt Cntl Del" key on the X3? A reboot fixes the problem, that is frightening!
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