bbuchho90

As much as this issue sucks, I'm glad I found this thread. Jaycal3, did your iDrive screen start flickering on and off by chance, before your dash started "lighting up like a christmas tree?" The reason I ask is because of this: https://5series.net/forums/topic/119...1#entry1405556

I've since written it up to a bad battery (haven't gotten it changed yet) and it's happened a couple more times since then. The latest was on Sunday night..pulling into my neighborhood it started flashing warning lights, and locked the transmission in the current gear until I restarted the car. Car lost pretty much all power so I shut it off, sat for a few minutes, and then started back up. What do you know, car ran just fine.

I'm trying to think back to the 3 or 4 times it's happened, and wondering if they were all on wet days. Sunday night was snowing, so the roads were rather sloppy. Cant' remember the other 3 days. I'm definitely going to have to check this out and see if it's the cause of my problems.

jaycal3

I got no idrive flickering of any kind.... yours certainly sounds more like a battery issue than anything. It doesnt hurt to check the passenger floor for moisture - and its easy enough to remove the micro cabin filter housing to inspect the ebox on the passenger side. The drains are hard to get to but I would recommend to anyone with an "older" model to have them cleaned.

If your car has taken on any moisture, eventually it will start to smell musty - mold and mildew sets in quick if its not dried out well. Glad I had everything replaced!

Good luck with your issue!

BlackBrian

Hi,

I have been reading the threads on water ingress as I have damp carpets in the passenger [LHD car] foot well

It is a late 2004 E61Touring 525i.

Why is water directed through a box [ebox] containing electronics???
Where does the water come from?
When water gets into the car from this route does it come through the air vent or behind the carpet?

Until recently the car has lived in a garage, but now it has a harsh life outdoors. So have only just really noticed the water ingress.

It also has a panorama sunroof could it be those drains that are blocked?

Thanks for your replies

BB

PharaohSteve

In my experience if the sunroof drains are blocked the water leads into the battery compartment in the trunk and typically ruins your IBS (expensive repair and you car won't start).

This is from the 1st post of the thread as to how your carpet may be damp...

"Evidently the drain holes below the e-box on the passenger side firewall were plugged/blocked and the water had nowhere to go. It filled the e-box and then backed into the passenger side of the interior of my 545"