Another micro power module (MPM) blown!
08-10-2007, 05:29 AM
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I just read some other member's post about the micro power module in the trunk that was burnt out after a salt water spill. I had a similiar experience just yesterday when I opened my trunk. It was raining heavily, and when I opened the trunk on my 2004 545i, some of the water run-off from the trunk lid got into the sparewheel well area and shorted everything out. In my opinion - what a stupid place to put these highly sensitive modules!! 
Now my iDrive / Audio / Nav and PDC has shut down. Car starts and drives normal, except the previously mentioned accessories that no longer work. What I would like to know from other forum members that have had this happen to them as well is what other damages (if any) resulted from a MPM meltdown. I've read some horror posts of similiar events that caused everything on the vehicle to short out, which meant that basically everything CCC / M-ASK / TV module / CD etc etc had to be replaced!! When this happened on my vehicle, the car was actually switched off at the time when the water got into the trunk area. Didn't think much of it at the time, because it was probably about the equivalent of 3 cups of water. It was only when I got back to the car the next morning when I got this strong electrical burn smell from the trunk area. The MPM probably shorted out during the course of the night. Luckilly the car did not caught on fire, cause it could have then burned down my house as well, as the car was parked in my garage. From what I could visually access, only the MPM unit burned out completely, and the wiring loom and 15 pin multi connector (first 3 inches closest to the MPM) melted. Also the fuses; 3 of them - Power Distribution module in trunk on the right side - if I recall correctly fuse # 52 - 10 Amp; fuse # 57 - 20 Amp and fuse # 60 - 7,5 Amp, were all blown. I just hope that by blowing these fuses, it knocked the MPM out before it could cause any more damage to the car's other electronics. If anyone else on this board had a similiar experience, I would be glad to hear from you, and also the damages and cost that you suffered to have this fixed. My car is unfortunately no longer under warrantee. The car has already been taken into my local dealership to access the damage and to give me a quote to repair, but they did inform me that it is going to be a costly affair. They also said that I won't be able to claim from my insurance company, as I was to blame for not drying up the water spill in time.
I find it very interesting that BMW AG decided to move these modules from the trunk area to the body gateway module which is a much safer environment, on all of these cars manufactured after 09/2005. Makes you think that they realized that there was a defect with the vehicle in placing them there in the first place. :thumbsdown:
Now my iDrive / Audio / Nav and PDC has shut down. Car starts and drives normal, except the previously mentioned accessories that no longer work. What I would like to know from other forum members that have had this happen to them as well is what other damages (if any) resulted from a MPM meltdown. I've read some horror posts of similiar events that caused everything on the vehicle to short out, which meant that basically everything CCC / M-ASK / TV module / CD etc etc had to be replaced!! When this happened on my vehicle, the car was actually switched off at the time when the water got into the trunk area. Didn't think much of it at the time, because it was probably about the equivalent of 3 cups of water. It was only when I got back to the car the next morning when I got this strong electrical burn smell from the trunk area. The MPM probably shorted out during the course of the night. Luckilly the car did not caught on fire, cause it could have then burned down my house as well, as the car was parked in my garage. From what I could visually access, only the MPM unit burned out completely, and the wiring loom and 15 pin multi connector (first 3 inches closest to the MPM) melted. Also the fuses; 3 of them - Power Distribution module in trunk on the right side - if I recall correctly fuse # 52 - 10 Amp; fuse # 57 - 20 Amp and fuse # 60 - 7,5 Amp, were all blown. I just hope that by blowing these fuses, it knocked the MPM out before it could cause any more damage to the car's other electronics. If anyone else on this board had a similiar experience, I would be glad to hear from you, and also the damages and cost that you suffered to have this fixed. My car is unfortunately no longer under warrantee. The car has already been taken into my local dealership to access the damage and to give me a quote to repair, but they did inform me that it is going to be a costly affair. They also said that I won't be able to claim from my insurance company, as I was to blame for not drying up the water spill in time.I find it very interesting that BMW AG decided to move these modules from the trunk area to the body gateway module which is a much safer environment, on all of these cars manufactured after 09/2005. Makes you think that they realized that there was a defect with the vehicle in placing them there in the first place. :thumbsdown:
08-10-2007, 11:31 AM
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Hummm I'm going to put mine in a zip lock bag now... at least help prevent some water damage...
02-06-2008, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by nmsmith' post='457378' date='Aug 10 2007, 05:29 AM
I just read some other member's post about the micro power module in the trunk that was burnt out after a salt water spill. I had a similiar experience just yesterday when I opened my trunk. It was raining heavily, and when I opened the trunk on my 2004 545i, some of the water run-off from the trunk lid got into the sparewheel well area and shorted everything out. In my opinion - what a stupid place to put these highly sensitive modules!! Now my iDrive / Audio / Nav and PDC has shut down. Car starts and drives normal, except the previously mentioned accessories that no longer work. What I would like to know from other forum members that have had this happen to them as well is what other damages (if any) resulted from a MPM meltdown. I've read some horror posts of similiar events that caused everything on the vehicle to short out, which meant that basically everything CCC / M-ASK / TV module / CD etc etc had to be replaced!! When this happened on my vehicle, the car was actually switched off at the time when the water got into the trunk area. Didn't think much of it at the time, because it was probably about the equivalent of 3 cups of water. It was only when I got back to the car the next morning when I got this strong electrical burn smell from the trunk area. The MPM probably shorted out during the course of the night. Luckilly the car did not caught on fire, cause it could have then burned down my house as well, as the car was parked in my garage. From what I could visually access, only the MPM unit burned out completely, and the wiring loom and 15 pin multi connector (first 3 inches closest to the MPM) melted. Also the fuses; 3 of them - Power Distribution module in trunk on the right side - if I recall correctly fuse # 52 - 10 Amp; fuse # 57 - 20 Amp and fuse # 60 - 7,5 Amp, were all blown. I just hope that by blowing these fuses, it knocked the MPM out before it could cause any more damage to the car's other electronics. If anyone else on this board had a similiar experience, I would be glad to hear from you, and also the damages and cost that you suffered to have this fixed. My car is unfortunately no longer under warrantee. The car has already been taken into my local dealership to access the damage and to give me a quote to repair, but they did inform me that it is going to be a costly affair. They also said that I won't be able to claim from my insurance company, as I was to blame for not drying up the water spill in time.
I find it very interesting that BMW AG decided to move these modules from the trunk area to the body gateway module which is a much safer environment, on all of these cars manufactured after 09/2005. Makes you think that they realized that there was a defect with the vehicle in placing them there in the first place. :thumbsdown:
Now my iDrive / Audio / Nav and PDC has shut down. Car starts and drives normal, except the previously mentioned accessories that no longer work. What I would like to know from other forum members that have had this happen to them as well is what other damages (if any) resulted from a MPM meltdown. I've read some horror posts of similiar events that caused everything on the vehicle to short out, which meant that basically everything CCC / M-ASK / TV module / CD etc etc had to be replaced!! When this happened on my vehicle, the car was actually switched off at the time when the water got into the trunk area. Didn't think much of it at the time, because it was probably about the equivalent of 3 cups of water. It was only when I got back to the car the next morning when I got this strong electrical burn smell from the trunk area. The MPM probably shorted out during the course of the night. Luckilly the car did not caught on fire, cause it could have then burned down my house as well, as the car was parked in my garage. From what I could visually access, only the MPM unit burned out completely, and the wiring loom and 15 pin multi connector (first 3 inches closest to the MPM) melted. Also the fuses; 3 of them - Power Distribution module in trunk on the right side - if I recall correctly fuse # 52 - 10 Amp; fuse # 57 - 20 Amp and fuse # 60 - 7,5 Amp, were all blown. I just hope that by blowing these fuses, it knocked the MPM out before it could cause any more damage to the car's other electronics. If anyone else on this board had a similiar experience, I would be glad to hear from you, and also the damages and cost that you suffered to have this fixed. My car is unfortunately no longer under warrantee. The car has already been taken into my local dealership to access the damage and to give me a quote to repair, but they did inform me that it is going to be a costly affair. They also said that I won't be able to claim from my insurance company, as I was to blame for not drying up the water spill in time.I find it very interesting that BMW AG decided to move these modules from the trunk area to the body gateway module which is a much safer environment, on all of these cars manufactured after 09/2005. Makes you think that they realized that there was a defect with the vehicle in placing them there in the first place. :thumbsdown:
02-07-2008, 01:59 AM
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I'm interested, but not following exactly what bits you guys are referring to - any chance of some pictures?
This sounds like a serious design defect to me - I'd get your local BMW distributior to repair FOC., and if they refuse to sue for the cost of replacement parts + labor.
This sounds like a serious design defect to me - I'd get your local BMW distributior to repair FOC., and if they refuse to sue for the cost of replacement parts + labor.
03-23-2008, 07:40 AM
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This happen to me. Good thing that it was under warranty. When the dealer replaced the MPM, they did not put it back under the spare tire. They put it in the back panel of the trunk so no worries about it getting wet. Just got to get the smoke smell out. My MPM burned completely out.
03-23-2008, 08:42 AM
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Originally Posted by jersey-kid' post='549468' date='Mar 23 2008, 08:40 AM
This happen to me. Good thing that it was under warranty. When the dealer replaced the MPM, they did not put it back under the spare tire. They put it in the back panel of the trunk so no worries about it getting wet. Just got to get the smoke smell out. My MPM burned completely out.
Lucky you! BMWUSA was kind enough to replace yours. They gavve me BS about it being my fault. Instead of forking over 1100 to Center BMW, I gave em 152 for the part and put the damed thing in myself. I guess they are selective in who gets warranty coverage for this. PS - drove it to Vegas without a hitch. Getting ready for the drive home.
03-23-2008, 10:07 AM
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i think someone should try it out. Line the top of hte spare wheel area with vapour barier and add some insulation to it... so even if water goes in it would be deterred by the vapour barier and insulation.
02-27-2010, 05:35 AM
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Lucky you! BMWUSA was kind enough to replace yours. They gavve me BS about it being my fault. Instead of forking over 1100 to Center BMW, I gave em 152 for the part and put the damed thing in myself. I guess they are selective in who gets warranty coverage for this. PS - drove it to Vegas without a hitch. Getting ready for the drive home.
did you have any other problems?
i have a dealer that I think is giving me the run around programming this part.
02-27-2010, 02:02 PM
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it's much easier to just move the MPM to the pass. side wheel well. there's plenty of cable on the harness to do it. I did it a year ago.
