545i Flooded... worst day in my short BMW life...
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
From: Ct
My Ride: 04' 545i, Sport Package, Black, Active Xenon, ARS, Aux Input
'10 Tahoe, Black on Black, leather, Nav/XM, 20" tires, full body kit, power 2nd row, loaded
'93 Jeep Wrangler, lifted 4.5", 33" meats, Rampage Recovery Bumper w/Tire Swing, etc
25' Aquasport Osprey, Center Console,2012 200 HO Etec
I am still in shock as I type this quick and probably disheveled account of what is happening... With the downpour yesterday in the NY, CT area my car took on a few inches of rain water. 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 545i... over an inch of water and that was on top of the couple inches of foam padding that is under the carpet... I quickly began getting every error message imaginable making my dash light up like a Christmas tree.
So I got the car to a friend/BMW tech who immediately knew what to do - he started taking the rug up, removed the passenger seat, pulled the rugs out and removed the module that is located on the passenger side floor just in front of the seat - this module controls everything!! Active steering, Dynamic Drive, some transmission functions, ARS and about 4 other error messages etc... anyway, we removed that module plus the two in the e-box - nothing minor out of any of the 3 units... and are attempting to dry them all out along with the flooring. The subwoofer under the seat was also submerged... total damage WAY TOO MUCH TO BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT.
I contacted my insurance company and they immediately began a flood damage claim and said an appraiser will be out within 3 days to see the vehicle at which time it will go to a place of my choice for repair if its not totaled... I know these modules are done... and I know the subwoofer is done. Rugs maybe... I have had this car only since July and absolutely love it. I am in shock... and currently BMW'less... :thumbsdown:
So I got the car to a friend/BMW tech who immediately knew what to do - he started taking the rug up, removed the passenger seat, pulled the rugs out and removed the module that is located on the passenger side floor just in front of the seat - this module controls everything!! Active steering, Dynamic Drive, some transmission functions, ARS and about 4 other error messages etc... anyway, we removed that module plus the two in the e-box - nothing minor out of any of the 3 units... and are attempting to dry them all out along with the flooring. The subwoofer under the seat was also submerged... total damage WAY TOO MUCH TO BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT.
I contacted my insurance company and they immediately began a flood damage claim and said an appraiser will be out within 3 days to see the vehicle at which time it will go to a place of my choice for repair if its not totaled... I know these modules are done... and I know the subwoofer is done. Rugs maybe... I have had this car only since July and absolutely love it. I am in shock... and currently BMW'less... :thumbsdown:
Senior Members
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
My Ride: 2005 545i Alpine White Premium package, Sport package, Nav, HUD, PDC
Damn, sorry to hear about the bad news. Could be worse, right? Things could always be worse. Good luck with getting everything repaired.
So sorry about this, i used to have the same issue but it was just a damp rear right passenger floor on my previous e60, nothing as major as in your case, hopefully your insurance will fix it correctly or total it out, either way hope you get everything resolved. Keep us updated.


