Car Wash....Wet Computer

[dmacxxx]

I've just purchased a '95 325i and have seen some posts about dead computers after going through automatic car washes. From what I can gather, the drain in the (cowl)? is insufficient and was changed after 94. How can I tell, (short of going through a car wash), if my car has the old drain or the improved one?

Winter in Boston make hand washing next to impossible.

Thanks,
Dave Mac

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Simple, dont wash it during the winter. I have heard about that on the 3 series, maybe that is why they moved the battery to the trunk...

 

[flyinH]

there's a DIY writeup or a servise bulletin on how to make the drain holes bigger in the ecu compartment by drilling them bigger.i'll see if i can find it. this is a common problem on some e36's. the pressure from auto washers is so much that water finds small nooks and crannies into the compartment. then it's a fried ecu.

 

[wantanM3]

Hi Guys,
BMW put the battery in the trunk on certain models cos there is no room in the engine bay for it!!....just compare a 320 to a 318 engine bay and you'll see what i mean!

 

[HELLRAZR]

i have a 318 conv. there's plenty of room in the engine bay but my battery is in the trunk.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Hi Guys,
BMW put the battery in the trunk on certain models cos there is no room in the engine bay for it!!....just compare a 320 to a 318 engine bay and you'll see what i mean!

In my 325i there is a big space on the far left (or passenger side front of engine compartment) that is big enough for the battery, infact it even looks as if the battery is missing. So thats still not the reason why they put the battery in the trunk.

 

[ResidentSlacker]

The battery is in the trunk because it helps with the 50/50 weight ratio and the battery is supposed to help offset the driver, I remember reading it on the BMWUSA website somewhere

 

[SKycity_BMW]

I had the same problem . . .

Here's a link to help with the problem:

http://www.alldata.com/techtips/2003/20030602e.html

It was also told to me that if I go to a Jet Ski shop, I can get a water protectant designed for a jet ski's electronics and I can spray it on my new ECM.

I also read there you can add more drain holes for this problem.

I did that too and I just quit going thru car washes ! ! !

You can check on Ebay for used ECM too.

Good Luck ! !
Skycity_BMW

 

[mjbst111]

The battery is in the trunk because the trunk usually holds a steady temprature. The constant cooling and heating of a battery in the engine bay considerably decreases the life and the efficiency of the battery. It may help with weight but probably not a whole lot with such a heavy thick cable going all the way back to the trunk on one side of the vehicle.

 

[dmacxxx]

I haven't actually had a problem yet....I was wondering how i could tell if this was going to be a problem in the future. Can I tell from the production date if it has the new drain or the old one? Can I tell by looking at anything in particular? (Open "this" and look for "that")

Thanks Again
Dave Mac

 

[chief]

As a fellow drunk, i have to respond to your question by writing: you must have had too many already. You life truly must be boring to worry about water draining from the "ecm" pocket in the engine bay.
[shake]

I appologize to all for this reply as i too, may have had to many tonight and i found this thread to good to resist. [slap]


[driving2]