Ok I live in the Washington DC area.
Recently the NE region has been getting some wintery mix of
Snow/sleet/freezing rain. So like most enthusiast, I parked
the M5 to keep the Road salt and etc off the beast.
and Drove our Cherokee and Mitsubishi during the bad weather
and thaw out.
So last Sunday, my wife decides she wants to drive the M5 to church.
She wakes me up from my deep sleep, to tell me that
the Keys to the M5 isn't working.. Neither of them...
So I jumped out of bed threw on my heavy coat to see whats
the problem is on our beast.
1. the battery was completely dead. Not even the flashing light
on the rear view worked.
2. All the door locks were locked.
3. The door locks are electronic, so using the actual key in the lock
does no good.
4. I tried to open the trunk with the Key. Both directions. Didn't work.
So im there stumped.. WTF do we do when the car is locked and battery
is dead?? Can't getin the car to pop the hood to jump it.
Breaking the Window or anykind of damage was out of the question.
So my wife says Hell with it.. and Take the little one and her self to church
while I figure out this dilema.
I called BMW roadside assistance.. after calling 2 directories because nobody
had a listing. And all the phone #'s are in the car.
So I finally get thru.
Lady told me to do the electronic key override.. which is:
Lift the door handle, keep it lifted.
Put in the Key and turn counter clockwise, while door handle is lifted.
-- Was suppose to feel resistance and door unlock.
DID NOT WORK.. I tried it probably 100 times in all different variations.
So then they tell me.. Im S O L, its sunday and all the dealerships are closed.
and for me to call Next day and have the car towed to a dealership.
I thought to myself.. My Tow hook is in the car.. How is the tow guy
gonna pull the M5 on the bed with no tow hook??? He'll probably try to
use suspension components. and with the E brake on.. More potential
damage. I was pretty dang worried.
SO I finally gave up.. and got my day going..
So on the way out.. I decided.. Let me try one more time..
I did the Override thing. didn't work.. Then Tried the trunk, again.
But this time.. Put some muscle into it. Guess what...
The TRUNK is actually a Mechanical LOCK.. I had to twist it with some
uumph to counter clockwise and click it unlocked. So I finally
was able to get to teh battery in the trunk and jump start it and
eveything was fine.
But the whole experience conjured up some questions for me..
1. Even if the weather is at Freezing or below. Should the battery be dead
completely if it isn't driven for a week?? I know the E39 probably has
alot of electrical Draw, with teh alarm and OBC and all.. BUT to
die completely when it wasn't driven for 7 days.. Seems odd.
I looked at the little EYE on the battery. It say its fine.
Before the M5 was parked.. It was driven at least every day or every
other day.. before it was parked for 7 days.
2. I jumped my M5 using the battery in the trunks terminal. Which is
self explanatory. But if I had to jump the car from the front.
I know where teh Positive Cable would go, but Where would you guys
connect the NEgative terminal. Using the Engine compartment??
thanks
and a Merrry X mas, hanukka, Kwanzaa, Boxing day to All...
Linear Mode
