Hi, I had the same thing happen to my 1992 325 last week. I was wondering if you could tell me what state this occured in so that I could see if i can find the case records from the dealer being sued. I would like to walk into my local dealer with those in hand.
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Originally Posted by clr4969
I have a 1993 325i and also had my car die when coming out of a car wash. Verdict: fried the ECM. Cost: $1200. My mechanic stated that the ECM was corroded and that the extent of the corrossion implied that it had occurred over time - this time through the car wash was just the final straw.
I also have located other instances when this nightmare has occurred. In fact, after my debacle, I visited a local "Hand Wash" car wash to inquire how they washed their cars. Without telling him what kind of car I had, I told the owner I had just spent $1200 to replace a computer module that had been damaged in another car wash. He asked me if it was a BMW 325. When I replied in the affirmative, he said he paid for 3 ECMs in the past and will only wash my model car if the driver signs a waiver. He also mentioned that one of the other BMW owners sued the dealer and won.
I was fortunate. My insurance company cover my damaged ECM (they are currently sueing the car wash for reimbursement of their outlay and my deductible). The insurance adjuster that came out to see my car, however, said the ECM had corroded over time and he was surprised the insurance company was covering it (I certainly wont be calling him as a plaintiff's witness). As I said, I was fortunate. I located an article from another BMW owner having the same thing happen whose insurance would NOT cover it -they claimed it was a BMW problem. Nonetheless, BMW has no recall for this obvious design defect and repeated attempts by me to discuss this issue with them have resulted in the run around.
The article on the link you received above discusses the problem my local BMW service center reiterated: The drainage system for the EMC was clogged. Instead of replacing the drainage tube with a modification, they just removed it altogether. They also told me that if I go to a Jet Ski shop, I can get a water protectant desinged for a jet ski's electronics and I can spray it on my new ECM.
Final result: Removing the drainage system and spraying the ECM with protectant is all well and good, but do I really want to risk losing another ECM? (I doubt my insurance would cover it a second time) So- I now hand wash my car. BMW finishes like that anyway.
Hope this has helped.
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