Electrical Nightmare

Hi All, i have a BMW 323i 1999 auto with tiptronic recently the electronics started playing up first it was my wipers that worked only when they wanted to, then my passenger airbag light started appearing, then my radio went dead and i have a telltale light saying there is a problem with my transmission how can all these faults be possible or could their be another explanation, any help will be so much valued.

How old is your battery and what shape is it in?

your Guess is as good as mine, i think it came with the car can n battery really cause those problems. i just had a look the battery seems to be and old one i do think it was the original it came with from the factory

Yes batteries can make our E46s work in funny ways. Get a load test done at Autozone or something. I would just replace it as PM. It is time!

x2! malfunctioning batteries make these cars schizo.

Thanks! lol I will replace it ASAP and keep you up to date on what happend

I have replaced the battery. And all went well for about 2 days. There where no lights, then exactly they same happened again can it be the alternator?

Originally Posted by panther2510

I have replaced the battery. And all went well for about 2 days. There where no lights, then exactly they same happened again can it be the alternator?

Yes, continuing to drive a car on a failing battery can damage the alternator as well. Get it tested ASAP.

I'm slowly loosing patients. I tested the alternator. And it charges perfectly. I don't know this car is driving me mad any ideas?

Originally Posted by panther2510

I'm slowly loosing patients. I tested the alternator. And it charges perfectly. I don't know this car is driving me mad any ideas?

I had a perfect alternator, and a bad battery - and my electronics went bonkers.

Full details (as always) here:
- One user's experience debugging a half-dead instrument cluster (1) which, after testing the fuses (1) battery & alternator (1) thankfully turned into an alternative battery search (1) and a simple battery replacement DIY (1)

Originally Posted by Fast Bob

Yes, continuing to drive a car on a failing battery can damage the alternator as well. Get it tested ASAP.

Fast Bob do you think it is necessary to get the expensive BMW batterys over something else?

Hey guys thanks for your advice. But I replaced the battery had the altenater checked but still doing the same thing I did find how ever when I put all the electronics on and fiddle wit the lights it seems to reset itself for a while so everything goes dead but after a while the same happens again

Originally Posted by panther2510

Hey guys thanks for your advice. But I replaced the battery had the altenater checked but still doing the same thing I did find how ever when I put all the electronics on and fiddle wit the lights it seems to reset itself for a while so everything goes dead but after a while the same happens again

Maybe a bad/loose electrical connection (power or ground) somewhere?

Originally Posted by panther2510

I'm slowly loosing patients. I tested the alternator. And it charges perfectly. I don't know this car is driving me mad any ideas?

If you search the forums (esp. E46 fanatics) you will find that there is a corroded ground wire in the tail light in the trunk. That can cause the headlights to go out. Let me know if you can't find it and I'll try to dig up a link.

Edit: Here's the link http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...469&highlight=
See post 5 in the link

Originally Posted by WhitexLightning

Fast Bob do you think it is necessary to get the expensive BMW batterys over something else?

You can buy a perfectly good replacement from Autozone (49-DL...they might try to tell you it won`t fit, but it will) or Walmart (Everstart Maxx 94R), both are right around $100.
No need to pay dealer prices !

Does anyone know where I can get a wiring diagram for my car??

Ok I have established I have a earth fault I think as when I put hi beam on the lights go dead but I'm lost with out a diagram. How do I trace all the earth points and how do I test them

What do you mean earth fault? Explain further and maybe I can tell you how to approach this.

There are diagrams in the Bentley manual.

Originally Posted by GoForthFast

What do you mean earth fault? Explain further and maybe I can tell you how to approach this.

There are diagrams in the Bentley manual.

Earth fault means ground. He thinks he has a bad ground.

Fault also refers to a short circuit. I'd want to know what he meant with more details.