First I want to apologize my initial post in this community has to be a support request, and if this has been submitted here before, my searches haven't found anything like the issue I have.
I purchased a used BMW 3 series on 11-14-2012, I am a first time Bimmer owner and love the car and the technology that makes it a Bimmer. The car has 95k miles on it so the warranty is void any the four year period ended on 11-23, the car was not purchased from a BMW lot either.
Vehicle Information (Please request any further details you need, as I am not yet used to knowing what you need to assist)
2008 BMW 328i - 6 Speed Manual Transmission
Does not have Comfort Access, I only have one Key FOB, and the valet key can only open the driver door and trunk. On where to place it for ignition.
Here is a link to the car that I purchased, http://www.karsmart.com/web/1539/vehicle/5344855/2008-BMW-3 Series-328i
My Support Request (I am hoping this is something I can handle myself)
I will start with what happen directly before my Bimmer never showed any electrical response what so ever. I simply took a few friends for a ride to the gas station to use the ATM. I arrived at the gas station turned the car off, everyone got out of it and I used my key FOB to lock my car. My friend went in to use the ATM and me and my other friend stood outside and smoked a cig. Literally less than five minutes later we walked to my car, I hit unlock on the key FOB and nothing happened at all. So I used my valet key, opened the door noticed no lights in the cabin. Placed my key FOB into the slot and nothing turned on, no gauge cluster, no lights nothing, I instantly died inside.
At the time the only thing I could think of being a possibility of what wrong was a dying battery, being that it was kinda cold I was hoping that was the issue. A state police officer pulled into the gas station and I thought my luck cashed in. We attempted to jump start the car and still nothing turned on. At the time I didn't want to think the battery was so dead that a jump start wouldn't work. I was looking in the trunk making sure no battery connections were loose and I noticed the road side phone number. I gave them a call to see what could be going on. At first the rep didn't catch that the gauge cluster didn't come on, so the rep thought that my key FOB lost sync with the car. They had me go through some steps to try and sync it and get the car to start. As soon as I got them to understand that nothing at all turns on that said it had to be the battery or worst.
My Bimmer has drove perfectly since I purchased it. I have never received any battery warning or key FOB warning lights.
What I have tried so far (And Still searching online and attempting things as I find more information)
My car died last night, I attempted to buy a battery at Wal-Mart that night but they didn't have mine in stock. First thing in the morning I purchased one from AutoZone. Put in the battery, double checked all the connections in the trunk, everything seems good and tight, no breaks in any wires. Still nothing at all, so sadly I had it towed to my house. My last car was a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant and when its battery died completely it wouldn't turn or anything for hours, while the ECU was setting its self up. So I thought maybe thats what mine is doing, but still after six hours nothing.
I believe from the information I have read since last night, that I need to tell my Bimmer a new battery is installed, but it first has to show some vital signs before that can be done.
The battery I purchased is a Duralast Platinum (P/N: H8-AGM)
I am now in the process of checking every single fuse in the glove box. Its very hard because I open my passenger door as its still locked. I can move the seat around to make room for a better angle and be 6ft4in isn't helping.
I'm not aware of any other location for fuses.
Reading this article doesn't make me feel any better, http://sandiegobmw.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/bmw-with-a-dead-battery-stop-tow-save-tons-of-dough/
I hope changing the battery hasn't made things worst. As I'm thinking my battery isn't the problem at all. I was very very very careful while changing the battery though.
With all that said, I come here for your help. Bimmer's are way more complex than car's I am used to and work on. I am a very handy mechanic with cars in general, but in the past few years more and more electrical modules are added and makes things that much harder. I come to this community because you all as a whole know these cars far better than I do.
My bank account is still bouncing back from the recent purchase, and the numbers I am hearing from the service center make me sick. I'm hoping so hard this is something I can handle on my own, or at least doesn't cost to much.
Thank you all for your time and any help or information you can provide. Please let me know what you need from me that can help out._a_
I purchased a used BMW 3 series on 11-14-2012, I am a first time Bimmer owner and love the car and the technology that makes it a Bimmer. The car has 95k miles on it so the warranty is void any the four year period ended on 11-23, the car was not purchased from a BMW lot either.
Vehicle Information (Please request any further details you need, as I am not yet used to knowing what you need to assist)
2008 BMW 328i - 6 Speed Manual Transmission
Does not have Comfort Access, I only have one Key FOB, and the valet key can only open the driver door and trunk. On where to place it for ignition.
Here is a link to the car that I purchased, http://www.karsmart.com/web/1539/vehicle/5344855/2008-BMW-3 Series-328i
My Support Request (I am hoping this is something I can handle myself)
I will start with what happen directly before my Bimmer never showed any electrical response what so ever. I simply took a few friends for a ride to the gas station to use the ATM. I arrived at the gas station turned the car off, everyone got out of it and I used my key FOB to lock my car. My friend went in to use the ATM and me and my other friend stood outside and smoked a cig. Literally less than five minutes later we walked to my car, I hit unlock on the key FOB and nothing happened at all. So I used my valet key, opened the door noticed no lights in the cabin. Placed my key FOB into the slot and nothing turned on, no gauge cluster, no lights nothing, I instantly died inside.
At the time the only thing I could think of being a possibility of what wrong was a dying battery, being that it was kinda cold I was hoping that was the issue. A state police officer pulled into the gas station and I thought my luck cashed in. We attempted to jump start the car and still nothing turned on. At the time I didn't want to think the battery was so dead that a jump start wouldn't work. I was looking in the trunk making sure no battery connections were loose and I noticed the road side phone number. I gave them a call to see what could be going on. At first the rep didn't catch that the gauge cluster didn't come on, so the rep thought that my key FOB lost sync with the car. They had me go through some steps to try and sync it and get the car to start. As soon as I got them to understand that nothing at all turns on that said it had to be the battery or worst.
My Bimmer has drove perfectly since I purchased it. I have never received any battery warning or key FOB warning lights.
What I have tried so far (And Still searching online and attempting things as I find more information)
My car died last night, I attempted to buy a battery at Wal-Mart that night but they didn't have mine in stock. First thing in the morning I purchased one from AutoZone. Put in the battery, double checked all the connections in the trunk, everything seems good and tight, no breaks in any wires. Still nothing at all, so sadly I had it towed to my house. My last car was a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant and when its battery died completely it wouldn't turn or anything for hours, while the ECU was setting its self up. So I thought maybe thats what mine is doing, but still after six hours nothing.
I believe from the information I have read since last night, that I need to tell my Bimmer a new battery is installed, but it first has to show some vital signs before that can be done.
The battery I purchased is a Duralast Platinum (P/N: H8-AGM)
I am now in the process of checking every single fuse in the glove box. Its very hard because I open my passenger door as its still locked. I can move the seat around to make room for a better angle and be 6ft4in isn't helping.
I'm not aware of any other location for fuses.
Reading this article doesn't make me feel any better, http://sandiegobmw.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/bmw-with-a-dead-battery-stop-tow-save-tons-of-dough/
I hope changing the battery hasn't made things worst. As I'm thinking my battery isn't the problem at all. I was very very very careful while changing the battery though.
With all that said, I come here for your help. Bimmer's are way more complex than car's I am used to and work on. I am a very handy mechanic with cars in general, but in the past few years more and more electrical modules are added and makes things that much harder. I come to this community because you all as a whole know these cars far better than I do.
My bank account is still bouncing back from the recent purchase, and the numbers I am hearing from the service center make me sick. I'm hoping so hard this is something I can handle on my own, or at least doesn't cost to much.
Thank you all for your time and any help or information you can provide. Please let me know what you need from me that can help out._a_