E28 Major Issue

[the5]

Well, I'm new on this site and this is my first post. I am here because I would like to see what others might have to say about my experience.

I have a 1985 BMW e28a. I went to Europe this summer for about 2 months. The car was left in my friend's driveway, which means it basically sat there since he didn't start it or anything.

Now the dilemma. I got back and went to his house...tried to start it, but nothing. No sound, just the click of the ignition switch. Time went by and we really couldn't figure out what was wrong with it, until my dad suggested taking it to a friend of his who is a specialist in BMWs...he's got his own racing team too...the M3s he's got are sweeeet!!!

He figured it out...the problem?

Burnt Starter
Burnt Alternator
Burnt Computer
Burnt Fuses
Dead Ignition Switch
Dead Battery

Now what in the world could have caused this problem. Unless my friend screwed me by selling those parts and putting in dead ones...I really don't know what on Earth went wrong.

The mechanic said that that he doesn't believe it either...things like these rarely happen...

Anyone/>?

[Hoppy's535i]

uh i think the ovious thing would be dead battery.
doesnt take much thought. try jump starting the car, if it starts and runs, its the battery if it starts but wont run after being disconected from the other car then its the alternator

[billB]

THE5

You are certainly welcome to the forum; and I am so sorry to hear about this rather STRANGE experience. To tell you the truth I have never heard of anything like this one. Unless your friend had a dead battery and tried to jump the bimmer from a Mack truck with 24 volts, even that won't cook it. So I hate to contemplate the possibility of jumping the car from a household electrical outlet..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANYONE? Step right in please

regards
billb

[the5]

Thanks billb for the prompt welcome...appreciated.

You'd think BMW would have contemplated putting in place some sort of a "fuse-system" that wouldn't burn the entire system if someone tried to jump start the car with either too much voltage...or...

maybe he started it by hooking up the + to the - and the - to the +...this being a dead battery (i'm guessing)...it wouldn't have had sparked/arked...

hmmm

i'm throwing a bone

[billB]

Again my understanding of BURNT=fried=cooked starter, alternater,computer, fuses in the fuse boxes! yes?

[the5]

Originally posted by billB@Nov 15 2004, 10:26 PM
Again my understanding of BURNT=fried=cooked starter, alternater,computer, fuses in the fuse boxes! yes?

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Yup, cooked starter, alternator, computer, fuses, ignition switch module...

incredible if you ask me...how this can happen

the mechanic himself was in shock when i went to pick up the car

[Hoppy's535i]

ok i think i misread the post. you decided theses things were already done, not questioning what could be the cause of the car not starting?


if so could the battery have found ground and just started frying things? is that even possible? im not an electrician so i dont know too much about the propertys of electricity

or heres a far fetched one. close proximity lightning strike?

[billB]

I sincerely don't think switching poles will do that much damage. I have one of those portable jump systems that comes with a light written under it (REVERSE CONNECTION) I did reverse it many times by mistake other than getting this light ON nothing major happened!

I really would like to know what happened to your car so keep us posted.

Note: Jumping a bimmer directly by the battery, may throw a couple things here and there so they have that big bolt on the top of the engine for emergency jumping; but not to COOK the whole system. At best? This is unbelievable.

[the5]

I didn't know what was wrong with the car when I got back. For a car that ALWAYS started at the first turn of the key since day one it was kind of a surprise to see this happen.

I didn't assume it was anything because I didn't know what could possibly be wrong...until the mechanic broke it to me.

[billB]

Let us wait and see we have many members on the 5 series armed with great wealth of knowledge. I am sure someone will step in.

[the5]

Originally posted by billB@Nov 15 2004, 10:38 PM
Let us wait and see we have many members on the 5 series armed with great wealth of knowledge. I am sure someone will step in.

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Sounds like a plan. I will try to do some research myself...

Thank you!!

['89 635 csi]

If it didn't blow any fuses but all of those things are fied, then wouldn't the wiring going to these components also be fried?!

[the5]

the wiring was fried as well...from what i believe he told me...

he was in a very bad mood!...these mechanics

[billB]

89 635 csi: If it didn't blow any fuses

But it did blow all fuses!! This is catastrophic outcome. Grounding? Water? moisture? the car sat for 2 months Still I am not sure if this justifies it!!
This is what I am thinking:
1. Someone did try to give a jump.
2. Something internal happened: a Spike/surge of some sort; and/or a ground; moisture etc. Iam

['89 635 csi]

Originally posted by billB@Nov 15 2004, 09:30 PM
89 635 csi: If it didn't blow any fuses

But it did blow all fuses!! This is catastrophic outcome. Grounding? Water? moisture? the car sat for 2 months Still I am not sure if this justifies it!!
This is what I am thinking:
1. Someone did try to give a jump.
2. Something internal happened: a Spike/surge of some sort; and/or a ground; moisture etc. Iam*

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Oh, I guess I missed something. I'm going with #2