My car has immobilized itself

Deveray · 04-07-2007, 08:46 PM

After being parked for an hour this afternoon my E92 now refuses to crank over. The start button does nothing. The headlights come on fine and all the interior electrics work so it didn't seem like the battery. I called BMW assist and they sent a towtruck - which could not jump start the car and could not un-immobilize it either. Because the electric steering lock won't release, they also couldn't put it on the towtruck as the wheels are pointing at an angle... so now it is stuck in a parking lot until Monday when I hope the dealership will come out... unless the brains on BMW forum can solve this problem for me!
I did try various cycles of locking and unlocking the doors with the key and the button but it didn't change anything. Is there a secret immobilization device? I tried searching but didn't turn up something similar. It seems as if the key isn't being recognized.... [no I don't have comfort access]

teknochild · 04-07-2007, 08:50 PM

100:1 the BMW dealership tech gets out there and it was some sort of IOE

Deveray · 04-07-2007, 09:22 PM

Sorry, can you clarify IOE.... [new to me]
Thanks

SoYank · 04-08-2007, 05:36 AM

Hopefully your car will a) still be there and b) not be damaged.

Deveray · 04-08-2007, 05:46 AM

If somebody else can get it to start then they're welcome

RRGOO7 · 04-08-2007, 08:32 AM

i would try to unplug the battery and leave it off for 5 minutes and then try it again

Deveray · 04-08-2007, 09:25 PM

UPDATE: Went back tho the parking lot this afternoon [approx 24h after the initial problem] and the car started up just fine. The first difference was that the steering lock immediately released and then the starter turned over.
So why it was immobile is still a mystery as it obviously wasn't the battery.
Maybe the unplugging of the battery would have worked... hope I don't have to find out the hard way, I will ask the dealer and post an update

04-07-2007, 08:46 PM	#1
Deveray Private First Class 10 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2010 535i X-Drive Touring Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	My car has immobilized itself After being parked for an hour this afternoon my E92 now refuses to crank over. The start button does nothing. The headlights come on fine and all the interior electrics work so it didn't seem like the battery. I called BMW assist and they sent a towtruck - which could not jump start the car and could not un-immobilize it either. Because the electric steering lock won't release, they also couldn't put it on the towtruck as the wheels are pointing at an angle... so now it is stuck in a parking lot until Monday when I hope the dealership will come out... unless the brains on BMW forum can solve this problem for me! I did try various cycles of locking and unlocking the doors with the key and the button but it didn't change anything. Is there a secret immobilization device? I tried searching but didn't turn up something similar. It seems as if the key isn't being recognized.... [no I don't have comfort access]
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04-07-2007, 08:50 PM	#2
teknochild Your resident 4um troll 125 Rep 2,020 Posts Drives: 335 coupe Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: fl iTrader: (0)	100:1 the BMW dealership tech gets out there and it was some sort of IOE __________________ RAWRrrrr
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04-07-2007, 09:22 PM	#3
Deveray Private First Class 10 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2010 535i X-Drive Touring Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Sorry, can you clarify IOE.... [new to me] Thanks
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04-08-2007, 05:36 AM	#4
SoYank Major General 571 Rep 7,519 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vinton, Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [9.00]	Hopefully your car will a) still be there and b) not be damaged. __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
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04-08-2007, 05:46 AM	#5
Deveray Private First Class 10 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2010 535i X-Drive Touring Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	If somebody else can get it to start then they're welcome
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04-08-2007, 08:32 AM	#6
RRGOO7 Colonel 360 Rep 2,451 Posts Drives: GTR Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Miami FL iTrader: (13)	i would try to unplug the battery and leave it off for 5 minutes and then try it again
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04-08-2007, 09:25 PM	#7
Deveray Private First Class 10 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2010 535i X-Drive Touring Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	UPDATE: Went back tho the parking lot this afternoon [approx 24h after the initial problem] and the car started up just fine. The first difference was that the steering lock immediately released and then the starter turned over. So why it was immobile is still a mystery as it obviously wasn't the battery. Maybe the unplugging of the battery would have worked... hope I don't have to find out the hard way, I will ask the dealer and post an update
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