[Meatnog]

So I get out to my car this morning and I find that all four of my windows and the sunroof are wiiiiiiide open. And it has been raining.

My car is soaked. There is a standing inch of water in the rear footwells. The leather is all wavy from absorbing the water.

I wiped down all the surfaces, using up a full 2 rolls of paper towels and the car is still damp. It runs, the electronics seem unharmed.

Needless to say I took it into my dealership and said 'WTF?!'. I note I didn't open my windows, I didn't open my sunroof and my car keys are FAR from the car so there is no way they opened the windows/sunroof from inside.

The only things I can think of are a malfunction/short in the system or if someone else in my immediate area is on the same frequency/code as my keys and managed to open my windows when they opened their own (there are a LOT of BMWs within a 3-4 block radius of where I live).

So now I'm driving a 2006 X3 loaner while the dealership tries to figure out what happened, how to stop it from happening and to dry out my car.

I thought I was gonna cry or vomit (or both) when I saw all the windows and sunroof open...

[r3amir]

Do you have comfort access?

[Broken1]

OY...thats terrible!!! I wonder how something like that could have happened. Are you sure you didn't unlock and hold the unlock button somehow (maybe getting groceries out the car) and didn't notice?

That's very odd... Hopefully they can figure it out!

[Meatnog]

I do not have comfort access. I did not unlock my car at all in the last 48 hours. In fact, I went out to it on Sunday morning, and got something out of the trunk.

I never unlocked/locked the doors in the process.

[r3amir]

So sorry to hear about your story

[blueStreak]

Ouch, sorry to hear. Did the dealer doubt you at all or were they ready to accept an electronics problem?

[Meatnog]

They readily took the car in to check out why it happened. There seemed to be no skepticism in their tone or their actions.

Given that a VERY similar thing happened to my GF's Audi a few years ago, I am inclined to believe the malfunction. Plus when I mentioned it to the service guy he was able to even tell me why it happened to the Audi, so clearly they've seen this sort of thing before (maybe not in a BMW, but in other cars).

Plus they acknowledged that it is possible, although highly unlikely, that another person could be on the same key/frequency as my car in my area.

[e90driver]

Yikes. I would be :mad: :mad: :mad: . That's the ultimate horror story- one of those things you don't think of as being a problem but end up ruining your car. I hope they can figure it out. Hope the leather comes out alright also, along with the carpet and everything else. The thought of it is making me cringe.

[sirees01]

I experienced a similar problem with my 996 a few months ago.
I parked the car in my garage one evening making sure it was locked.
The following morning all windows & sunroof were open.
Thankfully my garage is secure & completely sealed,therefore no damage to the car but very puzzling.
Porsche dealer didn't have a clue !

[LEDZEP]

If indeed it is a malfunction that caused the problem, you need to INSIST on full replacement of EVERYTHING inside the car - Carpet, Seats, All leather surfaces (door panels, etc), Center console, etc. That shit is ruined now, and just drying it out won't help. The leather will get stiff and crack and stink. You will have mildew under the carpet and inside the seats. Water damage totals more cars than body damage.

Call your insurance company and get them involved IMMEDIATELY. Let them and the dealer figure out what they are going to do about it. Who knows what electronics have been ruined. Sure, they might be fine today... what about six months from now when the corrosion eats things away?

IF... I say IF... this is proven to have been a malfunction, and I hate to say this.... because so many people talk out of their asses and say this very things.... demand a new car.


EDIT: Oh yeah, and keep us posted. I think we'd all like to know if this could happen to us! Best of luck getting things right. Sorry to hear about the horror.

[blueStreak]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

IF... I say IF... this is proven to have been a malfunction, and I hate to say this.... because so many people talk out of their asses and say this very things.... demand a new car.

This is the one case so far where I agree that a replacement vehicle should be expected if due to a faulty component/system.

[fredtoo]

While I agree, they will hide behind the lemon law, and wait till it screws up 3 times.

[txusa03]

These type of story makes me feel so blessed I have a garage for my car. good luck fixing your problem. I agreed that you will have to replace everything inside because even after it dried, it will still leave that mildew smell in the summer heat.

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by fredtoo

While I agree, they will hide behind the lemon law, and wait till it screws up 3 times.

Doubtful. The lemon law does not apply to direct damage to a vehicle as a result of a malfuction.

If it were me, and they started giving me trouble.. I'd get the media involved. They love a good "consumer spent big bucks and got screwed" story. Suddenly BMWUSA would know your name.

[Frank_NJ]

Sorry to hear and hopefully they can fix your car.

[Bimmerista]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

If indeed it is a malfunction that caused the problem, you need to INSIST on full replacement of EVERYTHING inside the car - Carpet, Seats, All leather surfaces (door panels, etc), Center console, etc. That shit is ruined now, and just drying it out won't help. The leather will get stiff and crack and stink. You will have mildew under the carpet and inside the seats. Water damage totals more cars than body damage.

Call your insurance company and get them involved IMMEDIATELY. Let them and the dealer figure out what they are going to do about it. Who knows what electronics have been ruined. Sure, they might be fine today... what about six months from now when the corrosion eats things away?

IF... I say IF... this is proven to have been a malfunction, and I hate to say this.... because so many people talk out of their asses and say this very things.... demand a new car.


EDIT: Oh yeah, and keep us posted. I think we'd all like to know if this could happen to us! Best of luck getting things right. Sorry to hear about the horror.

Breathing in deeply now, relax, exhale and assess:

Water does not "corrode" certainly not "several months from now" (oouf that feels better already). If the engine bay and inside electronics still work OK after the car is dry - you're lucky and have no problems (nor will you).

LedZep is correct about mildew IF the car is not air dried - let it at the dealer with the windows open (inside of course); then no mildew.

The leather may crack if dried in the sun. Again, if air-dried inside and then leather protector is applied, it will be just fine.

Do involve your insurance company - that bit is good advice - but call your insurance agent first and find out, informally, if involving the company at this stage will increse your premiums-if so, wait first to see what the dealer can/will do for you, otherwise you just waisted an insurance claim.

Bottom line, this is sh--t. However, you seem to have a receptive delaer and the damage can be mitigated.

Keep us posted.

[longtran]

crapper man.

[Oz]

I hope that if its a malfunction you get a new car out of this

It just wouldn't be the same if there is any substantial damage...

[Meatnog]

Well a few things to bear in mind:

1) The dealership is being cool about it. They immediately brought it inside and put it in their indoor (above the dealership) 'warehouse' (Their warehouse is nicer than my first apartment). They're going to air dry it in there and take care of it that way.

2) Until more investigation is done, no telling what caused it. If I get too aggressive now, they'll say it was 'user error' and I left them open. I want to work with them until such a time comes where I Cannot work with them.

3) It is a lease car, not a loan (or outright purchase), so I am not terribly concerned about what happens in 2-3 years. It isn't my car, I'm just renting it for a while. I will get things in writing from the dealership that will eliminate any responsibility I have.

4) If the car gets stinky or the leather isn't the same after it dries, I'll know it and deal with it then. I'm just leery about getting too aggressive and putting the dealership on the defensive before I have to. Same with insurance companies.

[Bimmerista]

Metnog - I agree with the manner in which you are proceeding.

Good luck once again.

[Mauricio]

One day, I walked out to my car to go out to lunch and my windows were all open. It occurred to me that they opened on their own, but I just figured I left them all open myself. I rarely open all the windows but I sometimes open at least the front two and the sunroof.

After reading this, I'm convinced that my car did the same thing. The windows opened by themselves. I couldn't imagine this would really happen, and I've never seen any mention of it happening to anyone else. This is exactly what happened to me but luckily it didn't rain.

I'm now worried about it happening again.

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by Bimmerista

Breathing in deeply now, relax, exhale and assess:

Water does not "corrode" certainly not "several months from now" (oouf that feels better already). If the engine bay and inside electronics still work OK after the car is dry - you're lucky and have no problems (nor will you).

LedZep is correct about mildew IF the car is not air dried - let it at the dealer with the windows open (inside of course); then no mildew.

The leather may crack if dried in the sun. Again, if air-dried inside and then leather protector is applied, it will be just fine.

Do involve your insurance company - that bit is good advice - but call your insurance agent first and find out, informally, if involving the company at this stage will increse your premiums-if so, wait first to see what the dealer can/will do for you, otherwise you just waisted an insurance claim.

Bottom line, this is sh--t. However, you seem to have a receptive delaer and the damage can be mitigated.

Keep us posted.

You're a bit of a pompus ass aren't you?

Yeah, you're right I've never heard of WATER corroding METAL.

...and certainly not months from now... ?? So, if water touches metal then it corrodes instantly or not at all? I have some metalurgical background and I don't remember that chapter.

If wetting and drying leather is such a great idea why don't you take your best leather coat and toss it in the washer?

If you're going to involve your insurance company, sooner is better than later. Trying to describe "what it was like" is a lot tougher than letting an adjuster snap some pics and take some notes. If you don't need to pursue the claim later (no pay out) then so what - they don't hold that against you. If your insurance company raises your premium just for calling them, then you're a pretty gullable consumer.

Well, at least he has your assurance that everything is just hunky dory. Case closed.

What's this breathe shit? Why would I be upset? I agree his dealership seems to be of good attitude, but that can change in a heartbeat. In the end, only he is looking after his own interest. I offered some thoughts on it - nothing more. Don't try to be so condecending.