Yet Another Problem With My 2004 330 cic

[Tweet227]

Hi everybody - To all of you 2004 330 owners has anyone had any problems with their A/C unit draining their battery? I went out to my car two weeks ago and my battery was completely dead. I got towed to BMW and they told me that when my car is turned off, my A/C stops blowing the cold air however it doesn't turn off internally and it had been draining my battery. They told me since this is a big problem in all of the '04s that the units were on backorder form Germany and that they would have to keep my car for 2 weeks while they waited for a new unit. Although they offered me a 2003 330 ci as a loaner, (and i appreciated it because they usually give Toyotas as loaners) i purchased a new car so i wouldnt have these problems and told them that I wasnt leaving without my car. Four hours later they put a head unit in from an '03 (which looks different) and fixed my battery issues and sent me on my way. Has anyone had this problem yet, and if not I suggest you go to BMW and ask them about this because according to my serivce manager it will happen to all of the '04s.

 

[Bryan330i]

I have the '03 PP, same as the '04 PP. Mine was just in last week for battery problems. The service guy asked me if it was an '04 and acted like he had an idea what the problem was.

 

[Tweet227]

 

[bmw330ipp]

bryan330i: was your problem the same as tweet227? should i expect it to happen to my 04 PP?

 

[Kirby]

I'm going to restate what I think you said to be sure I understand it (did that make sense?)

1. The car is running with the AC on.
2. The car is turned off with the AC still in the on position.
3. The blower turns off but the control unit is still actually powered?
4. The battery drains.

(Sorry, I'm an engineer, what can I say!!!!!)

i haven't experienced it - yet? AC weather is pretty much done here in PA.

Thanks for the info. Maybe I'll try an experiment with it this weekend....

 

[Bryan330i]

I also had a melted cable. I am not real sure what happened to mine, I had a message that it was finished and I was in a hurry when I picked it up so I just got the keys from the cashier. The guy I talked to when I dropped it off acted like this was a story he was getting often.

The night before I had the problem with mine, I went to the store, used lights and the A/C, had no problems at all. Car started fine when I left the store. The next morning I got in and turned the key and the whole car went nuts. Lights flashing, sick motor sounds coming from somewhere, alarm sounds, dash lights flashing, but nothing when I tried to start it. Freaked me out a bit.

 

[Average Jae]

what the hleck is "it will happen to all of the '04s" all about? that sure doesn't sound good.

hope it doesn't happen to too many of you guys. talk about a red flag, "it doesn't turn off internally and it had been draining my battery" erm, is ac in a car a new tech or something wth??

 

[bmw330ipp]

if it was a problem w/ all 04s, dont u think a lot of people would have that problem? i think its probably more prevalent in 04s but it can't be ALL. who told u that?

 

[Militant-Grunt]

The new front headlights are jynxed!

 

[tsquared]

Tweet,

How long did your '04 sit from the time you last turn it off with the A/C on to the time you had the problem? Was that two weeks? Or just over night?

Also has anyone had this problem if:
1- the A/C was running while the car was driven
2- then the A/C was turned off
3- and finally the engine was turned off.

I wonder if shutting off the A/C prior to turning off the engine would also shut down the control unit. Woud this work as a temp fix until BMW comes out with a perminate solution?

(I'm not an engineer, just a systems analyst which I guess is just as bad)

The reason I ask is that I just took delivery of my '04 330i last night but will need to leave the car sit for several days while I help my fianca move (such are the joys of owning a pickup truck). If I get a break and want to go for a quick spin, I really don't want to find a dead battery.

Regards,

 

[Tweet227]

Tsquared -
My car only sat over night before I came out and found that absolutely nothing worked. At first I just thought the battery in my key had died, but then I soon realized otherwise. I was told by the servive manager at my BMW dealership that a "recall" if you will had been placed on the new A/C units that were put in the '04s. Now if you have an '04 on order I am sure BMW will fix this problem but if you got your car early in the summer like me (May 1st) you may want to call or go to your dealership and ask them about this.

I have had my car for 5 1/2 months with 8300 miles on it so far ( I like to drive ) and this isnt the first or the ninth problem I have had with this car ( it is bordering lemon ). But I guess the good news is it that it took 5 1/2 months for the battery to completely drain (so dont panic yet). I just wanted to let you guys know of this problem and hopefully it can save one of you from waking up to a dead battery.

** I don't know if turning off your climate control before turning off your car will make a difference, but it can't hurt. Good luck with the new car

 

[flashinthepan]

Hey Tweet !!,

I read on another forum that the "Auto climate control" can be reprogrammed to ensure turning off the internal parts with shutting off ignition, I had a battery drain & will be in touch with my dealer as well. For now I slowcharged the battery and keep the heat/Air settings off when turning off car.

[???1]

 

[bmwrocks]

Mine is in the shop today with the battery drained. I brought in a printout of some of the comments from threads from here about this and the SA told me he thought it only affected the CiCs. In fact there was one (convertible) behind me in the service drive with the same problem.

BTW there is no recall, but they do know about this problem.

 

[hosagod]

That sucks. I hope all goes well for you and remember that you still drive a car which many people cannot ever afford. So be proud !

 

[LoMo987]

UMMMM, where is the quality control with BMW???? They need to remember, CHEAP BECOMES EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!! Sorry to hear about this with everyones 2004, I have a 2001 330ci and she is still kickin and I love it!!! Once you people work out the initial bugs it is all pleasure from there!! Good Luck.

 

[bmwrocks]

It seems to me that BMW has some software quality issues. I mean how could a programmer not turn off power to an A/C controller when the ignition is off??

if (ignition_is_off) then
power_off
else
power_on
end if

I know this is over simplified but please.......

 

[joe c]

not just 04's

I had the same exact problem with my 2003 325i. AC drained battery in off position. Dealer replaced unit and so far no more problems. It's not just the 04's.

 

[flashinthepan]

Joe,

Did they replace the A/C unit or just do reprogramming ??

I am hearing 2 different solutions ??

I have a service appt scheduled.

[???1]

 

[Tweet227]

bmwrocks/flashinthepan ~ have either of you guys had any other problems with your cars?

 

[flashinthepan]

Hi Tweety !!!

I did have the battery drain problem and car goes into the service dept next Thursday.

After 4 days of sitting dead battery ?, I turned off any/all heat/AC controls and slow charged my battery.....o.k. so far, but without the climate control.

Hopefully after the reprograming the auto controls can be left on and the vehicle ignition will just turn off any items causing drain.

Other than that running very smooth and nice. I have a hardtop on order for ocassional winter driving.