I feel like a f******, idiot! HELP PLEASE!!!

[MASSBMUU]

Today I power washed my 94 325i engine, it started right up ater that, I then drove 15 minutes home, shut it off , it then didnt want to start, but did. It was hesitant, I drove it home, it idled ok so i thought it be ok. BUT NOW IT WONT START!!!! PLEASE HELP! The coils seem dry, mass air flow, fuel pump fuse ok, it just turns and turns. I tried pop starting it in second gear , but that didnt work either. please someone help, its my only drivable car!:help

[btl1990]

Flooded DME?

[328 Power 04]

flooded dme

[MASSBMUU]

whats the DME, what do I gotta do????

[bmw440]

U got the computer wet, open the hood and in the back of your engine to the left,the computer is behind that cover and to the left of the a/c lines pull the computer out and dry blow it with a hair drier.it happened to me once. good luck and stay away from power washers.

[328 Power 04]

its your engine computer .. it's located under your hood in the area in front of your glove box.. its covered by the black foam square ... take out the silver box thing.. and inspect it for water

[RobHacker]

Open the hood, it's the compartment opposite the glove box.

There's a foam piece the pulls back (3 plastic poppers), then 4 screws to remove the cover. Pull out the DME (silver box), unhook the harness.

There are 6 metal tabs that you have to pry up to get the cover off.

Oops, the fellas above beat me to the punch.

Remember, water + electronics = BAD!

:nono

[328 Power 04]

it was a 325 problem.. they fixed it for 96+

[MASSBMUU]

OK i KNOW WHAT IT IS , ITS THE ECU RIGHT???? SAME NAME I GUESS? iLL TRY THAT NOW, BE BACK SHORTLY!

[RobHacker]

OK i KNOW WHAT IT IS , ITS THE ECU RIGHT???? SAME NAME I GUESS? iLL TRY THAT NOW, BE BACK SHORTLY!

ECU, DME...you say potato, I say potatoe.

[McDani3coupe]

I think the best way to write it would be you say potato I say potado! HA just had to add that in!

[RobHacker]

I think the best way to write it would be you say potato I say potado! HA just had to add that in!

You say tomato, I say tomado...Let's call the whole thing off!

:)

[MASSBMUU]

Just Pulled It, Drying It Off Wth Hair Dryer, Seems Dry Though?

[328 Power 04]

on the inside. .. was there water in the ecu compartment?

[MASSBMUU]

on the inside. .. was there water in the ecu compartment?
NO. SEEMS DRY, IM BLOW DRYING IT AS WE SPEEK THOGH.

[MASSBMUU]

YOU GUYS ARE THE FUCKING BALLS!! THANKS, I DIDNT SECURE THE DME aka ECU, IM GONNA FIND SOME LIGHT TO DO IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL YOUS GUYS, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!! LESSON LEARNED!

[328 Power 04]

i take it its running again... awesome

[btl1990]

:buttrock

[downeaster1]

this kids is why we power wash our cars with mineral oil

DUH

jk jk
dont do that

[Daved]

Bag the ECU...

Yeah, I mean put the ECU in a bag so it doesn't get wet again.

[dswads34]

Bag the ECU...

Yeah, I mean put the ECU in a bag so it doesn't get wet again.

Generally speaking, isn't the air (albeit a small amount since the ECU is contained within a metal box) around the ECU used to help cool the unit, or does placing it in a bag do any harm? There's a lot of un-utilized space there for it not to have some impact on cooling it off, but then again, I've never pulled mine out just after running the car so I don't know. Replacing that rubber cover may help you to keep it dry too, but generally speaking, follow the advice above and stick to a rag, maybe an engine degreaser, and a garden hose.

[MASSBMUU]

OK, I thoght my car was allset, but its running like shit! It seems as if it lost its power. the power is coming in and out , studdering, hesitating etc.. when i get on it i hear ticking too. It will clear up then fuck up. anyone got any idea what it could be?????

[zarbat007]

replace the DME.

[MASSBMUU]

replace the DME.

YOU THINK i RUINED THE DME, BY GETTING IT WET??

[Daved]

Generally speaking, isn't the air (albeit a small amount since the ECU is contained within a metal box) around the ECU used to help cool the unit, or does placing it in a bag do any harm? There's a lot of un-utilized space there for it not to have some impact on cooling it off, but then again, I've never pulled mine out just after running the car so I don't know. Replacing that rubber cover may help you to keep it dry too, but generally speaking, follow the advice above and stick to a rag, maybe an engine degreaser, and a garden hose.
I have had it bagged for 2 or 3 years, can't remember with no problems.

I'm into OCing so I know what you're talking about, I have an Opty 170 on an Hyper6+ so I really care about keeping stuff cold but I don't think it's the same deal on the DME because it's designed to be on a car that can be sitting straight to the sun on a 120F day.

[BMDubz]

That's why you should use DI water.

[JayStayJigged]

100 % percent flooded DME !!!!!!!

TAKE IT OUT ASAP PASS BLOW DRYER ON IT AND TRY IT

[kyosuke]

so whats the proper way to clean under the hood and have it sparkling new looking ?

[BIMMER 328]

glad i checked this i was gonna pressure wash my engine but everthing you coulda sucked up some water at all ? once its in the engine may take sometime for it to work itself out i had a similar problem in another car i had that was turbo charged i sucked some water up going thru a puddle. and it did the same thing and i had to drive it like that for about 2 weeks before it finally just stopped

[MASSBMUU]

This car is fucked!! I just went to taco bell and its running great. I hate this car... I love it... I hate it.......I dont know, I cant stay mad at it, I keep sinking money into it and saying, once I get a cai im done, then I want a chip. then paint, then new wheels, m3 side skirts, m3 bumper, tint, then im done.. ya right!

[BIMMER 328]

seriously it just sounds like you sucked up some water once it all burns off u should be aiight just make sure you dont do it too often because if you suck up too much the motor can get water logged and basically water sits on top of the piston and when it goes up there is no where to go because its all compressed and can cause a rod to bend

[kinghawk]

First thing I thought about was DME also but another problem with these cars and power washing is the water getting into the spark plug wells flooding them enough to cause misfiring at times enough to keep a car from starting with enough wells filled up. Pop your valve cover cover ? as well as your coil packs and see if water made its way into that area.

[Don B]

This car is fucked!! I just went to taco bell and its running great. I hate this car... I love it... I hate it.......I dont know, I cant stay mad at it, I keep sinking money into it and saying, once I get a cai im done, then I want a chip. then paint, then new wheels, m3 side skirts, m3 bumper, tint, then im done.. ya right!


Everyone gets this at some time with their E36...it's an old car, so it's gonna have some issues with the engine, paintwork etc.

[HU55LL]

I was thinking about power washing my engine, glad i read this

[jehuflores]

replace the DME.
YOU THINK i RUINED THE DME, BY GETTING IT WET??Since it seems you have a 92 & 94, have you tried just swaping the DME from one car to the other?
First thing I thought about was DME also but another problem with these cars and power washing is the water getting into the spark plug wells flooding them enough to cause misfiring at times enough to keep a car from starting with enough wells filled up. Pop your valve cover cover ? as well as your coil packs and see if water made its way into that area.This weekend my car just started to loose power and sputter, I checked all spark plugs, it turns out one of them came loose, you might also try checking that...

[CLEANM3whipz]

Thats weird, before I was aware of this problem I had always watched my engine with a hose and I have always power washed it too. Its a 93 325i and not once have I had a problem with it..I guess I'm one of the lucky few lol

[zarbat007]

Since it seems you have a 92 & 94, have you tried just swaping the DME from one car to the other?...

92 and 94 DMEs are different since 92 is non-vanos.

[zarbat007]

YOU THINK i RUINED THE DME, BY GETTING IT WET??
maybe the chip inside the ECU is burnt?
same happened to mine and the asshole junkyard charged the mechanic $450 for a DME:mad, i was so pissed.
i work in a garage myself but we dont have any scanner for european cars (we work mostly on japanese and us cars) so i took the car to a bmw specialist.
ever since i have advised everyone i know with european cars to stay away from that junkyard.