RIP Factory 5spd 735

**youngbimmer** · 06-17-2018, 01:56 PM

I lost my 735i this morning. I was driving to Wegmans to pick up some bread, noticed a brake circuit OBC error and thought nothing of it. 5 minutes later, I noticed a burning smell and saw smoke start coming through my vents. I immediately got out and tried to get my dash apart, but couldnÂ’t get it in time. Not three seconds after I duck out of the car, airbag explodes. By the time my knee panel was off, the fire was already everywhere, fire extinguisher couldnÂ’t keep the fire down. I left the vehicle and called 911. By the time they showed up, car had started all on its own and lurched into somebody elseÂ’s car (still in 1st gear, no key in the ignition.). I frantically started pulling relays out of the fuse box till it stopped moving. But this point, fire department showed up and hoses the car.

Needless to say, IÂ’m shaken, and I will probably never entertain the thought of another vintage BMW given this very freak incident. Shame because we had just finished putting on new radiator and water pump yesterday.

Sorry to leave you fellas, but good luck with your cars!

**mjimport** · 06-17-2018, 04:08 PM

Glad to hear no one was injured. That could have ended so much worse.

A horrible shame and very scary situation indeed.
I understand your reaction but this is rare even in vintage cars. Actually many new cars have quirks that can result in spontaneous ignition.
I had a 2004 Pontiac GTO that has an issue with rubbing through a fuel hose in the engine bay, even within the first 25,000 miles.

**6erWEBB** · 06-17-2018, 06:19 PM

My 735i/M has a momo wheel on it because I dont trust air bags either...

**VincentKreed** · 06-18-2018, 11:59 AM

I'm playing T.A.P.S for your e32 now.

That really sucks.

Glad you are ok.

Sent from my TA-1004 using Tapatalk

**kce1900** · 06-18-2018, 12:08 PM

Sorry to hear that. Didn't you want to join us at the Vintage next year? I can understand that you are shaken, maybe in tears and rightfully pissed off. However, don't give up! Neither these cars nor other vintage BMWs go up in flames on a regular basis. As you said yourself, it's a very freak incident. Please take a break, then go out, find another one and join us at the Vintage 2019. The E32 are gorgeous cars. Just today I had the opportunity to drive a friend's 750 and I loved every bit of it. Even though I have one at home, every time I see another one, it hits me again.

**XAlt** · 06-18-2018, 01:08 PM

Your blower motor probably caught on fire. Everyone should put a 20A fuse in ASAP.

**youngbimmer** · 06-18-2018, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by XAlt

Your blower motor probably caught on fire. Everyone should put a 20A fuse in ASAP.

Blower motor was in perfect shape when I checked the car after the fire. It was 100% the brake switch.

I may get back into an e32 but it has to be the same as before :black paint, black leather, and 5spd. But honest to god I’m pissed something like this happened, and yes, I did cry because I’ve invested so much time, effort, blood, money into this thing, and it went up in flames for something completely out of my control, and I don’t think I could stomach something like that again, never mind trying to find a car like mine. it was already rare to begin with.

**Zieg** · 06-18-2018, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by youngbimmer

Blower motor was in perfect shape when I checked the car after the fire. It was 100% the brake switch.

I may get back into an e32 but it has to be the same as before :black paint, black leather, and 5spd.

So sorry to hear about your misfortune with this car. As already has been said it was a freak accident hopefully you had the car insured properly and you will be able to purchase another vehicle to replace this one.

My advice would be to take your time and choose a replacement for what suits you best. Weather it be old or newer things happen. I have seen your posts on the E 28 and E 24 websites as well as this site. You seem to me that in reality you suffer from the same sickness that many of us have. Vintage Bimmer syndrome! We can not look at or pass bye an old broken BMW without thinking about how we could fix it!

Good luck and please stay safe!

**youngbimmer** · 06-18-2018, 01:56 PM

I only had liability on the car, as I’m still a student and couldn’t afford the comprehensive insurance on the car, so I’m out of the entire some. I’d be lying if I said I never want into this again, and I I love all those 80s BMWs more than anything else they put out today, just a shame such few good examples remain, and even fewer in the color combination I want. All the nice examples now have shot trough the roof in value and it will be a good 10-15 years before I could afford one of those.

**CroughtonE32** · 06-18-2018, 05:01 PM

Such a horror story. Glad you're OK youngster. Are you sure it was just a faulty brake light switch? When you said your airbags went off, I was thinking about those leaking airbag sensors I just spent four hundred bucks to replace. I'm wondering where the original spark came from. I know you loved your E32. Keep your eye out for another. If I see anything out there for a decent price that might interest you, I'll be sure to PM you. I'm sure everyone here will do the same. Just glad you're safe.

**youngbimmer** · 06-18-2018, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by CroughtonE32

Such a horror story. Glad you're OK youngster. Are you sure it was just a faulty brake light switch? When you said your airbags went off, I was thinking about those leaking airbag sensors I just spent four hundred bucks to replace. I'm wondering where the original spark came from. I know you loved your E32. Keep your eye out for another. If I see anything out there for a decent price that might interest you, I'll be sure to PM you. I'm sure everyone here will do the same. Just glad you're safe.

Thank you. The airbag exploded when the fire got out if control and got into the other sensors/electronics. I say brake circuit switch as I got the error on my dash 30 seconds before it all went to shit, and when they drowned the car, the brake light switch area under the dash had the most significant burns

**YogiYogi** · 06-19-2018, 02:59 AM

Mate, the main thing is that you're fine physically. Mentally may take some time but such is life. I've got a 735 auto and my brake light circuit switch comes on occasionally while driving... Didn't think much of it until now.

**NE32** · 06-19-2018, 09:48 AM

Glad to hear you're okay! It's sad to hear about your e32. You put a lot of work into it and clearly enjoyed it as it should be. Freak accidents happen but hopefully it doesn't keep you away for too long!