Engine Malfunction/Reduced Power after car wash

nickkkkkk408 · 01-10-2015, 02:04 PM

To start off i would like to introduce myself, i have been an avid reader for years but this is my first thread. My name is nick and i am from the bay area, CA. I bought a 2011 335i sedan about 8 months ago, CPO'ed with an extended warranty. Oyster/black interior, sport package and all the goodies. Before that i had a e46 328i.

Anyways, as the title says, i brought my car to Classic Car wash yesterday afternoon to get a quick rinse now that the rain is done for the foreseeable future. I have brought my car there many times without trouble.
When they are done i start my car and immediately i new something was wrong. Car idles extremely roughly for 15 seconds then dies, and computer tells me engine malfunction/reduced power. So i let it sit for 5 minutes while i called AAA to get my car towed to the dealership. Tried it again and same issue. The person behind me was having issues as well, battery died, and the person 2 cars in front of me (mini cooper) had the same issues as me. WTF. The car wash manager said it was because a computer on the car got wet. Aren't these supposed to be rain resistant to the point where a simple car wash shouldn't effect it like that?

They were having troubles with the automated wash system and half way through they stopped it for 5 minutes so my car sat under running water. Could that be the issue?

After 30 minutes, i decided to give it another try. Started up, still rough idle for about 5 seconds as well as engine malfunction notification. After 5 seconds it started to level out and went back to normal. So i drove it home and its been fine since. "Service engine soon" light is still on. Could it just be that something got wet and didn't like it? At first i thought it was fuel pump but its been running normal since.

I did a few searches but didn't come up with anything recent threads on the subject so i thought i would start a new one.

Sorry for the long post!

DrRobert · 01-10-2015, 02:12 PM

Don't have an explanation for you but can you tell us BA folks where this Classic Car Wash is located? I want to avoid that place!!! I take my car thru the car wash all the time and never had any problems.

nickkkkkk408 · 01-10-2015, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrRobert

Don't have an explanation for you but can you tell us BA folks where this Classic Car Wash is located? I want to avoid that place!!! I take my car thru the car wash all the time and never had any problems.

Its the Classic Car Wash on Lark Ave in Los Gatos. There was a broken down e36 there as well, it had gone through about an hour before me. Something wasn't right with that car wash that day, very strange. I have been going there for years and never had/seen problems with cars.

DrRobert · 01-10-2015, 02:31 PM

Thats really strange. That's not my regular car wash but I've used it several times and never had a problem either. Did you take it to Stevens Creek BMW? What did they say?

nickkkkkk408 · 01-10-2015, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrRobert

Thats really strange. That's not my regular car wash but I've used it several times and never had a problem either. Did you take it to Stevens Creek BMW? What did they say?

What is your usual car wash? I am taking it to Stevens Creek BMW in a few hours, i will let you know what they say.

Do you have your car serviced there? I noticed your mod list and was wondering if you do, do they give you any grief?

DrRobert · 01-10-2015, 03:23 PM

I live in Santa Cruz, use a car wash over here. I haven't been to SCBMW in a long time, not since my old E46 was still under warranty. Is your car modded and are you worried about that with the dealer? I know of a service advisor at another nearby dealership who is supposedly mod-friendly, when I need to take mine in under warranty I'll go there. PM me if you want details.

melloww22 · 01-11-2015, 01:18 AM

5 minute of direct wash? If your car was deluged in water it would explain why your car wouldn't start. Get the dealer to diagnose and if water damage is to blame, then follow up with car wash for compensation. This is assuming your car doesn't have any hood/fender/body damages that would allow the water to get inside in mass quantity...

Johnny Boost · 01-11-2015, 01:54 AM

Why don't you check the codes since it has thrown check engine lights? We can speculate all that we want but your car has codes stored in the ECU telling you what is wrong.

paulm3251 · 01-11-2015, 04:55 PM

So your saying three out of the four cars that were lined up had dead batteries after being washed? I'm guessing the car wash manager tried to justify this 'coincidence' too right. Sorry man to hear that, but you all should have got the police there he should not be operating at a 75% car destruction rate that's BS

01-10-2015, 02:04 PM	#1
nickkkkkk408 New Member 1 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2011 e90 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Engine Malfunction/Reduced Power after car wash To start off i would like to introduce myself, i have been an avid reader for years but this is my first thread. My name is nick and i am from the bay area, CA. I bought a 2011 335i sedan about 8 months ago, CPO'ed with an extended warranty. Oyster/black interior, sport package and all the goodies. Before that i had a e46 328i. Anyways, as the title says, i brought my car to Classic Car wash yesterday afternoon to get a quick rinse now that the rain is done for the foreseeable future. I have brought my car there many times without trouble. When they are done i start my car and immediately i new something was wrong. Car idles extremely roughly for 15 seconds then dies, and computer tells me engine malfunction/reduced power. So i let it sit for 5 minutes while i called AAA to get my car towed to the dealership. Tried it again and same issue. The person behind me was having issues as well, battery died, and the person 2 cars in front of me (mini cooper) had the same issues as me. WTF. The car wash manager said it was because a computer on the car got wet. Aren't these supposed to be rain resistant to the point where a simple car wash shouldn't effect it like that? They were having troubles with the automated wash system and half way through they stopped it for 5 minutes so my car sat under running water. Could that be the issue? After 30 minutes, i decided to give it another try. Started up, still rough idle for about 5 seconds as well as engine malfunction notification. After 5 seconds it started to level out and went back to normal. So i drove it home and its been fine since. "Service engine soon" light is still on. Could it just be that something got wet and didn't like it? At first i thought it was fuel pump but its been running normal since. I did a few searches but didn't come up with anything recent threads on the subject so i thought i would start a new one. Sorry for the long post!
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01-10-2015, 02:12 PM	#2
DrRobert Normal Person 148 Rep 862 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 335i Join Date: May 2014 Location: paradise iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 335i [0.00]	Don't have an explanation for you but can you tell us BA folks where this Classic Car Wash is located? I want to avoid that place!!! I take my car thru the car wash all the time and never had any problems.
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01-10-2015, 02:31 PM	#4
DrRobert Normal Person 148 Rep 862 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 335i Join Date: May 2014 Location: paradise iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 335i [0.00]	Thats really strange. That's not my regular car wash but I've used it several times and never had a problem either. Did you take it to Stevens Creek BMW? What did they say?
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01-10-2015, 03:23 PM	#6
DrRobert Normal Person 148 Rep 862 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 335i Join Date: May 2014 Location: paradise iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 335i [0.00]	I live in Santa Cruz, use a car wash over here. I haven't been to SCBMW in a long time, not since my old E46 was still under warranty. Is your car modded and are you worried about that with the dealer? I know of a service advisor at another nearby dealership who is supposedly mod-friendly, when I need to take mine in under warranty I'll go there. PM me if you want details.
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01-11-2015, 01:18 AM	#7
melloww22 Captain 107 Rep 955 Posts Drives: 2011 335i E90 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	5 minute of direct wash? If your car was deluged in water it would explain why your car wouldn't start. Get the dealer to diagnose and if water damage is to blame, then follow up with car wash for compensation. This is assuming your car doesn't have any hood/fender/body damages that would allow the water to get inside in mass quantity...
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01-11-2015, 01:54 AM	#8
Johnny Boost Colonel 325 Rep 2,016 Posts Drives: '21 M850i GC Join Date: May 2013 Location: TBD iTrader: (0)	Why don't you check the codes since it has thrown check engine lights? We can speculate all that we want but your car has codes stored in the ECU telling you what is wrong. __________________ WedgePerformance E40 MHD \| Performance Exhaust Mod \| BMS DP \| Vibrant 1790 \| BMS Intake \| VRSF CP \| xHP Stage 3 Michelin PSS \| M3 Control Arms LUX v4 LEDs \| Shadowline Grills \| Lip Spoiler
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01-11-2015, 04:55 PM	#9
paulm3251 Private First Class 30 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328xi Sedan Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	So your saying three out of the four cars that were lined up had dead batteries after being washed? I'm guessing the car wash manager tried to justify this 'coincidence' too right. Sorry man to hear that, but you all should have got the police there he should not be operating at a 75% car destruction rate that's BS
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