Battery disconnected and now I'm locked out of trunk.

[Johnny_Se7en]

Good day all,

I have a 2011 135i and the bcm module is off line probably due to a spill of water in the trunk. I can not open the trunk; tried the jumper cable method, had a mechanic with computer reset the engine computer, transmission computer [all computers went off line]

The battery is good but I need to get to the power module in the trunk.

Any ideas?

PS before someone goes on a ALL CAPS RAGE this is my first post.

[Osiris]

Originally Posted by Johnny_Se7en

Good day all,

I have a 2011 135i and the bcm module is off line probably due to a spill of water in the trunk. I can not open the trunk; tried the jumper cable method, had a mechanic with computer reset the engine computer, transmission computer [all computers went off line]

The battery is good but I need to get to the power module in the trunk.

Any ideas?

PS before someone goes on a ALL CAPS RAGE this is my first post.

135 should have a lock to use the key. It's tucked near the light for rear number plate.

[Osiris]

Originally Posted by inluvwithastripper

My 1M has not arrived yet, but I have a 135 and it has a trunk key hole. It is under the lip of the trunk and not immediately obvious, but it's there. I would imagine the 1M has the same hole.

Here look at this post too.

[kprocivic]

Originally Posted by Osiris

135 should have a lock to use the key. It's tucked near the light for rear number plate.

I guess not all of them do. I belive it's only the early models.

[Lone Patrone]

Thank you XJAN. Removing the passenger side speaker and pulling on the release cable with pliers worked. BMW - Be advised - You need to add a manual keyhole for the trunk back to all models. This is just silly to not have it.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by Lone Patrone

Thank you XJAN. Removing the passenger side speaker and pulling on the release cable with pliers worked. BMW - Be advised - You need to add a manual keyhole for the trunk back to all models. This is just silly to not have it.

I just ran a jumper cable to the posts under the hood and popped my trunk. I think that's a lot easier than removing a speaker?

You can run jumper cables from the battery to posts under the hood or use a jump box too.

[Lone Patrone]

Nachob - I tried jumping the car as well from the positive terminal in the engine bay and grounding to unpainted steel, but it did not work for me. I think it did not work for me because I disconnected the positive and negative terminals on the battery.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by Lone Patrone

Nachob - I tried jumping the car as well from the positive terminal in the engine bay and grounding to unpainted steel, but it did not work for me. I think it did not work for me because I disconnected the positive and negative terminals on the battery.

Ah! There is an actual grounding post on the right side. It's not covered. That always works. No problem, glad you got it open just for others in the future. The positive post has a red cap and negative on is on the right side pointing inboard.

[Lone Patrone]

Wonderful! Thank you! Now we just need someone to make stickers that says to never close your trunk if the battery is disconnected.

[katsooba]

Originally Posted by nachob

Ah! There is an actual grounding post on the right side. It's not covered. That always works. No problem, glad you got it open just for others in the future. The positive post has a red cap and negative on is on the right side pointing inboard.

does this work even if the battery is disconnected in the trunk?
my guess is not

[nachob]

Originally Posted by katsooba

does this work even if the battery is disconnected in the trunk?
my guess is not

Yes. I have a friend that did the same thing. Not me of course!! This friend disconnected batter to replace my center console. I mean his center console and when finished. HE couldn't open trunk. HE connected booster battery to it and it worked. : )

[katsooba]

thank you for the info nachob!
now i feel safer to d/c my battery

[nachob]

Originally Posted by katsooba

thank you for the info nachob!
now i feel safer to d/c my battery

Glad my friend's experience helped someone out! Best wishes

[Rikx1M]

Not to thread jack but do you guys use the under the hood points to trickle charge?

[arvinz]

Originally Posted by Rikx1M

Not to thread jack but do you guys use the under the hood points to trickle charge?

Yep, been using that for every winter since I got my car. Works perfectly.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by arvinz

Yep, been using that for every winter since I got my car. Works perfectly.

Ditto. I use those also

[Rikx1M]

Thx fellas^^^

[Alan1M]

This just happened to a very close personal friend of mine today. Glad I, I mean he, was able to find this thread.

[HelloNewman]

So I tried the trick to connect to the terminals under the hood and nothing, nada. Called out AAA and they couldn't get it to work either. Gonna have to try and do the rear speaker shelf method. It's absolutely insane that BMW would screw us over like this. I had no clue that these cars are lacking both a key hold in the trunk and the ability to fold down the rear seats. WTF.

[eeghie]

Originally Posted by HelloNewman

So I tried the trick to connect to the terminals under the hood and nothing, nada. Called out AAA and they couldn't get it to work either. Gonna have to try and do the rear speaker shelf method. It's absolutely insane that BMW would screw us over like this. I had no clue that these cars are lacking both a key hold in the trunk and the ability to fold down the rear seats. WTF.

There is a finite number of reasons, why the proven methode of connecting to the underhood-terminals would not work. Two main reasons being: the + battery cable is disconnected and touching the chassis or the - cable (ask me how I know ;-). Or the battery is connected, but in such a poor condition that it effectively acts as a voltage drain (short circuit without the sparks). If you’re interested and share the situation in your trunk, i’m sure we’ll find some causality.

And I do agree with you on the whole trunk security thing being a bit over the top for a 1 series.

[HelloNewman]

Originally Posted by eeghie

There is a finite number of reasons, why the proven methode of connecting to the underhood-terminals would not work. Two main reasons being: the + battery cable is disconnected and touching the chassis or the - cable (ask me how I know ;-). Or the battery is connected, but in such a poor condition that it effectively acts as a voltage drain (short circuit without the sparks). If you’re interested and share the situation in your trunk, i’m sure we’ll find some causality.

And I do agree with you on the whole trunk security thing being a bit over the top for a 1 series.

Last I remember the battery was fully disconnected, I'm not positive if the cables are touching the chassis or not.

[CarJunkie]

This is a truly frustrating problem with these cars and is the reason I took my car to the dealer for the battery replacement despite doing most work myself. I envisioned a family member unknowingly closing the trunk while I was taking a break and that was all it took to make the $95 labor charge worthwhile.