Has anyone had their 128i experience the "Christine" effect?

[bardofoc]

I had this weird experience 2 weeks ago that I have yet to figure out. I searched the threads on the topic, but no one seems to have shared what I experienced. One afternoon I saw that my driver's side window was completely rolled down. I was surprised since I never ever roll my windows down due to my car's climate control system. Still, I thought I made a mistake, so I scolded myself and got into the car. Once inside, I saw that the passenger's window was also down. At that time, I knew something was up because that window has no reason to be down whatsoever. The next thing I realized was that there was a hole in my roof. I looked up and saw my moonroof missing. I thought, "Son of a gun, someone got inside and managed to steal my moonroof." I got out and inspected the car. It was strange that I could find no damage to the body and that none of the items in my car had been stolen or ruffled through. I live in a condo and share my parking lot with three different complexes. I work nights, so the previous morning I had parked my car at 3 AM. By 6 AM my neighbors leave to work, so I thought someone had to work very fast, very quietly, and with great precision to pull off stealing my moonroof. Depressed and irritated, I drove to the police dept. by 10 PM that evening and managed to speak to an officer an hour later. By the time we walked to the car, he turned to me with his flashlight on and said, "Sir, your moonroof is still in the car." I got excited and said, "No way!" He said, "Sure it is. You just need to get inside and close the roof. You will see it come out." Foolish me, I knew enough to roll up my windows when I saw they were down, but I didn't think enough to try closing the roof when I saw it was missing. The officer said that what had happened was my car experience an electrical short that morning and rolled down the window and retracted the moonroof all on its own. I had bought my car less than 4 months earlier. He strongly advised me to take it to the dealership ASAP and explain to them what happened. I was so ecstatic to not have to open an insurance claim that I never followed through with the dealer. But recently I've been thinking about how lucky I was. Never mind the car being vulnerable to theft, it rained pretty hard during that week. Luckily, it did not rain that morning or else I would have had extensive water damage. I am going to the dealer this coming week, but I wonder if any one else has heard about this before. I find it very, very odd that my new car could power itself to roll down windows and retract the roof without the key in the ignition.

[jkoral]

This is a feature, convenience open.

Are you sure you didn't accidentally hold down the key fob while walking away from the car (i.e. it was in your pocket and you were carrying packages in and it was pressed and held through your pants).

[Bimmer-Bob]

Um - you thought your moonroof was missing?!? I bet the police are still chuckling about this one...

[Augenbrauezug]

Originally Posted by bardofoc

I find it very, very odd that my new car could power itself to roll down windows and retract the roof without the key in the ignition.

I find it very, very odd to believe that you can dress yourself in the morning.

[bardofoc]

Originally Posted by jkoral

This is a feature, convenience open.

Are you sure you didn't accidentally hold down the key fob while walking away from the car (i.e. it was in your pocket and you were carrying packages in and it was pressed and held through your pants).

I wasn't aware that such a feature existed (or why the window and roof would need to be completely opened at once). But now that you brought it to my attention, I can imagine such a scenario happening.

[kgaler]

You need one of these.

http://www.pyspeed.com/BMW-Leather-T...-p/rd-8201.htm

[Riley1524]

I can't help but laugh at this. Sorry!!! I'm sure it did freak you out about everyhing being opened, but c'mon!!! You didn't think to try and close the moonroof before going to the police? LOL It would take a ass load of time for someone to steal your moonroof...

[cvandenhaute]

yep definitely the keyfob that was pushed in open position for a while accidentally. The fact you have the moonroof together with the windows is making that obvious, no ghost in the machine I am afraid

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by Riley1524

You didn't think to try and close the moonroof before going to the police? LOL It would take a ass load of time for someone to steal your moonroof...

Seriously - how could you find your moonroof open and the first thing you think is that someone stole it. I mean, really? Has anyone ever stolen a moonroof, ever?

And then you drive to the police station before you even try to close it? Have you never seen an open moonroof before, especially on your own car? You realized before this event that it opens and closes, right?

I think the OP must be pulling our leg here.

[135forthewin]

Wow. Just wow. I'm normally a nice guy on the forum but this, this right here is something else.
Troll? I'm not sure if I prefer:
1) a troll
2) a mentally handicapped driving a 230hp BMW around...at least he/she doesn't have the 35i...

[JHOOPS2]

This can't be real...

[Barry45RPM]

Originally Posted by bardofoc

I wasn't aware that such a feature existed (or why the window and roof would need to be completely opened at once). But now that you brought it to my attention, I can imagine such a scenario happening.

The feature is there so that when you approach the car after its been sitting baking in a shopping center/work parking lot all day, you can open everything at once and evacuate the superheated air before you get into the car.

[IDBMW]

One evening my wife comes in the house and says when she pulled into the garage the windows and sunroof on the 135i opened. She had her 135i key in her purse with stuff piled on top. I quickly determined this was the cause. EOS – no cops involved

[gordongekko]

This has to be pot related.

[Brandon26pdx]

I'm still trying to figure out who the hell Christine is...

[Hops128i]

Originally Posted by kgaler

You need one of these.

http://www.pyspeed.com/BMW-Leather-T...-p/rd-8201.htm

are you sure this would work? I mean from the pictures, it looks like it just provides a cover, still not preventing the pressing of the 'open' button.

[speedbird]

some people's kids.....

[atiened1]

Originally Posted by gordongekko

This has to be pot related.

+1

[N55_BBM]

HAHAHAHA I am cracking up so hard here!!

yes, if you hold the unlock button it'll open the windows and moonroof. I actually had this happen once when walking from my office to my car. it was in the middle of winter and i was trying to carry way more things than i could manage. had my keys in my hands and since i had gloves on i had no idea i was accidentally holding the unlock button down as i approached the car. windows rolled down and filled my seats with snow that was packed on the car after a morning snowstorm. thank god the windows had just started opening when i saw it and the sunroof was still shut, i just dropped everything i was carrying and started laughing. proceeded to laugh all the way home at my stupidity. but this post just made me laugh 100x harder!

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

I'm still trying to figure out who the hell Christine is...

Maybe you weren't born yet?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_(film)

[fwmcb]

come on who would try to steal a sunroof???

[Rawhide]

Funny. I doubt the truthfulness of it, but funny nonetheless.