Ok so here's a story of me burning down an E38 740iL.

One of the complaints was that the message dots on the MID (Multi-Information Display) on the instrument cluster were missing. A very common thing on these high end clusters.

I replaced the cluster and recode it to the vehicle. Test drove it for 5 miles and brought it to the wash area. At this time the 740i has been parked in the lot for about a week. Customer called saying that they were gonna pick it up. The porter opened the vehicle and everything was charred inside. The windows were black and the windshield had a crack.

My shopforeman called me into his office and asked me questions what I did to the vehicle. At this time I didnt know it had caught on fire. He then told me if I had any problems installing the cluster and I said no. Later he said that the 7 has caught fire and the interior is just gone. I was shocked. He said that it looked like the fire started in the dash where the cluster was. The fire burned itself out because all the windows were rolled up and the oxygen was wasted. I had to write a report on this incident.

A BMW Field Service Engineer took a look at it and didnt blame it on me. Said something about an internal failure in the circuit board of the cluster.

Sad, yet funny, part is that most of the techs have been giving me nicknames like "Sparky". A few days later I was installing another cluster in a 540i and my shopforeman took a fire extingisher and placed it right next to me and everyone was laughing.

Other accidents that I've done was breaking a windshield on a X5 when I was putting back the rear view mirror. I applied to much pressure and CRACK! Had to put in a new one for free of course.

Other than that, I still like my job.

Originally posted by Jon Caldito
Ok so here's a story of me burning down an E38 740iL.

One of the complaints was that the message dots on the MID (Multi-Information Display) on the instrument cluster were missing. A very common thing on these high end clusters.

I replaced the cluster and recode it to the vehicle. Test drove it for 5 miles and brought it to the wash area. At this time the 740i has been parked in the lot for about a week. Customer called saying that they were gonna pick it up. The porter opened the vehicle and everything was charred inside. The windows were black and the windshield had a crack.

My shopforeman called me into his office and asked me questions what I did to the vehicle. At this time I didnt know it had caught on fire. He then told me if I had any problems installing the cluster and I said no. Later he said that the 7 has caught fire and the interior is just gone. I was shocked. He said that it looked like the fire started in the dash where the cluster was. The fire burned itself out because all the windows were rolled up and the oxygen was wasted. I had to write a report on this incident.

A BMW Field Service Engineer took a look at it and didnt blame it on me. Said something about an internal failure in the circuit board of the cluster.

Sad, yet funny, part is that most of the techs have been giving me nicknames like "Sparky". A few days later I was installing another cluster in a 540i and my shopforeman took a fire extingisher and placed it right next to me and everyone was laughing.

Other accidents that I've done was breaking a windshield on a X5 when I was putting back the rear view mirror. I applied to much pressure and CRACK! Had to put in a new one for free of course.

Other than that, I still like my job.

hahaha... I could just see them putting that fire extinguisher next to you...

whats the customer get? a new car...? value of car?

From what I heard from my boss, the car was still under lease and was a company car. Till now the 740i is still parked in our lot.

I'm sure we gave the company another used car but I'll find out for sure tomorrow.

my friend's dad is a mechanic at BMW. Here's an anecdote:
This E46 with Xenons comes in with a faulty headlight that doesn't work. So, a new apprentice is assigned to fix this easy task. Turns on the lights, left xenon doesn't work. Checks the battery terminals, figures it must be xenon bulb. So, pulls out the suspected faulty xenon, throws it out and replaces it with a new one. Try's the lights again, still doesn't work. Thinks that this new bulb must be faulty, throws it out and replaces it with a new one. Doesn't work, so repeats the process again! Still doesnt work, so calls over the chief. Turns out that ther was a short in the wiring, so the kid threw out 4 perfectly good xenon globes that cost an arm and a leg! Needless to say, his pay-check was docked that week!

:stickoutt

Damn.. now that was stupid. When I first started working at the shop, I was an apprentice under a Master. You know just like the Star Wars apprentice and Jedi Master thingie?

Anyhow, I was under him for 3 months then went under another Master tech for 3 months then I was on my own. If I had any trouble I'd always ask for help.

use the torque-wrench luke.........

Other accidents that I've done was breaking a windshield on a X5 when I was putting back the rear view mirror. I applied to much pressure and CRACK! Had to put in a new one for free of course.

Jesus man, how strong are you? the windshield must be stonger than that? seems a little odd to me.

Jon, I hope you are taking the "happening" (burned out 740iL) in stride! And you are actually having fun with it as far as your friends poking good natured fun with you.

It sounds like the management at the dealership understands that what happened was a freak mishap caused a defective part. It's easy to see that because you actually drove the car for five miles before parking it to be washed and picked up.

Sorry to hear that happened but it wasn't your fault. Mark it up as a memorable "experience" in your career. You'll laugh about it and tell your friends what happened latter.

Bob ///M3

PS - Did you laugh when the shop forman set the fire extingisher down beside you? I hope so!

Haha.. good one. Although I dont use my torque wrenches a lot
and I have 1/2, 3/4, and 1/4 versions. They do come in handy once in awhile.

I've been out of "training" for awhile but its still gonna take me about 2-3yrs to get Master status.

Harry,

The customer with the X5 was complaing that the rear view mirror is loose. I removed it to inspect it and found a clip broken. When I was putting it back to the round section of the arm which is attached to the windshield, I encounted some resistance and added some more pressure and it just cracked. The windshield was taken care of by management but it took me 4-5hrs to replace it.

Bob,
No one blamed it on me. We thought I pinched some wires in the back and was grounding it to the dash frame but that was kinda impossible for that to happen. The guys at the shop made fun of me for a week. It still happens though when they see me grab a black box (instrument cluster box) from the parts counter and walk to my lift which is right across from the parts counter. Of course this is something I'll remember but this story will be passed on to the new techs that come to work. "You know, there's this kid from CA and he burned down a 740 just by replacing an instrument cluster!" Oh Joy. haha.

Yes I was laughing and saying bad words when my boss did that thing with the fire extingisher. I actually was inside the vehicle and I saw him in front of me laughing then I stepped out and saw it and I was like "Ahhh $HiT, Dammit Dan". I just left it there and techs passed by laughing their asses off.

I have other nicknames too like "Spikey" and "Sonic". It has to do with my spikey pointed hair.

I'm glad you're having fun with your friends about it.

Bob ///M3


Originally posted by Jon Caldito

Bob,
No one blamed it on me. We thought I pinched some wires in the back and was grounding it to the dash frame but that was kinda impossible for that to happen. The guys at the shop made fun of me for a week. It still happens though when they see me grab a black box (instrument cluster box) from the parts counter and walk to my lift which is right across from the parts counter. Of course this is something I'll remember but this story will be passed on to the new techs that come to work. "You know, there's this kid from CA and he burned down a 740 just by replacing an instrument cluster!" Oh Joy. haha.

Yes I was laughing and saying bad words when my boss did that thing with the fire extingisher. I actually was inside the vehicle and I saw him in front of me laughing then I stepped out and saw it and I was like "Ahhh $HiT, Dammit Dan". I just left it there and techs passed by laughing their asses off.

I have other nicknames too like "Spikey" and "Sonic". It has to do with my spikey pointed hair.

It's good that you didn't get in trouble for it. I would've been sh**ting in my pants. I mean it's awesome that you get to play with these nice expensive toys, but if something like that breaks, that could be a big chunk of your paycheck if you get docked for it. Was the customer pissed? Anyway, glad you and your boss are taking it so well.

>>>>

use the torque-wrench luke.........

<<<<


No. no, no.....

"You must feeeeel the force"


Jon,

How did the 740 draw that much current without blowing the fuse(s)?

Jim

so...should I be afraid?;)
I had my instrument cluster replaced on the 7 series for the exact same reason as you mentioned.

It's been over 5 months and no burning smell...am I in the clear???:128:

No, you should only be afraid if Jon was the tech that replaced it. Just kidding, Jon! ;)

Jon,

my 540i has the MID with some dots missing. How much is the new cluster, and how much is the associated labor?


PS I have aftermarket warranty on the car ('97).

Thanks!

Originally posted by MONSTER
Jon,

my 540i has the MID with some dots missing. How much is the new cluster, and how much is the associated labor?


PS I have aftermarket warranty on the car ('97).

Thanks! My cluster was replaced as part of warranty and it was:
$570 for part
$150 for labor

Good stories! :)

Rel44 - I dont know if the customer was pissed. It was a company vehicle and I didnt know who drove it. My supervisors didnt give me hell or anything so that can mean the customer didnt give hell to my boss.

MONSTER - I'm not sure how much an instrument cluster cost. There are two versions with the high end cluster. One with an external IKE (Instrument Cluster Electronics) module and the other with an internal IKE. The cluster with an internal IKE is more expensive. Your model year can have either version. My guess is $500-$600. Labor will be like 1hr-1.5hr.

umnitza - you should be cleared.

Jim - I havent checked out the fuse box. Not sure if I want to since its behind the glove box. I'll see if the doors are still unlocked. Hey, I'll take pics of it too while I'm at it.

Jon, where are you? Are you in Georgia or Cali? Just curious.

Rel,
I'm in Altanta, GA right now. Moving back to SoCA in the middle of December for good. Not that I dont like Atlanta or anything but friends and family are in CA.

Ah. I'm probably heading out to SoCal next month for a few days. Hoping to meet some of the SoCal bimmerphiles. :)

Jon forwarded this message on to me:

>>>
Jim,

Here are pics I took of the 740iL that I worked on. Please feel free to post them up on the board. Thanks!

Jonathan

PS: I checked the fuses and only one of the 4 fuses was burnt out.
<<<

Rather than upload 8 pics, each 165K in size, I posted them on my webpage. I'll leave them up as long as the thread stays active.

http://www.apexcone.com/LogosandPics/Burned740/

Originally posted by jsp98m3
Jon forwarded this message on to me:

Now that's just a damn shame.

Jon,

What's the VIN on the car? Just to make sure if I come across a nice 740i at "fire sale" prices.:12: How long does it take to get your BMW Master Mechanic rating? I think you qualify for Master Chef @ Benihana already! J/K! I've had some freaky stuff happen to me, too. Smart me decided to have a quick disconnect on my CB in High School via spade connectors. When I wasn't using it I just pushed it under the carpet. One day when I was driving with a friend, he just so happened to step on the right spot and grounded the wire and my carpet caught on fire. I put out the fire very fast. At least we were in the car. It would have been interesting if it grounded when it was parked and I was in class.

Wow, thats a charged instrument panel. Too bad, I'm sure it was a nice car before, not so mush anymore. What happened to the steering wheel? It's missing.

BeastMaster,
I'm a Level 1 Technician which is the highest level but I've only been on the BMW field for 14 months. With 11months in automotive training and 6 months BMW Factory Training. I have about 2-3yrs till I get "Master" status.

Harry,
I do not know why the steering wheel was removed. It had to become cajun style since it was so close to the cluster. All the paper work was removed in the glovebox and the rear license plate.

It is my guess that the steering wheel melted into a big glob that made it difficult to get into the car. Someone probably removed it to get easier access to the cluster to examine why this happened.

so...are they parting out that car? Is it a total loss...
it's such a shame to see something so pretty disintegrate like that.