What the heck is this wire? - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

pornandchicken · 11-21-2012, 12:34 AM

Two weeks ago during heavy rain fall my car would not start. I checked the battery and it was good. looking around don't see any thing out of the ordinary, out of curiosity, I unplugged this wire then my car started, plug it back in, car won't start, so I left it unplugged.
anyone know where this wire goes to or what it does?

it looks like it goes into the inside of the rear bumper, I don't have PDC.

mashimarho · 11-21-2012, 12:38 AM

I just want to know what made you unplug that wire in the first place.

klaysta · 11-21-2012, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mashimarho

I just want to know what made you unplug that wire in the first place.

+1

pornandchicken · 11-21-2012, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mashimarho

I just want to know what made you unplug that wire in the first place.

I was in the process of removing the battery and it was in my way.

bsamoul · 11-21-2012, 02:04 AM

I believe that wire is supposed to be plugged in during shipping from the factory, and unplugged when the car gets "unpacked"

pornandchicken · 11-21-2012, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsamoul

I believe that wire is supposed to be plugged in during shipping from the factory, and unplugged when the car gets "unpacked"

hmmm, interesting.
I had this car since Dec 2007 and the only driver, I'm pretty sure it was plugged in all those years and my car has always started. I hope it's not harming anything, my car runs normal, I just don't get why it has to be unplugged now to get my car to start.
anyone else have this wire unplugged?

Alfred · 11-21-2012, 08:17 AM

Mine is unplugged...I never unplugged it..

upstatedoc · 11-21-2012, 08:37 AM

mxchris727 · 11-21-2012, 09:29 AM

It's a shipping wire. The dealer normally plugs their computer into the car and disables "transit" mode; but I guess they can also just unplug that wire. Mine is connected.

Turb0Surge · 11-21-2012, 10:59 AM

mine's unplugged...

AndreyT · 11-21-2012, 11:05 AM

This has been asked and answered a million times already. Everybody has an unplugged wire in the battery compartment. In some cars it might be "tucked in" into the connector, but it doesn't change much anyway.

crashoverride · 11-21-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndreyT

This has been asked and answered a million times already. Everybody has an unplugged wire in the battery compartment. In some cars it might be "tucked in" into the connector, but it doesn't change much anyway.

I thought this was the same million times asked question. But I've never seen a picture that ended with a blue plug (always black) and it never has something to plug into and is just loose... plus maybe it's the photo but this looks heavier duty.

So I looked at my car I have the same cable and it's plugged in. I also still have the shipping cable which is much smaller flopping around. Personally I'm confused as to why there are so many cables going this way and that around the battery making changing the battery a complete bitch.

So now I'm curious??

954Stealth · 11-21-2012, 02:47 PM

Did you try plugging it in?

iBoost · 11-21-2012, 02:48 PM

Mine has always been unplugged as well

pornandchicken · 11-21-2012, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndreyT

This has been asked and answered a million times already. Everybody has an unplugged wire in the battery compartment. In some cars it might be "tucked in" into the connector, but it doesn't change much anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashoverride

I thought this was the same million times asked question. But I've never seen a picture that ended with a blue plug (always black) and it never has something to plug into and is just loose... plus maybe it's the photo but this looks heavier duty.

So I looked at my car I have the same cable and it's plugged in. I also still have the shipping cable which is much smaller flopping around. Personally I'm confused as to why there are so many cables going this way and that around the battery making changing the battery a complete bitch.

So now I'm curious??

this is not the black wire from the battery that connects to nothing. it's a blue connector plug in a black wire harness and doesn't even go to the battery. I just want to making sure it's not a sensor wire to deploy the airbags when you get rear ended, looks like that's where the cable is going, into the bumper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

Did you try plugging it in?

yes, my car will not start with it plugged it, tried just now

jwzimm · 11-21-2012, 06:47 PM

I wonder if there are any ill effects. This seems like it would be a great hidden kill switch if you are parking for a while or just want the extra security.

SpeedBuggy · 11-21-2012, 07:57 PM

Check Page #8 of the attached, IBS Intelligent Battery Sensor.

Both of ours are connected...................

crashoverride · 11-21-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedBuggy

Check Page #8 of the attached, IBS Intelligent Battery Sensor.

Both of ours are connected...................

Nice looks like it's well worth having connected.... and for the OP to have fixed

pornandchicken · 11-21-2012, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedBuggy

Check Page #8 of the attached, IBS Intelligent Battery Sensor.

Both of ours are connected...................

thank you sir,

took a closer look again and that's exactly what it is, wire #3. so there must be a malfunction with my battery but I'm not getting any fault codes though.

jacobsed · 11-21-2012, 08:54 PM

You probably ruined your IBS by installing a new battery ( I assume that is why you removed your battery.) It is super fragile and happened to me. There were no error codes but my car wouldn't start with the IBS hooked up after I put in a new battery. An indy diagnosed my problem as a faulty IBS and had to put a new one in and problem solved. If I remember correctly the IBS also has to be coded to the car. The Bentley manual mentions that the IBS is very fragile.

thecadman99 · 11-21-2012, 10:59 PM

IBS?? At this rate the 2015 cars will have have training wheels. How much hand-holding does BMW think we need?

Lankster · 11-21-2012, 11:20 PM

Mine is unplugged

11-21-2012, 12:34 AM	#1
pornandchicken Second Lieutenant Drives: E90 330i, E90 335i, E70 X5 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: central WI Posts: 249 iTrader: (10)	What the heck is this wire? Two weeks ago during heavy rain fall my car would not start. I checked the battery and it was good. looking around don't see any thing out of the ordinary, out of curiosity, I unplugged this wire then my car started, plug it back in, car won't start, so I left it unplugged. anyone know where this wire goes to or what it does? it looks like it goes into the inside of the rear bumper, I don't have PDC.
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11-21-2012, 12:38 AM	#2
mashimarho Boss Drives: e92 LCI 335i xDrive™ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Grand Rapids, michigan Posts: 5,814 iTrader: (27) Garage List 2012 BMW 335i xDrive [5.00]	I just want to know what made you unplug that wire in the first place. __________________ -Sean. 360 FORGED///DynamikiLLu51ions///ER///BMS///KW///VRSF///ARKYM///DD///CYBA///STOPTECH///BMW Performance /// My Progress: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=770326

11-21-2012, 02:04 AM	#5
bsamoul Major General Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California Posts: 7,414 iTrader: (2)	I believe that wire is supposed to be plugged in during shipping from the factory, and unplugged when the car gets "unpacked" __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com

11-21-2012, 08:17 AM	#7
Alfred Colonel Drives: 2007 BMW 335I Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Broomfiled, CO Posts: 2,678 iTrader: (4)	Mine is unplugged...I never unplugged it.. __________________ 2007 335i Space Gray \| JB3 2.0 --> PROcede V4 \| BMS DCI \| AR Design DP's \| Tial BOV with Cp-e charge pipe \| CDV Delete \| 19" iForged Wheels Best 1/4 time = 13.6 @ 106.6 (with JB3) at Bandimere Speedway (5800' above sea level)

11-21-2012, 09:29 AM	#9
mxchris727 Private Drives: E90 with 3 pedals Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wilton, CT Posts: 57 iTrader: (0)	It's a shipping wire. The dealer normally plugs their computer into the car and disables "transit" mode; but I guess they can also just unplug that wire. Mine is connected. __________________ I have a workstation set up with DIS, TIS, SSS, INPA, NCS Expert, WinKFP, Tool32 with an K+D CAN interface; PM me if you want to stop by and code your car. ISTA/D + /P with an iCOMM interface finally here!

11-21-2012, 08:37 AM	#8
upstatedoc Drone Expert Drives: '09 BMW 328ix Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Posts: 862 iTrader: (1)	__________________ Active Autowerke Stage 2 tune/BMW Performance Exhaust/ Countermeasure enthusiast.

11-21-2012, 10:59 AM	#10
Turb0Surge Major Drives: BLACK e90 335i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lincoln, CA Posts: 1,329 iTrader: (0)	mine's unplugged... __________________

11-21-2012, 11:05 AM	#11
AndreyT Captain Drives: 2011 335i Sedan, Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 760 iTrader: (0)	This has been asked and answered a million times already. Everybody has an unplugged wire in the battery compartment. In some cars it might be "tucked in" into the connector, but it doesn't change much anyway.

11-21-2012, 02:47 PM	#13
954Stealth Captain Drives: prelci E90 Saloon Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 638 iTrader: (1)	Did you try plugging it in?

11-21-2012, 02:48 PM	#14
iBoost Colonel Drives: slow as f*ck Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: City of Sin Posts: 2,456 iTrader: (11)	Mine has always been unplugged as well

11-21-2012, 06:47 PM	#16
jwzimm Second Lieutenant Drives: '11 335i X-drive Coupe Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Renton, WA Posts: 248 iTrader: (4)	I wonder if there are any ill effects. This seems like it would be a great hidden kill switch if you are parking for a while or just want the extra security.

11-21-2012, 08:54 PM	#20
jacobsed Lieutenant Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: United States Posts: 410 iTrader: (2)	You probably ruined your IBS by installing a new battery ( I assume that is why you removed your battery.) It is super fragile and happened to me. There were no error codes but my car wouldn't start with the IBS hooked up after I put in a new battery. An indy diagnosed my problem as a faulty IBS and had to put a new one in and problem solved. If I remember correctly the IBS also has to be coded to the car. The Bentley manual mentions that the IBS is very fragile.

11-21-2012, 10:59 PM	#21
thecadman99 First Lieutenant Drives: e90 330i 6mt spt bk/bk Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Virginia Posts: 306 iTrader: (0)	IBS?? At this rate the 2015 cars will have have training wheels. How much hand-holding does BMW think we need? __________________ 06 330i 6mt Spt- Eibach Springs, BMW Perf Susp, Supersprint Exhaust, BSW Audio (all 13 OEM logic 7 speakers available!) 94 325i 5mt 4d- M3 springs/susp, Z3 wheels, Chipped, Intake, Exhaust= FUN!

11-21-2012, 11:20 PM	#22
Lankster Sigma Alpha Epsilon Drives: 2007 335xi Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Encinitas Posts: 342 iTrader: (0)	Mine is unplugged __________________ Forum Bible http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting JB4, BMS DCI, Dimisa 4" tips, VMR 710 Matt Black, Plasti-Dip Mod

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