I have a '94 325i Convertible.
I get CODE on the radio sometimes. No apparent rhyme or reason. I input the
code and the radio works fine.
The window -- driver or passenger door -- loses its Home Position, and
thinks it is fully raised. When the door is opened, the window will drop --
as if the window is fully raised -- then go up when the door is closed.
(Dropping and raising is normal IF the window is fully raised when the door
is opened, but my windows will behave this way even if the window is fully
down, and will repeatedly behave this way until the window actually reaches
the top.) The Convertible windows work the same way as the coupe windows,
the sedan windows do not have this behavior. This is a random event too. If
I intervene by operating Window Switch, then the window will behave properly
until it forgets where it is again.
When I set the Ignition to START, the car does absolutely nothing. I have to
turn the key to OFF then START again, and it starts properly with no
indication of any weakness. This is a new behavior. The first failure was
noted in the radio CODE, then the windows began to do strange things,
finally the ignition started to flake out.
Twice in the past 10 days, or so, the Emergency Flashers started flashing
for no apparent reason, as if the car was reacting to being in an accident.
These instances came about when the car was parked, and I thought my dog had
stepped onthe flasher button, but the button was not depressed so the dog is
not the problem.
I thought this was an indication that the battery was getting weak, but I've
been told this could be a sign of problems with the immobilizer.
Scott M - 29 May 2009 22:30 GMT
> I get CODE on the radio sometimes. No apparent rhyme or reason. I input the
> code and the radio works fine.
I'd suggest you start with the battery connections, check for cleanness
and tightness. A car that doesn't start and then says CODE could be a
high resistance connection to the battery which is fine for keeping
systems alive but is effectively shorted out when the starter solenoid
is engaged.
> Twice in the past 10 days, or so, the Emergency Flashers started flashing
> for no apparent reason, as if the car was reacting to being in an accident.
It's possible this is a separate problem - I had this happen once or
twice to my 94 325 and then, as soon as I went on holiday, it went
bananas until it flattened the battery. I'm fairly sure it was the
hazard relay at fault (long time ago!)

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Jeff Strickland - 30 May 2009 01:02 GMT
>> I get CODE on the radio sometimes. No apparent rhyme or reason. I input
>> the code and the radio works fine.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> resistance connection to the battery which is fine for keeping systems
> alive but is effectively shorted out when the starter solenoid is engaged.
Sorry, I was not very clear. There is NO relationship between the occurance
of these symptoms. I get CODE when the car starts properly. The only
relationship is that all of these things happen randomly, and they are all
related to the Crash Detect or Body Electronics modules.
Scott M - 30 May 2009 13:29 GMT
> Sorry, I was not very clear. There is NO relationship between the occurance
> of these symptoms. I get CODE when the car starts properly. The only
> relationship is that all of these things happen randomly, and they are all
> related to the Crash Detect or Body Electronics modules.
Can you measure the battery voltage as you crank? I wonder if it's
dipping just low enough to trigger the radio's disconnection detection.
Personally I wouldn't think it's anything to do with those two modules
but rather coincidental failings. The radio CODE is internal to the unit
so I can't see it being affected and the hazard relay is a moderately
common failure. Starter solenoids do occasionally stick as they age,
usually first use of the day. Again, my 325 needed the solenoid
stripping down to clean as it had started not starting and needed a 2nd
or 3rd attempt to get it to spin.
I'm more than willing to be proved wrong and the problems are connected,
though my first check would be a stable and correct battery voltage
before, during and after starting. Alternatively, dan you find spare
modules at a scrapyard to see if that eliminated the problem.
The only thing I can say about the window is that the shaft encoder
magnets can slip on the motor spindle upsetting their operation, though
if it'd be a hell of a coincidence if both sides failed at the same
time. It's a while since I looked at how the E36 system works though.

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