Electronics! Need Advice ASAP!

[Avetiso]

Ok, so as you all know, just sold my car. And I like fixing salvage title cars.

That in mind, please stay on the topic of the issue at hand (i.e., please no "You shouldn't buy salvage cars." I've been beyond that point of sanity for a long time. ).

Okay, so there is a car in Ohio, and it auctions in 5 days, so I need as much info as I can get as fast as I can get it (prices, work, potential issues, whatnot). The whole 9 yards.

The car is a 2003 330i ZHP, Orient Blue (I assume), Dove interior, 6MT. 70k miles.

The car suffered an interior burn somewhere around the dash area, and does NOT START.

Link to the car: http://www.copart.com/c2/homeSearch....SEARCH_RESULTS

If link doesn't work, go to copart.com and search for "16669163".

A few general questions I have:

1) Why does the car not start? Is it simply because ignition wiring may be burned? Or something else?

2) The cluster still powers on to show the mileage, and there is no tamper dot. Is the cluster still good?

3) What the hell is that white stuff? (please, resist the urge to joke here)

4) It does not look like anything in the engine bay was damaged, but I'm sure I have a shit load of wiring to do.

5) A general question: What kind of parts am I looking at replacing, how readily can I find them, and what do they cost?

Any other info is greatly appreciated, as well. Time is of the essence here, so I need help FAST.

Thanks.

[Johnmadd]

#3 fire extinguisher dust

[Johnmadd]

Looks like the lighting control has melted, maybe its something with that.

[Avetiso]

Looks like the lighting control has melted, maybe its something with that.

That's kinda what I was thinking, but if I'd expect the LCM to be a little more damaged if that is indeed where it started...

Was talking to my dad right now. He's weary of the car because technically, a fuse should have blown, but didn't. Makes me wonder. I'll be pulling a CarFax on it soon, hopefully.

[trancenation]

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=901890

See this thread. Might be of some help.

[ryankokesh]

God only knows what happened back there. I can't even imagine what would cause fire to come out of the vent.

And once you fix the whole not starting thing, you'll have to make sure fire doesn't come out of random places again.


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[ryankokesh]

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=901890

See this thread. Might be of some help.

So LCM's just spontaneously combust? Brb, gotta stick a fire extinguisher in my car.


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[Avetiso]

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=901890

See this thread. Might be of some help.

Thanks, Jay. That might be exactly what happened. This may be a chance for me to retrofit auto headlights with a newer LCM... two birds with one stone, but that is the least of my issues.

[Avetiso]

God only knows what happened back there. I can't even imagine what would cause fire to come out of the vent.

And once you fix the whole not starting thing, you'll have to make sure fire doesn't come out of random places again.


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I assume that it doesn't start because of the fire. The fire was probably caused by a faulty LCM. Once I replace the wiring and LCM, I would HOPE that takes care of both issues. I would, of course, try to upgrade my LCM at the same time.

[Avetiso]

Also, I'm thinking I may buy this car, then buy another E46 that is wrecked for parts. I'd try to get something newer to steal some updated parts, and hopefully an interior, because I don't like Dove all that much.