Did a booboo and need some help

[Oli77]

My son did the booboo actually.

In short, while replacing the battery in the e46, he positioned it incorrectly in the wheel well and attempted unsuccessfully to mount the negative clamp over the positive pole of the battery. He did that multiple times until he called me, I realized what he was doing and drove over, flipped the battery, waited a couple minutes, then started the car. Car started, idled well, and within about 60 s stopped. I was in the trunk area at that time, and noticed the trunk light that was initially bright went real dim in about 5 s after the car shut down. I figured the battery was toast. He drove it to Walmart, told them what he had done and they sold him a new one.

Positioned this one correctly. Started the car, car idled well for 2-3 minutes, and then, the alternator caught on fire. Well, was about to catch on fire as evidenced by the bellowing smoke coming from right under the power steering fluid reservoir. Stopped the car, and had it towed to indy. They changed the alternator and one we go.

Now, besides the numerous lessons learned with this story (one that hurt my wallet a bit), there are more to learn, and I turn to you guys for some help. This car is stock.

As of now, the radio still works but the sound is crap as if the amp had fried, no bass? I can't explain it more cause I haven't heard this or seen the car since he got it back. He checked all the fuses and apparently they are fine. I googled around and apparently there are no fuses in the left rear wheel well, where the amp is.

The UltraGuage II that was plugged into the OBD port is apparently dead too.

I will update this post with more info as soon as I can, but thought I would share with you the first e46 mishap of 2023 with you guys.

Help and knowledge, compassion and laughter is always welcome.

[Oli77]

Boihoohoo

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[wstr75]

This thread describes a similar situation:

https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/b...attery.814296/

[Oli77]

Thanks for that but luckily, we never started the car with polarity switched.

I will see it in person tomorrow and will report back how many gremlins are now living in this car...

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[John in VA]

Was it an AGM battery?

[Oli77]

LOL, yes!!!!!!
Chhhut, don't tell Fried_Chivken.
The original AGM battery had died during the cold snap (and the likely left on accessory seat warmer, although my son says no). We had taken it to get recharged with 900 CCA and that took 1.5 H. It was 4 years old and passed all the tests. That's the one he then placed in, incorrectly.

[fredo]

Bummer, hope this is an easy fix.

[Oli77]

Looking around the Internet for one of those amplifiers. I think that this and the ultra gauge 2 are the only 2 things that guy fried.
None of the low frequency speakers work around the car. It would be nice to be able to confirm that those are driven by the high power amplifier sitting in the rear left wheel well.
Every thing else works in the car. Amazing.

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[Oli77]

Its a 10 Channel Lear Amplifier non-HK. Found one on evay. Might take the plunge on it.
I am pretty sure this is what is wrong with the sound system.
Any other ideas?

[Fried_Chicken]

Oh. Fuck.

OH. FUCK.

Every single electrical system is potentially fucked. Every. Single. One. I'm sorry to say. If it's just the alternator and amp/head unit, you seriously lucked out. My DME didn't survive a questionable battery and alternator. That was a shitshow to fix.

The original AGM battery had died during the cold snap

Go. figure.