DENNIS O’SULLIVAN
The windows of a reader’s 12-year-old Beemer seem to open and close at will. The dealership says a $250 new key is needed. “Whoa there,” advises our car doctor.
I have a question regarding my 2005 BMW 325i. My car windows and sunroof sometimes randomly open on their own. I have had neighbours text me to tell me that I left my car windows open and it has starting to rain. I thank them and go out and close them but it keeps happening.
I had the car looked at by a mechanic. He said that it was the dashboard and that something had become disconnected. He fixed it at that time and for a month or two the windows stayed up.
The next mechanic has suggested that my remote may be the problem. My remote is sealed, so replacing the battery is not an option. I had to place a special order for a new key at a cost of $253.99 from the BMW dealership on Upper James. It will take about 10 days for the key to be made and shipped to them. If that does not fix the problem, they suggested a diagnostic test that takes about 45 minutes at a cost of $150. That test should tell them what is wrong with the vehicle.
Have you heard of this happening to any other vehicle? It maybe time for a new vehicle but I am curious to see why it is doing this crazy thing! Nancy from Burlington
ANSWER
Before you order a new key, which I do not think has anything to do with your car’s windows going up or down, talk to the technicians at the BMW dealership on Upper James, who I am sure can diagnose your car’s window problem.
I suspect it has something to do with your driver’s door lock, that most likely has the feature that by using the driver’s door lock, you can lock all windows and the sunroof simultaneously. For future reference, I would like to know what the dealer found.
READER’S COMMENT
As a long-time reader, I see recurrent questions by readers pertaining to the operation of their vehicle. Time and again, these queries could have been answered if the reader had referred to his/her Owners Manual. Far too many people ignore that informative book that comes with each and every new vehicle and either leave it in the glove compartment or relegate it to an obscure bookshelf.
For those car buyers who opt for a pre-owned car, they should check if the car of their choice has an Owners Manual in the glove box. If not, they need to make it a part of the deal. Just a thought.
Looking forward to your next column. Hans from Burlington
MY COMMENT
A great idea but if I told them all to do that they would not need me as much. On the serious side however, you are very correct in saying that many of the questions asked could be answered by the owner reading his or her car’s Owners Manual.
READER’S COMMENT
As always, I enjoy your column and I just had to comment on the underbody rust coating requirement for this car. I have a 2006 Pontiac Vibe (practically identical to the Matrix) that was also bought new but without any extra undercoating. At 274,000+ kms there isn’t any rust on the body and the chassis is sound too. (I check every time I do an oil change).
It is a very low maintenance car, just brakes, fluids, batteries and tires. The brake and fuel lines are not corroded. The engine and tranny do not leak oil. I still have the original drive shafts, power steering pump, alternator, rad, etc., and the AC still works. Unlike some other manufacturer’s engines, the 1.8 L engine consumes very little oil, whereas there are not any synthetic oil top ups between 8,000 km oil changes. It is probably the most reliable car I have ever owned. Jane should be able to keep that car for a long long time without any rust protection. PS: The seats stain easily. Regards, Walter
MY COMMENT
I have heard of similar stories where a vehicle that had not been rust protected other than the rust protection put on by the manufacturer and they have driven hundreds of thousand kilometers and the car still is rust free. I suspect that your 2006 Pontiac Vibe is generally kept very clean; not driven too much on the winter roads and most often is not put into a garage during the winter months. The hundred and fifty dollars that you would spend to rust protect your car, especially if you intend to keep it for many years, is a small price to pay, especially when the cars are so expensive today.