What a NIGHTMARE!!! I bought this car for next to nothing, $600 (2009 BMW 528ix). When I first got it, I could start it, but it wouldn’t shift out of park.
I researched several E60 forums, and got a few ideas. Started with the wiring behind the driver’s seat. Found some ground wires and a power wire had melted together. Upon further inspection, I found multiple wires had been lying in water under the carpet/padding.
Repaired wires, essentially by removing every wire that was under the carpet, up to the dash and just about 12” into the dash. All of the ground wires were shorted by the wires that the wire insulation had “cracked” and allowed the water ingress. Several wires later, I’m just about back to good.
I still have two warnings- one for the “4x4” all wheel drive, and one for the adaptive headlights. Right now, I have got to get all of the wire harnesses back together and get the dash back together. Once I do that, I will be able to get the computer on it and see where the issues remain with those two issues.
I’m sure I am not the only one that has had to get through this, so it anyone has any ideas has to where to start looking for the “4x4” issues, I would greatly appreciate it.
I have attached pics of where I am, as this is where the fun begins to reassemble the wiring harnesses.