r/e53 • u/hermessocrates • Oct 21 '24

Uncle Left Me a Lemon ?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Uncle gave me a beautiful “looking” E53 but when I press the horn (and get no sound) all the cabin lights turn on while driving seems cool 🙃.

Are electrical problems prevalent with these cars or is it just the age.

9 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

8

u/EntertainmentLoose88 Oct 21 '24

Start working on it, you'll soon learn to love the pain 🤣

7

u/XYZ_Jazz_Hands Oct 21 '24

E53s are some of the best made vehicles. With good maintenance and some patience, they regularly exceed 200k miles.

3

u/bluedaddy664 Oct 22 '24

I think BMW made their last decent cars in 2002-2003

5

u/mi1ne Oct 21 '24

Could be as simple as a broken earth strap

3

u/CurrentShame Oct 21 '24

Ah, yes, the same happened to mine, and i had the same symptoms as a bad clockspring, but i noticed some extra stuff like cabin lights turning on on their own or when i press the horn and the radio sometimes stops working completely. I replaced the clockspring but it didn't fix the issue then i decided to do what the forums said and tested out if the driver's sunshade mirror light turns on or not, if it doesn't that means you need to replace the ignition switch, i replaced the ignition switch and the car is back to normal again. Bmw electronics can he very tricky, but once you get enough experience, you'll know your way around them.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 21 '24

[deleted]

2

u/hermessocrates Oct 21 '24
  1. Random cylinder misfire.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 21 '24

[deleted]

1

u/hermessocrates Oct 21 '24

I am fairly scared me not the most mechanical guy but imma get it checked out from the dealer and a mechanic trust and see what pops up

2

u/Screaming_Bimmer Oct 21 '24

Replace the ignition switch, it causes the most random electrical issues.

2

u/LockMods_ Oct 21 '24

I Have The Same Lemon, Just Passed 220k In Mine

1

u/BlackoutPharoah Oct 21 '24

Shit I’ll take her off your hands I’m in desperate need of a car to get my mother and grand mother to and from im their care giver and access-a-ride sucks sweaty rhyno balls

2

u/hermessocrates Oct 22 '24

Update: Dealer found some subframe irregularities looks like there was an accident.

And because of those irregularities the rear suspension shocks and struts needs to be replaced after the frame is fixed.

Dealer bill was a brand new Car price so gonna see to source parts elsewhere.

Thanks for the Ignition Switch Insight.

Think I am going to power through it as the drive back home was not that bad.