Battery meltdown!

Pauldunlop13 · 02-11-2019, 11:38 AM

Well it was a crappy end to the evening on Sat

On the way home from dinner, I exited the highway and was sitting at the off ramp light. The dashboard starts going crazy, then shuts off. And then the smoke started entering the cabin

I open the windows, pop the hood and we bail out

Nothing under the hood, do I drop it and call 911
Firemen arrive and use the ‘jaws of life’ to pop the trunk and shoot it with some water and some foam.

After a fire investigator shows up to document/take pics and get my car towed to my place.

The damage is completely localized to where the battery was. No interior damage other than the chemical smell

I UN installed all my custom parts, in case I never see it again. Usually it is easy to know if the car will be a write off, but this one I am really not sure.

I will add pics if they aren’t too large.

shay2nak · 02-11-2019, 12:00 PM

Daaaamn. i hope the find the cause. Sorry about the car.

paliknight · 02-11-2019, 12:51 PM

What year is your car?

Pauldunlop13 · 02-11-2019, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paliknight

What year is your car?

2015

NickyC · 02-11-2019, 04:55 PM

Good grief, that's awful! Good luck getting everything squared away with as little $$$ out of pocket as possible.

SD ///M4 · 02-11-2019, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauldunlop13

The damage is completely localized to where the battery was. No interior damage other than the chemical smell

I UN installed all my custom parts, in case I never see it again. Usually it is easy to know if the car will be a write off, but this one I am really not sure.

Were any of your "custom parts" attached to the battery (amp, other wiring, etc.)? Any chance there was a loose piece of metal (wrench, clamp, bracket, etc.) that got left in the battery compartment? Have you used a battery tender on your battery hooked directly to the battery?

If your battery truly spontaneously combusted, this is troubling.

Pauldunlop13 · 02-11-2019, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

Were any of your "custom parts" attached to the battery (amp, other wiring, etc.)? Any chance there a loose piece of metal (wrench, clamp, bracket, etc.) got left in the battery compartment? Have you used a battery tender on your battery hooked directly to the battery?

If your battery truly spontaneously combusted, this is troubling.

No battery work done by me
No amp
No electric work

Minor cosmetic only.

JoeFromPA · 02-12-2019, 06:58 AM

We don't know where the fault lies. It's premature yet to blame the battery or other localized parts in that area.

OP - truly sorry and so glad you are safe.

Mark'sM3 · 02-12-2019, 07:28 AM

Glad you are OK. Definitely an odd situation here - I've never seen something like this before.

Pauldunlop13 · 02-12-2019, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauldunlop13

No battery work done by me
No amp
No electric work

Minor cosmetic only.

Winter Mats / CF parts interior / CF diffuser / BMW logo door lights

Stuff like that

Pauldunlop13 · 02-12-2019, 03:05 PM

So it took 3 tow truck appts, but it has finally been towed to a BMW dealership. It is looking like they will write it off, but I won’t know until later this week

I found 6 solid used options out there for an Austin Yellow convert

We’ll see how it works out.

doug_999 · 02-13-2019, 10:01 AM

Would appear to be Thermal Runaway with the battery. One of the downsides of Li-Ion batteries. Just speculating of course.

Pauldunlop13 · 02-13-2019, 11:46 AM

Dealership called me today. No final estimate until later, but they offered a loaner car, indefinitely. So I can drop off my Insurance covered rental and grab a loaner until this gets sorted.

TurboM · 02-14-2019, 08:00 PM

Sorry about your car man. That sucks but luckily you were able to get out quickly and the fire didn't penetrate the fuel tank given the battery is so close to it. I'm pretty sure the fuel tank is plastic too.

Pauldunlop13 · 02-25-2019, 02:12 PM

They just wrote the car off. So the search begins. I am likely going to lease a 2019 comp pack.

I will post up a pic when it arrives in my driveway.

ny2nj · 02-25-2019, 05:05 PM

Geesh...wow

mpizutti · 02-25-2019, 05:37 PM

Do a CS..

Alpine_F82 · 02-25-2019, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauldunlop13

Well it was a crappy end to the evening on Sat

On the way home from dinner, I exited the highway and was sitting at the off ramp light. The dashboard starts going crazy, then shuts off. And then the smoke started entering the cabin

I open the windows, pop the hood and we bail out

Nothing under the hood, do I drop it and call 911
Firemen arrive and use the ‘jaws of life’ to pop the trunk and shoot it with some water and some foam.

After a fire investigator shows up to document/take pics and get my car towed to my place.

The damage is completely localized to where the battery was. No interior damage other than the chemical smell

I UN installed all my custom parts, in case I never see it again. Usually it is easy to know if the car will be a write off, but this one I am really not sure.

I will add pics if they aren’t too large.

I was just about to install a hardwire Kit to my battery for my dashcam I’m kinda scared now

WingZeroX5 · 02-25-2019, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4BimmerChris

I was just about to install a hardwire Kit to my battery for my dashcam I’m kinda scared now

use the fuse box instead

I was going to use the fuse box method, but i decided to use the cigarette adapter under the glove box instead

damageprone · 02-25-2019, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4BimmerChris

I was just about to install a hardwire Kit to my battery for my dashcam I’m kinda scared now

This seems pretty isolated and the OP indicated he had no battery mods. I think you're safe.

Pauldunlop13 · 02-25-2019, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damageprone

This seems pretty isolated and the OP indicated he had no battery mods. I think you're safe.

True. I googled and didn’t find this to be a known problem for any car, much less a BMW. I think it falls under ‘shit happens’

shay2nak · 02-28-2019, 01:38 AM

So no cause determined?

02-11-2019, 11:38 AM	#1
Pauldunlop13 Second Lieutenant 425 Rep 286 Posts Drives: M4 Convertible Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Colorado iTrader: (1)	Battery meltdown! Well it was a crappy end to the evening on Sat On the way home from dinner, I exited the highway and was sitting at the off ramp light. The dashboard starts going crazy, then shuts off. And then the smoke started entering the cabin I open the windows, pop the hood and we bail out Nothing under the hood, do I drop it and call 911 Firemen arrive and use the ‘jaws of life’ to pop the trunk and shoot it with some water and some foam. After a fire investigator shows up to document/take pics and get my car towed to my place. The damage is completely localized to where the battery was. No interior damage other than the chemical smell I UN installed all my custom parts, in case I never see it again. Usually it is easy to know if the car will be a write off, but this one I am really not sure. I will add pics if they aren’t too large. Attached Images __________________ 2019 YMB ZCP convertible with Dinan Exhaust 2011 Ducati Diavel Carbon Edition 2015 BSM M4 Convertible - 2018-2019 2016 228Xi - 2017-2018 2003 Acura RSX Type S 2003-2017 Last edited by Pauldunlop13; 02-11-2019 at 11:53 AM..
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02-11-2019, 12:00 PM	#2
shay2nak smoke if ya got 'em 1070 Rep 2,179 Posts Drives: F80 M3/Lotus Exige/500 Abarth Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Calipornia iTrader: (0)	Daaaamn. i hope the find the cause. Sorry about the car.
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02-11-2019, 12:51 PM	#3
paliknight fuck this field 2192 Rep 2,605 Posts Drives: 18 F80 CS/18 F80 ZCP/19 M2C Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: everywhere iTrader: (1)	What year is your car? __________________ BMW family... for now.
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02-11-2019, 04:55 PM	#5
NickyC Lieutenant General 17474 Rep 10,662 Posts Drives: M4 CS. Former G82, x2 F82, F80 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Jacked out of my mind iTrader: (23)	Good grief, that's awful! Good luck getting everything squared away with as little $$$ out of pocket as possible.
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02-12-2019, 06:58 AM	#8
JoeFromPA Colonel 1795 Rep 2,997 Posts Drives: '15 AW M3 6MT Stripper Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	We don't know where the fault lies. It's premature yet to blame the battery or other localized parts in that area. OP - truly sorry and so glad you are safe.
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02-12-2019, 07:28 AM	#9
Mark'sM3 Private 33 Rep 64 Posts Drives: YAS M3 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (0)	Glad you are OK. Definitely an odd situation here - I've never seen something like this before. __________________ Tomorrow is Not Promised. Increase the Peace. Be the Change You Want to See in the World.
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02-12-2019, 03:05 PM	#11
Pauldunlop13 Second Lieutenant 425 Rep 286 Posts Drives: M4 Convertible Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Colorado iTrader: (1)	So it took 3 tow truck appts, but it has finally been towed to a BMW dealership. It is looking like they will write it off, but I won’t know until later this week I found 6 solid used options out there for an Austin Yellow convert We’ll see how it works out. __________________ 2019 YMB ZCP convertible with Dinan Exhaust 2011 Ducati Diavel Carbon Edition 2015 BSM M4 Convertible - 2018-2019 2016 228Xi - 2017-2018 2003 Acura RSX Type S 2003-2017
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02-13-2019, 10:01 AM	#12
doug_999 Brigadier General 2542 Rep 3,968 Posts Drives: 2011 1M/2021 992/2023 X3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Would appear to be Thermal Runaway with the battery. One of the downsides of Li-Ion batteries. Just speculating of course. __________________ 2011 1M, Black loaded sans sat radio 2021 911 C4S Gentian Blue, manual 2023 X3 M40i - loaded sans Park Assist
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02-13-2019, 11:46 AM	#13
Pauldunlop13 Second Lieutenant 425 Rep 286 Posts Drives: M4 Convertible Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Colorado iTrader: (1)	Dealership called me today. No final estimate until later, but they offered a loaner car, indefinitely. So I can drop off my Insurance covered rental and grab a loaner until this gets sorted. __________________ 2019 YMB ZCP convertible with Dinan Exhaust 2011 Ducati Diavel Carbon Edition 2015 BSM M4 Convertible - 2018-2019 2016 228Xi - 2017-2018 2003 Acura RSX Type S 2003-2017
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02-14-2019, 08:00 PM	#14
TurboM Captain 252 Rep 674 Posts Drives: 2018 F82 M4 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (1)	Sorry about your car man. That sucks but luckily you were able to get out quickly and the fire didn't penetrate the fuel tank given the battery is so close to it. I'm pretty sure the fuel tank is plastic too.
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02-25-2019, 02:12 PM	#15
Pauldunlop13 Second Lieutenant 425 Rep 286 Posts Drives: M4 Convertible Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Colorado iTrader: (1)	They just wrote the car off. So the search begins. I am likely going to lease a 2019 comp pack. I will post up a pic when it arrives in my driveway. __________________ 2019 YMB ZCP convertible with Dinan Exhaust 2011 Ducati Diavel Carbon Edition 2015 BSM M4 Convertible - 2018-2019 2016 228Xi - 2017-2018 2003 Acura RSX Type S 2003-2017
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02-25-2019, 05:05 PM	#16
ny2nj Second Lieutenant 190 Rep 248 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	Geesh...wow
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02-25-2019, 05:37 PM	#17
mpizutti 2018 M3CS Pittsburgh 600 Rep 758 Posts Drives: 2016 528 , 2018 M3CS 2020 M8 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 M3 [0.00] 2016 bmw m2351 [0.00]	Do a CS..
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02-28-2019, 01:38 AM	#22
shay2nak smoke if ya got 'em 1070 Rep 2,179 Posts Drives: F80 M3/Lotus Exige/500 Abarth Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Calipornia iTrader: (0)	So no cause determined?
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