My car is trying to kill me - E46 328i

[OppositeLockMT]

Right, to cut a long story short:

Two weeks ago I was at the filling station putting in a full tank and I look under the car and I see everything spewing right out. I rush to the nearest workshop (about a kilometer away) and JUST before I get there my steering goes really stiff and all the electrics die out - my belt snapped.

After sorting everything out over the past couple of weeks; new fan belt, new fuel tank and new radiator etc. I pick the car up and I noticed the accelerator pedal was overly stiff so I try putting my foot down to loosen it up and it just got stuck in full throttle. Had to reach down to pull the accelerator but ended up breaking it and the car was still accelerating - had no choice but to switch the car off.

So here I am stuck with a broken pedal, but I assume something was tampered with around my throttle body which resulted in the stiffness.

What's my next move? Is this in easy fix?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Donovan2412]

Scary stuff:hammerhead:

 

[ET was here]

who worked on it ?
send it back, let them fix it

 

[zippy320]

Your accelerator has the fly by wire or the cable version?

If its the cable type , You should replace that cable . I don't think its to difficult to do. Also while you down there , replace all those rubber grommets that hold the pedal together . This made such a big difference to my E30 pedal feel . Im sure the E46 has those round rubber pieces as well. They get brittle and break up .

It sounds like the cable is stuck in the open position or binding somewhere, check your throttle body as well ( I think the cable attaches to that flap in there) . Happened to me once with the E30 . I replaced the cable and that fixed everything. The rubber pieces were breaking up, Its a terrible situation to be in .

I think this site here might help you .

http://www.bmwforums.info/general-g...m50-m52-throttle-cable-replacement-guide.html

See all those black grommets , if yours is hard and breaking up replace them all , the new cable might come with new rubbers as well. The car will feel so much better after.

 

[Xack]

Geeewizzz your car is definitely trying to kill you:roflol:

 

[uncle j]

Hi

Replace the accelerator cable, they tend to get stiff as they get older.

Regards

J

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

That is some scary stuff

 

[OppositeLockMT]

Your accelerator has the fly by wire or the cable version?

If its the cable type , You should replace that cable . I don't think its to difficult to do. Also while you down there , replace all those rubber grommets that hold the pedal together . This made such a big difference to my E30 pedal feel . Im sure the E46 has those round rubber pieces as well. They get brittle and break up .

It sounds like the cable is stuck in the open position or binding somewhere, check your throttle body as well ( I think the cable attaches to that flap in there) . Happened to me once with the E30 . I replaced the cable and that fixed everything. The rubber pieces were breaking up, Its a terrible situation to be in .

I think this site here might help you .

http://www.bmwforums.info/general-g...m50-m52-throttle-cable-replacement-guide.html

See all those black grommets , if yours is hard and breaking up replace them all , the new cable might come with new rubbers as well. The car will feel so much better after.

Thanks Zippy.

I will give that a try, it's the cable throttle. Would cleaning the throttle body help loosen it up?

 

[Deren]

Scary stuff, Had the same problem once on my VW Golf, The grommet where the cable goes through the firewall to the engine bay/throttle body was damaged so every time you pushed the pedal down the cable would move and jam on the grommet so the pedal cannot come back up when you release it.


Best is to replace the cable and all grommets.

 

[Loom]

Had a sticky accelerator pedal with my Jetta and turned out to be the carpet that grabbed the pedal. Hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[MHuzaifa]

Lol i dont think you drive the car the way it wants to be driven its definitely taking advantage over you good looking after her nature :roflol:

But jokes aside that is damn scary be lucky you wasnt in gear and in traffic :thumbdown:

 

[Miltonian]

Damn, im glad you are ok buddy....

 

[OppositeLockMT]

Lol i dont think you drive the car the way it wants to be driven its definitely taking advantage over you good looking after her nature :roflol:

But jokes aside that is damn scary be lucky you wasnt in gear and in traffic :thumbdown:

Lol, I was in gear bud (automatic), in rush hour.

I need to get a new accelerator pedal, since my old one is in pieces.

 

[zippy320]

Nope , but there's no harm in cleaning the butterfly thingy . When you disconnect the cable from the throttle body you will notice that it will move freely or well move with that spring sort of feeling .

If its fine then its the cable .

Your accelerator has the fly by wire or the cable version?

If its the cable type , You should replace that cable . I don't think its to difficult to do. Also while you down there , replace all those rubber grommets that hold the pedal together . This made such a big difference to my E30 pedal feel . Im sure the E46 has those round rubber pieces as well. They get brittle and break up .

It sounds like the cable is stuck in the open position or binding somewhere, check your throttle body as well ( I think the cable attaches to that flap in there) . Happened to me once with the E30 . I replaced the cable and that fixed everything. The rubber pieces were breaking up, Its a terrible situation to be in .

I think this site here might help you .

http://www.bmwforums.info/general-g...m50-m52-throttle-cable-replacement-guide.html

See all those black grommets , if yours is hard and breaking up replace them all , the new cable might come with new rubbers as well. The car will feel so much better after.

Thanks Zippy.

I will give that a try, it's the cable throttle. Would cleaning the throttle body help loosen it up?

 

[Pfw28]

Just a general note on this subject, it is recommended that all cables be lubricated now and then, especially as time goes on. It's a pain in the backside, but will extend the life of the cable, and may just save yours!!

Remove the cable and hang one end on the washing line. Inspect for damage.

Push the casing down as far as possible, then slowly drop engine oil onto the cable to get it to run inside the casing.

Work the casing up and down to drag the oil down. Continue until oil drips from the bottom of the cable.

Refit and rest easier.
:coolShake: