Emergency repair in Montreal?

[Gerk]

Hi everyone

My wife is in Montreal for the weekend with our e38, but on the way she ran into some trouble (the battery light flickering on and off for the last hour). It sounds like it could be anything from a loose alternator belt to a dead alternator/battery, etc. Hard to diagnose over the phone and she is not technically inclined at all.

Does anyone know of a shop she can get into to get it looked at before the trip home? She has to leave on tuesday .. the car is currently parked and will hopefully still have enough juice left in the battery to get it to a Montreal shop and hopefully get it sorted out for her! I know that Sunday is very unlikely to be an option but hoping we can figure out somewhere she can get it into first thing monday AM with hopes of repair done by tuesday AM when she has to leave ...

Help!

[slemmer]

Check the battery terminal connections to see if they're loose.

[Gerk]

Thanks slemmer ... not sure she's up to the task or not but I will get her to try!

[slemmer]

Or limp it over to CT to have the battery or alternator checked. Battery could be failing depending on age or the alternator which would be my last suspect of the two. You'll need to measure the voltage across the battery with the engine running (and not running) to see if that gives any clues.

Ideally you want to swap in another battery (doesn't matter from what car) just to prove it's not that first.

Then look at the alternator. It'll be the voltage regulator, alternator or the battery itself. It's a process of elimination!

[Eurostyle]

It wont be the battery, even if it was old/bad, the alternator itself will keep the car running (even with NO battery at all)...So problems is most likely alternator, or wiring (but dont think so). All i can say is "good luck", that water cooled alternator is not available just anywhere, and $1300+ from the dealer...

Hope it works out for you!

PS, the loose alternator belt idea is wrong, same belt runs the water pump and power steering...if either one was not working she would have known it!!! (eg; NO steering, and overheating!)

[azzwot]

I go here they are very very good and helpful.



Where is she stuck? I am busy this afternoon but if it is close by to me I have some free time later tonight maybe I can help - I can at least check the battery and alternator.

[naui16865]

1+ for BM Exclusif; I use them too on a fairly regular basis. They're on the Plateau near cross-street of St Denis & Laurier, north-east of the downtown core. Ask for Norbert; he owns & runs the shop.

I've also used Clinique d'auto Bavaroise BMW (Bavarian Auto Clinic) at 5350 Crowley Ave near Decarie & St Jacques, west of the downtown core, with good results - (514) 276-6550, ask for Helmut; he owns & runs the shop.

[Gerk]

Awesome, thanks for the info people. Sucks for my wife as I'm the one that takes care of all that sort of stuff with the vehicles!

[Gerk]

Thanks for the referrals everyone, Norbert @ B M Exclusif diagnosed it today as a dead alternator and will have her on the road again by end of day tomorrow.

[BMW_7]

I took my car to BM Exclusif seems like a nice place..