Please help - BC unit? Electrics gone haywire!!

4793 Views 14 Replies 5 Participants Last post by mab01uk, Dec 29, 2008

cams

Discussion Starter · Dec 19, 2008

Hi there,

I have a '02 51 plate mini 1, and have had it since new.

The electrics, as of yesterday have gone haywire.

The central locking is bust.
interior lights also.
the head lights go on when the stick is in the off position, and off when on
the windows and sunroof also do not work.
wipers dont work - and are stuck in the middle of the windscreen.

EEEEKK :angry:

The problem seems not to be with the fuses, but with the Body Control Unit (is this is correct name? - the circuit board accessed in front of the driver's side)

I have a few questions.

1. How is the best way to access it (I was thinking that drying it out may help)

2. Would drying it out potentially help?

3. How much would a replacement cost approx (including fitting etc as I understand it has to be programmed at a garage)

4. Where would be the best place to look for a second hand part?

Any help very gratefully received

C x

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1 - 15 of 15 Posts

DaFlake

· #2 · Dec 19, 2008

Check the battery first. When they start to go dead, it is not uncommon for the BC1 to start having "issues" . It may be as simple as replacing the battery.

cams

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 19, 2008

DaFlake said:
Check the battery first. When they start to go dead, it is not uncommon for the BC1 to start having "issues" . It may be as simple as replacing the battery.

Ooh that would be so much easier!

Will check that first, with my fingers crossed!

DaFlake

· #4 · Dec 19, 2008

Keep us posted..

mab01uk

· #5 · Dec 20, 2008

Drying out the BC1 and fitting the post 2002 plastic watershield over the BC1 sorted the problem for me, see this thread :-
http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fixes/133001-my-mini-alergic-wet.html

cams

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 27, 2008

So - got a new battery - as the other one was 7 years old - its made no difference.

Now taking and drying out BC unit.

cams

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 28, 2008

Well, we removed the BC1 and cleaned off the corrosion.

It worked briefly, but then after putting it back nad putting all the trim back it stopped again.

Rubbish.

now trying a bit more cleaning, and a bit more drying. Any advice? Thanks.

MINI-Morgan

· #8 · Dec 28, 2008

Was it actually wet?? it there was corrosion I would assume so or has been. I would leave it inside in a warm place over night and clean up all the connections and double check the earth wires are ok.

mab01uk

· #9 · Dec 28, 2008 (Edited)

It will take a while to dry out the BC1 completely, pic inside below, if this does not work then you can open it up carefully to further investigate for corrosion,etc inside. Failing that secondhand BC1 units are available cheaper from MiniMatt. etc but fit the black plastic water shield shown in pic below to prevent future problems.
MiniMatt - BMW Mini - BMW Mini
but may need programming to your car for options, keys, etc.

Edit: Reconditioned Exchange BC1 (Body Control Module) are now available from BBA-Reman £100-150 which is a lot less than a new replacement unit from BMW.

See Link Below:
http://www.bba-reman.com/catalogue/DetailedProduct.aspx?DetailedProduct=1414

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Alex5

· #10 · Dec 28, 2008

Hi - this seems to be the same problem I am currently having.

I would like to know how you remove the plastic trim panel - any tips? Does is just pull off, do I have to remove the rubber door seal etc.?

Thanks!

I should add mine does have the casing on the top from that picture, is it likely still at fault?
I ask as I have seen in my searching that the refusal to lock problem may be to do with the driver's door lock having a sensor which wears out??

mab01uk

· #11 · Dec 28, 2008

Alex5 said:
Hi - this seems to be the same problem I am currently having.

I would like to know how you remove the plastic trim panel - any tips? Does is just pull off, do I have to remove the rubber door seal etc.?

Thanks!

I should add mine does have the casing on the top from that picture, is it likely still at fault?
I ask as I have seen in my searching that the refusal to lock problem may be to do with the driver's door lock having a sensor which wears out??

Pull off the rubber door seal along the lower sill / doorstep, then carefully prise away the plastic trim panel along the inner sill / front footwell trim with a large scewdriver / rag to protect paintwork. In the photo (see post 9 above) you can see the large round white nylon clips in the bodywork which hold the trim. If you wish to completely remove the trim some find it easier to remove the seat and lower belt mounting. (I normally manage to gain enough access without though).

If you have the later water shield fitted it is much less likely to be the BC1 at fault so may be worth checking door lock sensor first.

Reactions: 1

Alex5

· #12 · Dec 29, 2008

mab01uk said:
If you have the later water shield fitted it is much less likely to be the BC1 at fault so may be worth checking door lock sensor first.

Can anybody advise how I would go about doing this please?

Is it possible by disconnecting wires/ pulling fuses?

Thanks again for any help.

cams

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 29, 2008

Okeydoke.

Well.....

we took apart the BC1 - and had another look at it. there were some small amounts of corrosion on some of the components, and I cleaned these off with surgical spirit.

Then my husband took the circuit board off the metal back, and there was a proper puddle in there

Since we have dried this off - and everything else - with a hairdryer fingerscrossed it has worked fine.

I have now ordered a cover - costing £1.53 and will be getting this on Wednesday.

Has anyone had continued problems once they have fitted a cover?

Thank you all very much for your help. thats (touch wood) a large garage bill that I couldn't afford saved/

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MINI-Morgan

· #14 · Dec 29, 2008

Glad you are hopefully all sorted

Thats why I tell people to see it somewhere warm to hot for a night or a good day or so but still not as good as just striping it down and giving a good clean. Just have to be careful....

mab01uk

· #15 · Dec 29, 2008

cams said:
Okeydoke.

Well.....

we took apart the BC1 - and had another look at it. there were some small amounts of corrosion on some of the components, and I cleaned these off with surgical spirit.

Then my husband took the circuit board off the metal back, and there was a proper puddle in there

Since we have dried this off - and everything else - with a hairdryer fingerscrossed it has worked fine.

I have now ordered a cover - costing £1.53 and will be getting this on Wednesday.

Has anyone had continued problems once they have fitted a cover?

Thank you all very much for your help. thats (touch wood) a large garage bill that I couldn't afford saved/

Glad your probably sorted it.

Since drying out my own BC1 and fitting the later plastic water shield about 2 years ago I have had no further problems..............I have just fitted a cover to another 2002 MINI that my son has just bought and would advise anyone with an early MINI to fit one asap before any problems start, on what is a vital and expensive electronic unit.

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