[DanG]

Just took my M235i for its four year maintenance. The tech was unable to reset the service interval sensor.

After trouble shooting the problem, he discovered that the wire harness to the sensor had been chewed by rats. They ordered a new harness and said my bill will be about $1,100.

In all my years owning a car, this is a new problem to me.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by DanG

Just took my M235i for its four year maintenance. The tech was unable to reset the service interval sensor.

After trouble shooting the problem, he discovered that the wire harness to the sensor had been chewed by rats. They ordered a new harness and said my bill will be about $1,100.

In all my years owning a car, this is a new problem to me.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Nope!

[overcoil]

Yes - I think mine were mice. They chewed the insulation off the wiring assembly that runs along the back of the valve cover underneath the plastic engine aesthetic cover. It occurs when the outside temps get cold and the rodents climb to the top of the engine to get warm.

My mice were considerate and didn't chew into the insulation off the individual wires.

I purchased online a very good metallic, velcro, wiring heat protector sheathing and covered my wiring.

Supposedly (Honda soy insulation) rodents are attracted to the consistency of some of these insulations, the metallic heat wrap I bought deters - cause I haven't had any problems since.

[amw896]

Hasn't happened to me yet but some rodents chewed through the insulation on the underside of my dad's engine cover. There was little chunks scattered about everywhere ...

[RoundelM3]

Having a closed garage helps too...

[3.0L]

Get a cat.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by DanG

Just took my M235i for its four year maintenance. The tech was unable to reset the service interval sensor.

After trouble shooting the problem, he discovered that the wire harness to the sensor had been chewed by rats. They ordered a new harness and said my bill will be about $1,100.

In all my years owning a car, this is a new problem to me.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Apparently as part of an effort to make car parts more environmentally-friendly, many car companies were (and maybe still are) using bio-degradable soy-coated wiring (particularly in the 2012 - 2015 time-frame) rather than the petroleum based coating they had used earlier to coat wiring. Rats apparently view the veggie oil covering as a delicacy.
Class action suits have been filed against several car companies already and dealers have been forced to cover the costs of repairs or replacing the wiring harness..
The common denominator of rat chewed wiring has been SOY, so you may want to check if BWM was using Soy covered wiring for your 2014 model year. If so, I'd go after BMW aggressively to get them to cover repair costs or consult a lawyer for your options.
Here's an article on the subject:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michael.../#24fbe712780a

Update:
Apparently our BMWs are incredibly edible:
http://www.synlube.com/IncredibleEdibleCar1.htm

[USA-RET]

Surprised they didn't make them out of "cheese". Since the dairy industry has been selling more 2% than whole milk. That fat has to go somewhere (hence all the advertisements for double stuffed crust pizza and double cheese cheese burgers). Why not wire insulation?

[Tpeterson]

Originally Posted by DanG

Just took my M235i for its four year maintenance. The tech was unable to reset the service interval sensor.

After trouble shooting the problem, he discovered that the wire harness to the sensor had been chewed by rats. They ordered a new harness and said my bill will be about $1,100.

In all my years owning a car, this is a new problem to me.

Has anyone else had this problem?

A neighbor of mine had it happen to an Altima. It cost $3500 for a new harness. Their comprehensive insurance paid for it minus the deductible.

[DanG]

A neighbor put out rat taps last night and we caught one trying to climb up a front wheel. Hopefully he was the only culprit.

[morphomeman]

They multiply like rats. You need more traps.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

They multiply like rats. You need more traps.

We still have traps out. I was just hoping we didn't have a family trying to live in the engine bay.

[Y0tsuya]

Originally Posted by DanG

We still have traps out. I was just hoping we didn't have a family trying to live in the engine bay.

At least you can easily access the engine bay. Nothing's more frustrating than having mice inside your walls in your home chewing on the wires. The doorbell wire was first to go, then another short blew out 3 dimmers before I'm forced to remove the drywall to fix it. I hate removing drywall. It never looks the same after patching. They're also smart enough to ignore my traps.

[wjones14]

Mine has been stored for the winter in my sister-in-law's garage since Thanksgiving. It's been over 3 weeks so I checked on it today for the first time since storing it. I have a trap next to the left front tire and another in the engine bay on top of the alternator. Both had mice in them... Uggh. But no other visible signs, so hopefully there isn't one hiding elsewhere in the engine bay.

I cleaned out the traps and reset them. Will probably check weekly from now on.

[ejm3]

I was at a Christmas party last week with a co-worker who also has a 135i convertible.
I should say used to have a 135i.

He noticed his gas gauge wasn't working so he brought it in. Turns out mice had chewed that wire and others.

Insurance apparently covers that sort of thing and they ended up totaling the car over it!

[fahizzo]

Originally Posted by ejm3

I was at a Christmas party last week with a co-worker who also has a 135i convertible.
I should say used to have a 135i.

He noticed his gas gauge wasn't working so he brought it in. Turns out mice had chewed that wire and others.

Insurance apparently covers that sort of thing and they ended up totaling the car over it!

I have a brand new 230i without a working gas gauge, it was delivered that way. Fix is a swap of the instrument cluster but that won't be delivered from Germany until January. I'm hoping it's not rats!

[Dylan86]

Dryer sheets, and tinfoil. No joke, some good Alcan tin foil wrapped around the wheels with dryer sheets in the wheel barrels will keep them away, 98% of the time. Can't do this if driving every day, but definitely worth the 20 mins of prep time if storing long term..

They can also navigate via intake ducting, brake ducts, etc, so cover your arse!

[Velma]

They multiply like rats. You need more traps.

You may set spring traps as well as various repellents. The article on pestcontrolhacks says you may use chemical gel repellents as well as ultrasonic devices. Those should scare critters away from the garage, might work with squirrels also If not, the persistent individuals will get into traps though...

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Dylan86

Dryer sheets, and tinfoil. No joke, some good Alcan tin foil wrapped around the wheels with dryer sheets in the wheel barrels will keep them away, 98% of the time. Can't do this if driving every day, but definitely worth the 20 mins of prep time if storing long term..

They can also navigate via intake ducting, brake ducts, etc, so cover your arse!

The week my dad died we had the garage door open quite a bit for doctors and nurses coming and going. I looked in the trunk of the F31 and found a family of mice making a nest out of a box of tissues. LUCKILY no real harm done but did cost $1000 to rip out the entire interior to sanitize and clean.

Since then a box of bounce sheets in the trunk has kept them at bay. Keep a box in all of my cars that aren't driven daily haven't had an issue.

[BenDiem]

^^^ I place bounce sheets on the top of all of my stored car's tires (during winter), to include sheets just above the wiper blades, inside exhaust tips and under the bonnet of every vehicle...

Additionally, I place those rodent repellant bags (from Tractor Supply store) in my garage and one outside the garage...

Cheers/B

[Winemaker2]

Had this happen twice to my 2007 vert and once to my 230i, both parked in a garage. I was also lucky with the vert because the rodents did not get through the inner insulation to the wires. My dog thought it would be a big help if he jumped up on the hood of my 230i and claw his way to the rodents while we were on vacation. You can imagine the shock when you go out to drive your baby after being away for two weeks and the hood looks like someone had taken an electric sander to it. Thankfully, I have the front of my car covered with Xpel (the stuff really works) and after pouring boiling water on it you wouldn't know anything had happened.

I now spray Rodent Defense throughout the engine compartment once a month. No issues since I started this routine.

[paposalsa]

Originally Posted by DanG

Just took my M235i for its four year maintenance. The tech was unable to reset the service interval sensor.

After trouble shooting the problem, he discovered that the wire harness to the sensor had been chewed by rats. They ordered a new harness and said my bill will be about $1,100.

In all my years owning a car, this is a new problem to me.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Yeap, but mine was in my previous car. The mouse ate the wires and did a nest in my A/C blower. Closed to $900 to get it fix