Alright, I’ve been trying to fix this for weeks now. I had the drains under the cowl plug up. Ended up getting plenty of water in the car. 2006 Mini Cooper S, 6 speed. I Cleaned the drains and vacuumed the floor over and over, ran a fan in the car. Well in the process the car drove fine. Then it happened, I had a dead battery when I flew back into town. After I got it jumped everything was ok. The next day I started it and had no Tach or speedo. When I parked the car, the brake lights stayed on (ignition off). When I start the car, the brake lights go off and function as they should, but still no speedo/tech. I’ve pulled the carpet and dried everything out. Pulled the connections of the BCM and sprayed Deoxit in them to clean the contacts. Checked my fuses all are good. I’m thinking that I have something kicking the bcm into protect. The voltage will be a solid 12.4 or higher. But once you start the car, it drops to 1.3 or so. But you have to start the car for that to happen. If you don’t push the clutch in, and turn the key to start, everything stays fine. Good voltage, brake lights don’t stay on. Push the clutch and start the car, voltage drops at the tach, and the when you turn the car off, the brake lights stay on. I’ve also tried to connect to the OBDII, I don’t have power at the connector. Again, no found blown fuses in kick panel or under hood. I’m truly lost on this one. Any help would be appreciated. I’ve tried searching, I’ve found people with similar issues. But can’t find solutions.

thank you all in advance!

 

My only thought is to open the BCM and look for signs of a burnt or charred connection or something similar.
Like anything electrical, if it got power while wet internally it may have just fried something from the water conducting power somewhere it shouldn't.

Unfortunately may need a new BCM.

Good Luck.

 

Blwnaway,

Thanks for the reply. I opened the BCM, and didn’t find any signs of water, I also checked for bad solder connections, and looked for hints that something let go. Nothing was obvious, but that doesn’t mean it’s not shot. I’m just trying to keep from guessing and dropping the money on it if it doesn’t fix the issue. I’m still running out some more wiring and connections. Fingers crossed, hopefully I find something. If I do, I’ll be sure to post it.

 

How old is that battery? These cars a very sensitive and create all sorts of weird symptoms like that when it starts it downward spiral.

 

Check your engine and battery ground points?

 

Battery is less than a year old. I’ve been checking the grounds. But will check engine grounds. Thanks.

 

Did you end up finding anything? I have the same issues and have checked and done all the things you have mentioned.

 

yes I found the problem and got it resolved. There is a big connector in the driver side kick panel area. It’s way back there. It had moisture issues, lots of corrosion, and some of the pins broke inside the connector. I ended up cutting the connector free one wire at a time and putting them in a new connector. Once I did that the car didn’t have anymore issues.

 

Great news. When you say "way back there" do you mean behind the fuse panel or follow up from kick panel up to firewall area? I found one connector under the fuse panel but no issues there. I have not taken the fuse panel out yet.

 

I removed the fuse panel and all of the connectors on the backside. No corrosion issues found there and I'm not seeing another large connector other the one that was under the fuse panel. It's supposed to rain today here so I'm going to put the car outside to try and find out where the rain is coming in and follow that. That should lead me to another area to tear apart and maybe find a connector or area where there is something going on.