E39 stuck in 'P'ark!

[Thatch]

Just got my 523se cleaned by the local carwash, trying to leave and the engine starts as normal, but cant get the auto out of Park mode. No matter how I wiggle it!

Then the key won’t come out of the ignition, causing chaos to the cleaning production line ;-)

RAC arrive, no joy. So he had to get under the car, get the gearbox in Neutral, and then tow me to my garage! - Where it is now.

Anyone seen this or similar before?

And was it expensive?


Thanks in advanced - Andrew

[HarryW]

Strange, not being able to remove key is normally associated with not being in park

The ability to move it out of park is allowed only when your foot is on the brake. If you put your finger on the gearshift locking release button as normal and then put your foot on the brake you should feel a slight movement as it releases the lock for the button.
Did it just happne or did a monkkey get in the car and force something and perhaps broke the lock release mechanism

[Thatch]

Garage just rang to say the gear stick mechanism is miss-aligned!

Must have been the cleaning monkeys swinging on it as they cleaned inside!


Not sure how much it’s going to cost – shouldn’t have been such a lazy bastid, and done it myself!


Cheers

[HarryW]

Thatch said:

Garage just rang to say the gear stick mechanism is miss-aligned!

Must have been the cleaning monkeys swinging on it as they cleaned inside!


Not sure how much it’s going to cost – shouldn’t have been such a lazy bastid, and done it myself!


Cheers

I'd lay money cleaning mokeys forced it without their foot on the brake

[MarkwG]

Very expensive cleaning monkeys...

[5 wh]

Thatch said:

Just got my 523se cleaned by the local carwash, trying to leave and the engine starts as normal, but cant get the auto out of Park mode. No matter how I wiggle it!

Then the key won’t come out of the ignition, causing chaos to the cleaning production line ;-)

RAC arrive, no joy. So he had to get under the car, get the gearbox in Neutral, and then tow me to my garage! - Where it is now.

Anyone seen this or similar before?

And was it expensive?


Thanks in advanced - Andrew

I had exactly the same problem last year on a 99V reg 523i SE Auto.The car had just been valeted and it was going home time and I couldnt move the darn thing.I couldnt even lock it up for the night because the central locking system will not let you lock the car even with the spare key once there is a key in the ignition(the key was stuck in the ignition on mine also)
In the end the guys I use for my mechanical work dianosed a stuck solenoid,which they freed up and the car worked oncemore.

[Thatch]

£100 to get re-aligned!

shall be paying the car wash a re-visit on Monday to see what they are prepared to contribute!!


However, given there level of english spoken at the place (Polish - i believe), i am not holding out much hope that they have any insurance.

[Wacky Racer]

Thatch said:

£100 to get re-aligned!

shall be paying the car wash a re-visit on Monday to see what they are prepared to contribute!!


However, given there level of english spoken at the place (Polish - i believe), i am not holding out much hope that they have any insurance.

If you pay peanuts you get Monkeys.....(Polish ones)

Hope you get it sorted cheaply...