AAA Cross-jumped my 95 540i

[NikonJeff]

Last Monday it was -4F in Albany, NY and the 540 sat outside all day while I worked - went to start it and it churned slowly and lowly - Bad battery. A friend of mine and I tried to jump start it but the battery was too far gone.

AAA came out and with a small handheld battery booster which the guy immediately hooked up in reverse to the jump point in the engine compartment! Sparks flew! After that we could barely get a click and turn from the starter - Did I mention he insisted we keep trying for almost 15 minutes.

Next came the tow truck driver who again tried to jump it - nothing better than the last attemp except he hookedd it up correctly. Had the car towed home to a fresh battery my wife got me from Advance Auto.

Put the battery in that night and the car cranks but no start... Charged the battery overnight and tried this morning - same deal - cranks a lot faster but no start. Temp in the garege is about 35 degree Farenheit BTW.

Checked the fuse box - the rear window defroster fuse was blown, but I didn't see any of the others blown.

So all the above information was accurate until Wednsday when my mechanic called and said - you have (3) fuseable links blown! Not to mention that the engine was flooded so bad that the gas was in the crank case. So the repair bill came to $466.00 including my oil change and fuel filter change (which I supplied the filters for).

I contacted the Road Service Manger at AAA on Tuesday morning before my mechanic looked at the car and he was going to make a trip to the garage to have a look. When my mechanic was akes if a cross-jump could cause this kind of damage he said "Hell yea..." and be glad that these Germans put fuseable links in - these computers go for $1000 and up! He asked the mechanic to have me fax him the repair bill after I settled it with the garage.

So..... What do I do??? Do I have a leg to stand on??? I'm planning to ask for the repayment of my bill minus the oil change that I was already planning to do and the gas filter that I was already planning to do. Am I asking to much??? Or not enough since I was without a car for 4 days?

Jeff Guntert
95 540i
Schenectady, NY