Static Shock

[digitaldragon03]

For the past 2 months or so, my E34 has been shocking me. It always happens after ive been driving, turn off the car, open the door, and when i grab the metal part surrounding the window (rests against B-pillar when door is closed) and ZAP! Am i electricly charged or what? Im kinda curious as to why this only happens when i touch that part of the door. Has this happened to anybody else with their E34?

[Torque]

Only when I eat AA batteries for lunch.

[Alexlind123]

Its probably dry weather.

[angrypancake]

see what happens when you touch the left tail light when the car is running if it stalls out

[Qube]

Before you step out of the car, just hold on to a metal part of the car body... like the door panel!

[E34 530]

Believe it or not, the same thing happened to me like 2 months ago. Haven't noticed it recently though lol.

[Jay 535i]

It's due to the dry weather. It will subside as spring comes. Although, no, this doesn't happen to me.

I believe you can by a special strip of metal from Pep Boys or whatever that attaches to the underside of your chassis and just touches the road, discharging static electricity. I don't know how well they work.

Alternatively you can ground yourself by touching something metal before touching the sensitive area, as Qube suggests.

I don't understand the science of why this happens, but I think these tricks do work and in any case you'll see the problem disappear when winter's gone.

[rob101]

next time you goto the gas station get out of the car, don't touch the metal as you get out, leave your door open. Start pumping the gasoline in, then touch around the filler area, oh yeah once the fire starts don't forget to pull out the pump from the car. complete with flaming fuel stream:D

[Tiger]

You need to put the car in the dryer with fabric softner... try spraying the static cling thing on the carpet.

[Alexlind123]

If you still have a problem after using the fabric softener, you might want to let it air dry, or tumble dry with no heat.

[Qube]

Man, like I said... BEFORE you step out of the car, put your hand on the doorframe (as if to 'help' you out of the car), then step out. It's as simple as that!

Oh and DON'T even think about putting one of those ugly and almost always useless ground strips on your bimmer! :)

[Alexlind123]

Large trucks sometimes have drag chains which discharge static.