Taxi Driver Online

So what could have happened when my son driving his fabulous 02 reg BMW 530d on Thursday 25th February, the day before his wedding & with me in the front passenger seat believing he was safe to do so, drove through a flooded country lane crossroads & the engine stopped some 50 yards after the flood & would not restart?

The air intake on this car is NOW KNOWN to be low down behind the front bumper.

There is no news on the car yet, because he told the recovery garage not to phone him until the following week because he did not want to be disturbed on his wedding day.

All engine damage best / worst case scenarios would be most welcome!

Also, what would be the prognosis for a health lasting repair, or is the patient too gravely ill to be saved?

Does he just switch off the life support machine to be kind?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Brummie hope your sons wedding went well and you had a good time also hope your not feeling to rough

I had a similar thing happen in my Peugeot 406. Basically the result was a see through engine. You couldn't see it until the engine was out of the car but the block had 2 rather large holes opposite each other where one of the con rods had snapped and well I don't need to say any more.

_________________
Grandad,

It was a most brilliant day in all respects.

But what about the BMW? What do you think could have happened?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Sadly, that's what I fear could have happened; an engine write-off.

I think my son is now coming to terms with that possible outcome & his initial hopes of saving the motor are fast receeding.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Oh dear, I do hope you are thinking the worst and end up with better.

Similar family happenings next weekend for us: Son and future daughter in law are getting married but, 4 hours drive away in Oswestry!!!!! With our family, that's enough of a trauma in itself!

1. water get's to engine compartment and floods the electrics... engine stops...
2. water get into air intake.. which then gets into the cylinders.... results in pistons not being able to reach the top of the cycle... commonly referred to as hydraulic... the con rods bend or snap.... which can end up with them going through the side of the engine. or simply reducing the stroke of the piston and.... which reduces compression and cause the engine to smoke excessively.... and run like a pig.....

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I had this happen once to me whilst driving a year old Diesel Fiesta van, the low air intake sucked in water at a crawl through not very deep water which other vehicles we're driving through just fine, it bent all the con rods and most of the Valves..however the Block and head were ok so it was repairable. Having said that that Van nevef felt or sounded right after the repair..had a lot of engine vibration.

I found out later that local Police force using Similar fiestas had to alter their Air Intakes to draw in air at the top of the engine rather as at low level because they also fecked up several engines.

So at best..conrods Id guess and Valves..but an enigine youd never be happy with afterwards.

On a brighter note, I did get a very good replacement engine for the Pug and it has been as good as new since.

_________________
Grandad,

http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-faults-fixes/3832-water-damage-engine-air-intake-susceptible-sucking-water.html

May help

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

me thinks the gentleman in that article thinks that he bought a submarine

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Following the info on this thread & from internet forums about this subject, I & others have now advised my son to get the car written off as a total loss.

The 'saving grace', if that's what you can call it, is that driving through a puddle, flood or pond which then causes vehicle damage is claimable on your insurance policy.

I suppose it's because the car has hit something (water) whilst being driven.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

If the water has entered the passenger compartment, I think the only option for the insurance company is to write the vehicle off.

_________________
Grandad,

He's flooded the engine brummie, with the air intake being low towards the road water has entered the engine block. I'm affraid your looking at a massive repair bill to put it right. It will have to go to a Diesel specialist who will have your pants down when he sees the damage.

We've had the same thing happen round our way with the Mondeos, we've had 3 motors that have a had a drink of water, the cost to put them right was in excess of £2,000, add the BMW factor I reckon you'll be looking at £4,000+ on a good day.

Write it off then buy the salvage from the Insurance company, either break it for spares and sell or look for a 2nd hand low mileage engine in the salvage yards.

RIP Fabulous BMW 530d!!

The garage removed all the injector & the engine still would not turn over, so they are now quoting for a new engine, about £6,000-£7,000+ & possible other work - imtercooler, turbo, electrics etc.

The insurance company won't stand for a bill like that on a 51 plated 2002 vehicle, but have confirmed that flood damage is covered on the insurance policy.

Thank God for comprehensive insurance.

He's now looking for a more sensible motor, possibly an estate . . . . they might be thinking of becoming parents in the not too distant future, so the extra car room might be handy.

Ah well, some good things sometimes come from disasters!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.