well, i was driving down main street when my coolant light comes on. it stays solid for a good ten minutes when the service engine soon light and the oil light comes on. the needle on the oil gauge shoots towards the red, and i new my car was going to overheat. so i turn it off and pull over to the side of the road. i tried to turn on the car, but it wouldn't start. it also smelled as if something was burnt. i had to call my insurance agency to tow my car home, since the nearest certified bmw shop is 45min away.

did the engine blow? and if so, do u guys know how much it will cost to fix?

If you drove for ten minutes with no coolant, then yeah, it's broke. How long was the needle in the red?

Expect several thousand for a replacement engine + installation. If the head is warped due to overheating, it likely damaged the head bolt threads in the block, which is not repairable.

i'm gonna have to say you prolly should have turned it off as soon as the coolant light came on. low coolant and empty water jackets are very bad and boiling coolant is very bad.

If you drove for ten minutes with no coolant, then yeah, it's broke. How long was the needle in the red?

Expect several thousand for a replacement engine + installation. If the head is warped due to overheating, it likely damaged the head bolt threads in the block, which is not repairable.

the needle was in red for a couple of minutes, and i also heard a clacking noise coming from the engine. im screwed!!!sob!

Most likely your engine is whacked. But have a BMW indy shop do some tests to make sure.

i'm gonna have to say you prolly should have turned it off as soon as the coolant light came on. low coolant and empty water jackets are very bad and boiling coolant is very bad.

well, the last time the coolant light came on the housing supposedly cracked, and so it was leaking cooling at a slow pace, which allowed me to get home without damaging the engine. i thought that it was probably the same thing, but i guess that i wasnt lucky this time

i dont think that i can go to arizona to get it done though. luckily im covered for this!

i dont think that i can go to arizona to get it done though. luckily im covered for this!

Why would you need to go to Arizona?

aren't u located there?

aren't u located there?


Ahhhh, touche, sir! ;)

lol

Is your E46 still under warranty?

i have a complete 330i engine with 72k...can ship too..

bimmer has extended warranty

bimmer has extended warranty

:redspot

Wow. Nice. I guess you get a new (well, refurb) engine out of it. Let us know how it goes.

Wow. Nice. I guess you get a new (well, refurb) engine out of it. Let us know how it goes.

yeah! im taking it in on tuesday to the stealership for the repair. i'll tell u guys how it goes when i get it back! can't wait!

yeah! im taking it in on tuesday to the stealership for the repair. i'll tell u guys how it goes when i get it back! can't wait!

:clap

Haha mfratt round two

Couple minutes? Toast.


When my coolant expansion tank went, and the engine needle went into the red, I pulled over and shut off the car immediately.

so my engine is blown for sure? damnage

Yes your engine is blown. You've warped your cylinders, lost all fluids, there is likely little bits of metal floating about, the pistons are locked in their position.

To be honest, I'd be surprised if BMW covers it. You kept driving for ten minutes after it gave you plenty of signs to stop. I would make sure NOT to tell them that. I'm not sure what their policy is on something like this, but telling them this story will not help.

Yes your engine is blown. You've warped your cylinders, lost all fluids, there is likely little bits of metal floating about, the pistons are locked in their position.

To be honest, I'd be surprised if BMW covers it. You kept driving for ten minutes after it gave you plenty of signs to stop. I would make sure NOT to tell them that. I'm not sure what their policy is on something like this, but telling them this story will not help.

i hope he (mach10) reads your post before he talks to bmw dealer tomorrow.

a long time ago when i was younger. i drove for about 3 or 4 miles after my 1990 maxima was making noises like a desel. it was out of coolent and in the red for a while. got back home opened the hood smoke was everywhere, then i opened the radiator cap and steam shot out. i let the engine cool and started it. it cranked. i got lucky. it also probably helped i just put moble one full synthetic oil in that same day. they dont make em like they used to that car was a tank.

Yes your engine is blown. You've warped your cylinders, lost all fluids, there is likely little bits of metal floating about, the pistons are locked in their position.

To be honest, I'd be surprised if BMW covers it. You kept driving for ten minutes after it gave you plenty of signs to stop. I would make sure NOT to tell them that. I'm not sure what their policy is on something like this, but telling them this story will not help.


Agreed... DO NOT MENTION your little "I only drove for 10 minutes with the needle in the red" story. First, it shows that you knew there was a problem and then proceeded to ignore the warnings. Second, they'll think you're an idiot and want to help you all the less.

The story should go "The engine started sounding funny, you looked down to see the needle in the red, you pulled over, shut off the engine, coolant went all over the place, then the engine wouldn't restart". That's your story and you're sticking to it.

Crispy.

You should have turned the car off right away. Unless you have and like to spend big money.

Agreed... DO NOT MENTION your little "I only drove for 10 minutes with the needle in the red" story. First, it shows that you knew there was a problem and then proceeded to ignore the warnings. Second, they'll think you're an idiot and want to help you all the less.

The story should go "The engine started sounding funny, you looked down to see the needle in the red, you pulled over, shut off the engine, coolant went all over the place, then the engine wouldn't restart". That's your story and you're sticking to it.

i know im an idiot, but shit happens. and thanks for the advice on what to say. i really appreciate it. thanks guys! i'll tell you guys how it goes on tuesday.