M135i Water damage

[Lusaso1]

I just drove through some water right behind a Renault sandero and my M135i died. The Renault ahead of me drove through just fine, my engine died and wouldn’t start again. The electronics are fine, everything works but it won’t start. How worried should I be??? The car was towed by Bmw and it’s still under motorplan. Will the warranty cover it? Will I need a new engine? How bad could the damage be?

 

[RAArmstrong]

Probably hydrolocked. If so. New engine. Not sure if it'll be motorplan or insurance that must cover.

Rule of thumb, do not drive through puddles of water, even if other cars are.

 

[cOlDFuSiOn]

Not good.. Rule 101, never drive a BMW anywhere near water, they die. My F30 320d went through the same years ago in 2013... Hydrolocked motor, was the end of that block, had to get a new shortblock from Germany.. This is Insurance Or your own pocket depending on how the claim goes.. My damage 6 years ago (damn time flies) was around R140k IIRC .. For a N47 shortblock and labour. Luckily I have expensive insurance, also if the damage is more than a 1/3rd of value of the car they are likely to write it off, but I have read most insurers now reject water damage claims if you drove the car through it. It is a terrible feeling Bud, I knew how I felt, mine was much scarier as it was a flash flood in Glenvista, water was over the bonnet.. Sorry Bud! Hope all works out!

 

[Lusaso1]

Probably hydrolocked. If so. New engine. Not sure if it'll be motorplan or insurance that must cover.

Rule of thumb, do not drive through puddles of water, even if other cars are.

The water wasn’t that deep though because I was able to open the door without the water getting into the car. Could it be something else? Or is hydrolock the only thing that would make the engine not start?

 

[TurboLlew]

Just how deep was the water? Let them diagnose it and take it from there. It may or may not be hydrolocked but you won't know until it is checked out. If it is, then you will have to claim from insurance and be prepared for them to write it off potentially. Did water get anywhere else (into the car or other electronics?)

There are some cars that are more prone to this happening due to the design of their air intake systems, filter locations etc so the Renault driving through doesn't mean it was a good idea. Also never underestimate water... it is almost always alot worse than it seems from the driver's seat.

 

[Lusaso1]

:rage:

Not good.. Rule 101, never drive a BMW anywhere near water, they die. My F30 320d went through the same years ago in 2013... Hydrolocked motor, was the end of that block, had to get a new shortblock from Germany.. This is Insurance Or your own pocket depending on how the claim goes.. My damage 6 years ago (damn time flies) was around R140k IIRC .. For a N47 shortblock and labour. Luckily I have expensive insurance, also if the damage is more than a 1/3rd of value of the car they are likely to write it off, but I have read most insurers now reject water damage claims if you drove the car through it. It is a terrible feeling Bud, I knew how I felt, mine was much scarier as it was a flash flood in Glenvista, water was over the bonnet.. Sorry Bud! Hope all works out!

I was able to open the door without the water getting into the car, it wasn’t that deep. I’ll find out tomorrow, thanks man, yea I’m freaking out I really hope they can fix it easily.

 

[Mamboza]

Probably hydrolocked. If so. New engine. Not sure if it'll be motorplan or insurance that must cover.

Rule of thumb, do not drive through puddles of water, even if other cars are.

The water wasn’t that deep though because I was able to open the door without the water getting into the car. Could it be something else? Or is hydrolock the only thing that would make the engine not start?

Chances are engine is finished. Experienced same thing about 2 yrs back and was written off. All electronics were working. I remember the airfilter was wet indicating that water made it into the engine.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[Lusaso1]

Just how deep was the water? Let them diagnose it and take it from there. It may or may not be hydrolocked but you won't know until it is checked out. If it is, then you will have to claim from insurance and be prepared for them to write it off potentially. Did water get anywhere else (into the car or other electronics?)

There are some cars that are more prone to this happening due to the design of their air intake systems, filter locations etc so the Renault driving through doesn't mean it was a good idea. Also never underestimate water... it is almost always alot worse than it seems from the driver's seat.

Thanks for the reply budd, I’m not sure how deep the water was but I opened the door in the middle of the puddle and it wasn’t high enough to get into the car but it was close.

---

Probably hydrolocked. If so. New engine. Not sure if it'll be motorplan or insurance that must cover.

Rule of thumb, do not drive through puddles of water, even if other cars are.

The water wasn’t that deep though because I was able to open the door without the water getting into the car. Could it be something else? Or is hydrolock the only thing that would make the engine not start?

Chances are engine is finished. Experienced same thing about 2 yrs back and was written off. All electronics were working. I remember the airfilter was wet indicating that water made it into the engine.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Damn

 

[Danny2]

if you drove through water it more than likely is hydro locked and by you trying to start the machine it has only made it worse.

Quickest way to find out if you have water in the motor would be to remove the spark plugs and try crank the car. it will turn over and shoot water out the plug holes.

Something similar happened to a mate of mine in his OPC a while back, wasnt driving through water but the motor did hydro lock thanks to the clever people at the dealer.
We removed the plugs and cranked the car and water came flying out the plug holes. Once that was over we done a compression test on the motor to find that Cyl 2 and Cyl 3 was down on compression. Upon stripping the motor we found that the 2 conrods were bent.

 

[444YYY]

If it was below the door, then you are ok. The air intake if somewhere at the front kidney grille level.... unless it was modified..

 

[Lusaso1]

if you drove through water it more than likely is hydro locked and by you trying to start the machine it has only made it worse.

Quickest way to find out if you have water in the motor would be to remove the spark plugs and try crank the car. it will turn over and shoot water out the plug holes.

Something similar happened to a mate of mine in his OPC a while back, wasnt driving through water but the motor did hydro lock thanks to the clever people at the dealer.
We removed the plugs and cranked the car and water came flying out the plug holes. Once that was over we done a compression test on the motor to find that Cyl 2 and Cyl 3 was down on compression. Upon stripping the motor we found that the 2 conrods were bent.

Really? I’ll find out tomorrow from Bmw

 

[Twinz]

I am hoping for the best case scenario.

Water just below the door is still pretty hectic but i hope for the best. Keep us posted.

 

[NtandoN]

Is it possible that the Renault splashed some water into the front of your M135i?

 

[M135i]

This does sound odd, considering the water was not too high, you have the underplate...but it could happen. An odd splash or 2 could make its way in there.
Goodluck! Hope its not as serious as initially presumed.

 

[Junz]

HI

do you have an update ?

 

[individj]

If it was below the door, then you are ok. The air intake if somewhere at the front kidney grille level.... unless it was modified..

na man the water doesn't stay still and lay at that level. Good chance its hydrolocked but lets hope its electronics

 

[cOlDFuSiOn]

Water makes quite a bow wave when all the cars drive through it.. It comes up high..

Any update from BMW yet?

 

[Junz]

Im curious to know the outcome, did you get feedback from BMW yet ?

 

[husaindindar]

Im thinking more of an electrical issue.

However,
Good luck and do let us know the outcome...

 

[NtandoN]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="

" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Autovlog's c63 got hydrolocked while driving in the rain, when another car splashed water through into his car's intake via the grill I assume. Watch from 2:30. Is this not the case with the OP's car?