JPh

I'll check. JPh

No I think Japanese import but I am not sure.

Thanks, that sounds about right. The smell was from the right hand side of the engine (my guess). But I may be wrong. Previous mechanic has played around with the fuses... so it sounds like a good idea to start there. Could that also explain the heating gage behavior ? What do you suggest I should do with my previous mechanic if future proves that it was nothing but electrical... after all I have a new headgasket for 2K... and I did not really need it... I rang Glen yesterday and will follow up tomorrow. See what his opinion is when he's had a look at it. JPh

A known evil is better than an unknown one. For 5K I could indeed easily own another problem car. Surely this is not rocket science.

Hi everyone, I would like to share my story here, because at this stage I just forked out another 2k $ NZ on this car and I have a feeling my mechanic as made an incorrect diagnostic... I just drove home and the car still does not work... worse. Here is the story. I bought this car 18 month ago now at a bargain. 160,000km 1996 520i. It had problems with the cooling system. I took it to my mechanic, a very competent highly recommend guy (by friends). He found a head gasket fault, replaced it and 2,500 $ later - I enjoyed a happy 20,000 Km 18 month driving life. So far so good. A week ago, I put the key in the ignition, the car coughs, looks like it's trying to spark, but no combustion. Not sure and not competent, I get it towed to my magic friend. 2-3 hours later I get a call. It's electrical, no worries we found it, we are doing the 10k service on your car and you can pick up tonight... 650 $ later I am happier and I turn up to pick up the car. I drive away and suddenly I notice... no fan in the cabin, no heating, no cooling, no blowing, nothing... strange.... probably unrelated / or related (funny) I look at the heating gage of the engine.... it's over heating ! I slow down the gage reading goes up, I accelerate it returns to normal. Weird... Me suddenly worried. I ring my friend. The car goes back into the workshop. A while later, I ring to check up on the diagnostic. It may be the thermostat. We are checking and trying to fit a new one. As to the fan blowing thing we think the heater head is dead. You see there is a 320$ set of resistance in there that needs replacing. Ok fine I give my blessing to the new set of resistance... after all it's winter here, I don't need cooling but I need heating. Day later, I ring again to check on the thermostat diagnostic. Actually nothing wrong with your thermostat ... we think it's the head gasket that's playing up again. Explanation we have found some air in the cooling system, the only way that can happen is if it enters from somewhere hence we are checking the head again... My nightmare is really starting. My friend goes... look our advice frankly given the age of the car and its mileage... don't spend anymore on this... sell it. You officially own a lemon. Right. I ask him to give me some time to think. and I will come back with instructions on my decision (repair or not). Suddenly I feel like I need a second opinion... I check car prices on the net and start making scenarios. Couple of days later, I am decided to take the car out and get another workshop to give me an opinion. I turn up at my friend's workshop and surprise the car lays opened up no gasket. I started he says with a smile. I figured out you need this repaired anyway right ? See it's probably the head, I got it out and it's down the road to get machined, I will fit a new gasket set and you should be allright for another 18 month. Or 12, or 6. Actually you really should sell this car anyway because we don't know what's going to be next. Actually you know, it may be the block not the gasket... if it is the block then it is even less worth it because getting it out will cost you a day of labor... then we don't know. Anyway even if it is the block, with a new head and gasket set whatever leak as tiny as it is will get sealed because a fresh gasket is always harder and tighter... aluminium you see... Now I am really upset / confused and doubtfull. My friend is not my friend and I am getting taken for a ride. I feel I have no choice but to let him finish now anyway.... otherwise who knows what else... and I have no proof, there is a remote chance that he is telling the truth ... just does not sound right anymore. Yesterday I picked up the car apparently finished.... Runs great he says with a smile I did a couple of test drives and it is all smooth. I drive away into the city. 5 K later the heat gage starts swinging again and so does my heart. I drive around town looking for a park and we are firmly in the red my car and I. I open the bonnet, touch the engine, touch the coolant reservoir... amazingly mild... no heat there. I am not that stupid ... this should be boiling hot. Nice smell though... something is burning but it's not the engine. I ring my ex-friend and get a voice mail. What do I do. I am away from home. Hours later, we are back to cold again. I decide to drive home, confident that the engine is not going to cease on me. Along the way I get the following symptoms. The heat gage going up and down with no rational. Suddenly, I get the ABS sensor light and the Traction control light blinking... a little later it's the whole dial which is blinking... Now I really think this is electrical !!! what more proof do you need ! Then suddenly I loose it all.... no heat no speedometer no petrol no odometer... the whole dial is still lit up but no more readings... I am blind. The car is still driving... and I park in front of the house, turn off the car. Somehow reassured that I have reached the port safe. I am puzzled by the thought that all along this could have just been computer / and electrics related... after all this was the initial fault / before I got it to the mechanic nothing was ever wrong with the engine itself.... why suddenly ? Law of murphy ? yeah right. I wait 5 minutes... and try ignition again.... nothing this time. The dial is blinking frantically like in a short circuit fashion. I open the bonnet. Do I need to mention that the engine is cool, the reservoir for the coolant next to the radiator is cool ? no we all know the problem is not here. But that strong smell of burned rubber ? most probably some electric leads melted up somewhere... and what if my ex-friend had left some loose wire in there that touched a hot part and melted ? Why is it that suddenly I am feeling absolutely no confidence / no trust. Maybe the guy was genuine and he made a genuine mistake - I suppose it happens. I just feel like I got taken for a ride... and 2,000 $ later again the car is still not working... Thanks for reading my rant.... Feel free to give me your opinion... I really need some expert advice here. If someone can restore my confidence. I am now looking for a decent & honest electrical workshop in Auckland NZ. JP