BMW 540i 2002 overheated

[BarFu007 2]

Hi All,...motor blew coolant hose\s (steam everywhere). Repaired\replaced by garage but same thing happened accelerating onto motorway,...temp gauge went straight to red and I suspect I have toasted the engine. Repair may be cost prohibitive but the car has only done 129kms so great interior\exterior.

Could anyone advise what it might be worth as a parts prospect?

[*Glenn* 854]

Did the repairer road test the vehicle for 10-15km after completing the repair and bleeding the system correctly ?

Does the repair come with a warranty ?

Was the repair restricted by your ability to afford to do all the suggested replacement items ?

[hybrid 1043]

At worst its just a head gasket or at worst both. Get a leak down test done which will help determine if you've done any damage in the first instance.
I hate to say it but low k m62tu motors are getting hard to come by so a repair might be the better option if it is indeed toasted.
Also replace all radiator hoses with new OEM, and maybe get the expansion tank, digital thermostat and water pump inspected while youre at it.

Good news is that the 540i  operates at around 110c in normal operation and is a pressurised system (this is why the hoses blow, theyre not like other systems and dont take kindly to repairs that cant handle the higher pressures.)
red is 124c. If you were only there for a quick second or two you might be ok. As long as you pulled over and killed the ignition.

 

have been there twice myself with my old 540 

[BarFu007 2]

Thanks All,...doubt very much if garage ran an extended road test and that the 'warranty' might only extend to their replacing the hose at fault - no other replacement parts were suggested as being required. The expansion tank has been replaced with the digital thermostat and water pump checking out ok after a 'check coolant level' error about a year ago. <<sheepishly>> ..and I was in the red for a little while longer than a second or two hence my 'toasted' comment.

Just waiting to hear exactly how bad it is before making any repair\wreck call.

I'll let you all know....(*sob* - best car I have ever owned too!).

[TermiPeteNZ 1318]

Crap - frustrating!  Let us know what you find. Maybe take it to a different garage? I get mine serviced at Driscoll Motors on Walter St. Not euro specialists but experienced with euros. I am unfortunately one of their best customers since purchasing 2 BMWs There is an E39 540i for sale in Welly for <$4K (has a replacement motor in it with 125KMs on it apparently. http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1169077115.htm

[BarFu007 2]

Thanks for that Peter. Notice you have an E60.....love the E39s but I might be leaning towards an update.

Garage is replacing hoses with OEM products as per above suggestions, thanks, and I was suprised to hear that the motor actually started. They seem to think there must be 'other issues' for the hoses to blow but I have not asked about doing a leak down test.

Will definately give Driscoll a call, thanks. Last water leak was repaired by Page European a year ago and Bo gave the car a once over resulting in a general thumbs up.

Edited September 28, 2016 by BarFu007
spelling

[zero 1162]

Leak down test is important as it will tell you if your head gaskets are good or not.

Maybe a head gasket was already leaking and forcing cylinder pressure into the cooling system, thus increasing the pressure and blowing the hose?

[BarFu007 2]

Cheers,...that makes sense as it was under heavy acceleration\high revs both times when it happened. Motor seems to run smoothly otherwise though???

Is it a motor out job, as they have alluded to? Possible <ballpark> costs anyone please?

Reason I ask is because it only cost me 5K at 116kms and I might not want to sink thousands into a repair (as in cut my losses and get something else).

Thanks.

Edited September 28, 2016 by BarFu007
Updated description of state of motor

[TermiPeteNZ 1318]

Definitely good plan to weigh options if the bill will be big. E60 feels very modern and current in terms of interior and exterior styling - and is technically advanced compared to the E39. But people seem to love or hate the aesthetic  A 545i like mine you would be able to get for $10-$13K.

Anyway - hope the fix is reasonable.

[FIAT 131R 223]

I have an M62 and am in Wellington if you are interested.

[TermiPeteNZ 1318]

Hey @BarFu007 how did you get on?

[BarFu007 2]

Opps, many apologies Chaps,...yes, its been awhile,..just so you have not been waiting with baited breathe all these years,....I ended up selling the car to a mechanic for 2.5k for his wife,...unsure how it turned out.

Oddly enough, I reverted to the dark side and ended up buying a 2005 Mitsubishi Diamante VRX with 61K on the clock (and, would you believe it, '540' in the number plate!!) after having a good run with an earlier VR model. It was on special at a dealer for not much more than I paid for the BMW.

It has been nearly 3 years of completely trouble free motoring since.

NB: when I picked it up, I wondered if I had done the right thing,..it felt slighty 'tinny' and cheap inside as well as being noticeably noiser [and slower ;-)] - guess that was a part of why one was $145k new versus $49k...(although I had second thoughts about BMW build quality when the plastic lines to the windshield washer bottle split and had to be replaced,....they were hard and had just cracked from age but I thought why scrimp on material like that,..and what did that mean for what else was waiting in the wings....?

Still,...it was a beautiful car and I may well be tempted into the light again,....and I thank you all for your earlier support and assistance.

[SmithyInWelly 212]

Nothing wrong with the old Magna/Diamante - sold them new back in the day, also had a VR Magna in Aussie that had a third pedal... jeez it was a great car, and cheap as chips to buy.

[Olaf 3318]

On 4/17/2019 at 10:55 AM, SmithyInWelly said:

Nothing wrong with the old Magna/Diamante - sold them new back in the day, also had a VR Magna in Aussie that had a third pedal... jeez it was a great car, and cheap as chips to buy.

apart from that feeling of the rear end not being connected to the front end, at least with the wagons. Certainly a good power unit.  Though it was outclassed by the time they re-used it in the 380.

[SmithyInWelly 212]

6 hours ago, Olaf said:

apart from that feeling of the rear end not being connected to the front end, at least with the wagons. Certainly a good power unit.  Though it was outclassed by the time they re-used it in the 380.

Only drove one wagon - felt like a boat; and it was brand new... it's taking all of my powers to not hit BN on the $5k white Ralliart thats currently on TM lol!

[Driftit 2078]

I was never fond of how much oil they burnt and dropped.  Were like bloody two strokes.