Emergency! My 335 engine shut off in flood

sson01 · 04-17-2007, 01:27 PM

It rained hard in NH over the weekend. I lent my car to my parents to pick up my brother at school and got a call from my parents that my car's engine shut off itself in the road where water rose to knee to waist level.

Will there be any serious damage to the engine? Car itself?

How does warranty work here?

HyperM3 · 04-17-2007, 01:30 PM

Were they trying to drive THROUGH the road where the water was that high? If so and water got in your engine, start looking for a new car. It can be insured under flood damage. However, they might fight it being that your family was smart enough to think they were in a submarine.

sson01 · 04-17-2007, 01:33 PM

Yes, they were trying to get through because it was the only road, Talking to my parents now, and they told me all other cars got through except our car.... all other cars were probably SUVs...

HyperM3 · 04-17-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sson01

Yes, they were trying to get through because it was the only road, Talking to my parents now, and they told me all other cars got through except our car.... all other cars were probably SUVs...

No comment.

theroyalwe · 04-17-2007, 01:38 PM

typically flood damaged cars get totaled. I'm not sure if you need to have flood insurance though. either way you can expect to be looking for a new car pretty soon. if your parents were driving it may be under their insurance because they would be at fault.

HyperM3 · 04-17-2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theroyalwe

if your parents were driving it may be under their insurance because they would be at fault.

Unless the insurance was under his name only and he never put an allowance for family members on his policy.

SoYank · 04-17-2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sson01

Yes, they were trying to get through because it was the only road, Talking to my parents now, and they told me all other cars got through except our car.... all other cars were probably SUVs...

Or they didn't drive quite fast enough. When driving through water like that you want to drive fast enough that there is a wave just in front of the bumper. This creates a trough in which the car can run. Too fast and you drive into the wave; too slow and the trough fills in.

HyperM3 · 04-17-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoYank

Or they didn't drive quite fast enough. When driving through water like that you want to drive fast enough that there is a wave just in front of the bumper. This creates a trough in which the car can run. Too fast and you drive into the wave; too slow and the trough fills in.

Thats only if youre following another car which parts the water. This is the smart way to go. However, being that its a 3 series, the snorkle for the intake is right in the grill. If they were going any speed for the water to come over the hood, the water was sucked into the engine.

johnc_22 · 04-17-2007, 01:44 PM

Whatever they do tell them not to try to start the car now that it's off.

HyperM3 · 04-17-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnc_22

Whatever they do tell them not to try to start the car now that it's off.

Id bet all the money in my wallet they already tried that several times.

Enkur · 04-17-2007, 01:47 PM

I am surprised people still drive their cars through flooded roads. I mean every time there is a storm or something the TV is blaring on and on to people to dont drive through those roads as they may get caught in a flash flood. I would say your parents are lucky they didnt drown.

Evo8MRto335I · 04-17-2007, 01:48 PM

I don't want to critize more nor make things worse but mostlikely the engine sucked some water into the engine and messed all up.

People shouldn't be driving through the water unless you have a diesel AWD tall pick up truck and the air filter is way high.

Sorry to hear that but if the dealer finds water inside the engine I am afraiod they might say it was negligence/careless driving.

johnc_22 · 04-17-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Id bet all the money in my wallet they already tried that several times.

Yeah, probably a safe bet.

Orient330iNYC · 04-17-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sson01

It rained hard in NH over the weekend. I lent my car to my parents to pick up my brother at school and got a call from my parents that my car's engine shut off itself in the road where water rose to knee to waist level.

Will there be any serious damage to the engine? Car itself?

How does warranty work here?

probably hydrolocked the engine... possibly bent all the valves... very expensive repair.

if the car flooded with water, the inside, its probably totalled.

gonzo · 04-17-2007, 01:51 PM

With this maybe...Sorry. Sure hope they are covered in your car.

s420merc · 04-17-2007, 02:00 PM

I had this happen to one of my cars once and it was ok after it dried out i drove it for another 40k with no problems then sold it so u might get lucky.
Is the car a lease or a buy.
Most likely though u hydrolocked the engine.

Dleo · 04-17-2007, 02:03 PM

damn I'm sorry to hear that happened.

i have seen a few cars that tried driving into floods and the extent of damage was not bad, but again every case was different.

some cars i have seen had water sucked straight into the intake causing the motor to ultimately seize. other cars just had flooded the distributor cap which caused the motor to loose its spark and stop running (this is the best case scenario) usually either just dried out the distributor or replaced it all together.

you said water was up to the knee or waist level, i am guessing water got into the intake and ultimately ended up into the engine. i would take it to the dealer and see what the outcome would be.

as far as the insurance i believe flooding is covered in the policy, if the car is a lease or still being payed for then BMW wants FULL COVERAGE for the car which includes flood protection. either way good luck!!

azbmw · 04-17-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sson01

It rained hard in NH over the weekend. I lent my car to my parents to pick up my brother at school and got a call from my parents that my car's engine shut off itself in the road where water rose to knee to waist level.

Will there be any serious damage to the engine? Car itself?

How does warranty work here?

damage to the engine? very likely.
Car itself? remains to be seen - depends on how high the water rose.
How does warranty work here? It doesn't. Warranties cover defects, not driver errors. Thats what insurance is for.

In AZ we have a stupid motorists law (actual name). Basically if you drive through flooded waters you will get fined and have to pay for any rescue & car retrieval. During monsoon season this happens a lot. Just inches of rushing water and your car can loose traction.

I do feel a little bad for sson since he didn’t do this to his own car. Your parents insurance - if its full coverage - should cover other vehicles they drive whether it’s a rental vehicle or borrowed car. They may be able to pay for the damage before their insurance company drops them for a lack of good judgement.

TTG · 04-17-2007, 02:04 PM

Just amaing! Knee deep water with a 3er.....

You better start hoping that your insurance will cover your loss.....

I feel for you since this wasn't your fault at all.....

HyperM3 · 04-17-2007, 02:08 PM

Can you use your family as a trade? Too bad you dont have a sister...

NaViT · 04-17-2007, 02:12 PM

lol you guys arent making him feel good.... that must suck

Brunotheboxer · 04-17-2007, 02:15 PM

sorry to hear this.

04-17-2007, 01:27 PM	#1
sson01 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 35 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Black Sapphire Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Emergency! My 335 engine shut off in flood It rained hard in NH over the weekend. I lent my car to my parents to pick up my brother at school and got a call from my parents that my car's engine shut off itself in the road where water rose to knee to waist level. Will there be any serious damage to the engine? Car itself? How does warranty work here?
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04-17-2007, 01:30 PM	#2
HyperM3 Too many Alex's, from now on, call me Beaufort 342 Rep 6,188 Posts Drives: See Sig Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (8)	Were they trying to drive THROUGH the road where the water was that high? If so and water got in your engine, start looking for a new car. It can be insured under flood damage. However, they might fight it being that your family was smart enough to think they were in a submarine. __________________ 13 HD FatBob 17 A4 Glacier/Black 1st Edition/Pre+/Sport/EurocodeTMD/Racechip 16 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),13 S6 (gone),10 S4 (gone) 07 335i(gone)
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04-17-2007, 01:33 PM	#3
sson01 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 35 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Black Sapphire Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Yes, they were trying to get through because it was the only road, Talking to my parents now, and they told me all other cars got through except our car.... all other cars were probably SUVs...
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04-17-2007, 01:38 PM	#5
theroyalwe BMW CA 5 Rep 304 Posts Drives: MINI, all BMW's Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	typically flood damaged cars get totaled. I'm not sure if you need to have flood insurance though. either way you can expect to be looking for a new car pretty soon. if your parents were driving it may be under their insurance because they would be at fault. __________________
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04-17-2007, 01:44 PM	#9
johnc_22 First Lieutenant 4 Rep 337 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Whatever they do tell them not to try to start the car now that it's off. __________________ E90 335i: TiAg, black leather, burl walnut, 6MT, Sport, Premium, Cold Weather, PDC, Sirius, Comfort Access, Nav ED: 3/30/2007 Redelivered! 5/15/2007.
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04-17-2007, 01:47 PM	#11
Enkur Lieutenant 285 Rep 538 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 Comp xDrive Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cedar Park, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	I am surprised people still drive their cars through flooded roads. I mean every time there is a storm or something the TV is blaring on and on to people to dont drive through those roads as they may get caught in a flash flood. I would say your parents are lucky they didnt drown. __________________ 2022 Tanzanite Blue ///M3Cx \|\|\| 2015 550i \|\|\| 2011 328i sedan \|\|\| 2009 Z4 \|\|\| 2007 328i Coupe
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04-17-2007, 01:48 PM	#12
Evo8MRto335I Captain 40 Rep 983 Posts Drives: can't list them all Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson iTrader: (1)	I don't want to critize more nor make things worse but mostlikely the engine sucked some water into the engine and messed all up. People shouldn't be driving through the water unless you have a diesel AWD tall pick up truck and the air filter is way high. Sorry to hear that but if the dealer finds water inside the engine I am afraiod they might say it was negligence/careless driving.
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04-17-2007, 01:51 PM	#15
gonzo Lieutenant General 10202 Rep 14,398 Posts Drives: as many as possible Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: TeXXXas iTrader: (0)	With this maybe...Sorry. Sure hope they are covered in your car. __________________ Crazy Diamond Last edited by gonzo; 06-07-2007 at 10:36 AM..
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04-17-2007, 02:00 PM	#16
s420merc Private First Class 7 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 300c SRT8 , ML350 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Staten Island NY and Milford PA iTrader: (0)	I had this happen to one of my cars once and it was ok after it dried out i drove it for another 40k with no problems then sold it so u might get lucky. Is the car a lease or a buy. Most likely though u hydrolocked the engine.
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04-17-2007, 02:03 PM	#17
Dleo Brigadier General 211 Rep 3,358 Posts Drives: 2010 X5 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NYC iTrader: (2)	damn I'm sorry to hear that happened. i have seen a few cars that tried driving into floods and the extent of damage was not bad, but again every case was different. some cars i have seen had water sucked straight into the intake causing the motor to ultimately seize. other cars just had flooded the distributor cap which caused the motor to loose its spark and stop running (this is the best case scenario) usually either just dried out the distributor or replaced it all together. you said water was up to the knee or waist level, i am guessing water got into the intake and ultimately ended up into the engine. i would take it to the dealer and see what the outcome would be. as far as the insurance i believe flooding is covered in the policy, if the car is a lease or still being payed for then BMW wants FULL COVERAGE for the car which includes flood protection. either way good luck!! __________________
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04-17-2007, 02:04 PM	#19
TTG ... 936 Rep 4,326 Posts Drives: M340 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [7.84] 2007 335 Coupe (ret ... [9.00]	Just amaing! Knee deep water with a 3er..... You better start hoping that your insurance will cover your loss..... I feel for you since this wasn't your fault at all..... __________________ 2020 G20 M340 xDrive - Portimao Blue - ZDA\|ZPP\|ZPX\|1CR\|1PE\|6NW\|6WD 2016 F10 535i xDrive - AW - Retired 2011 E92 M3 - AW……………....ED April 29th, 2010 - Retired 2007 E92 335i -Space Gray.....ED Oct 19th, 2006 - Retired
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04-17-2007, 02:08 PM	#20
HyperM3 Too many Alex's, from now on, call me Beaufort 342 Rep 6,188 Posts Drives: See Sig Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (8)	Can you use your family as a trade? Too bad you dont have a sister... __________________ 13 HD FatBob 17 A4 Glacier/Black 1st Edition/Pre+/Sport/EurocodeTMD/Racechip 16 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),13 S6 (gone),10 S4 (gone) 07 335i(gone)
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04-17-2007, 02:12 PM	#21
NaViT Banned 69 Rep 3,404 Posts Drives: 04 M3/E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: N.Florida iTrader: (11)	lol you guys arent making him feel good.... that must suck
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04-17-2007, 02:15 PM	#22
Brunotheboxer Colonel 371 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: 2014 Shelby GT500. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston/Cape Cod iTrader: (0)	sorry to hear this. __________________ "...I maybe drunk, but you're ugly, and I can sober up..."
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