I submarined my car today –won’t start-now what? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

trans_lux · 28th July 2003, 01:09

I know, I know in basic driver’s education in high school they tell you to never try and cross water on the pavement because you can’t tell how deep it is. Well they were right!

Anyway I’m pretty sure I have water IN the motor as the swell I created went over my hood.
• New K&N air filters SOAKED.
• Top of motor under cover –SOAKED.
• However no bubbles on the dipstick.

Powers up, but will not turn over. Car is being flat-bed towed to dealer tomorrow morning. I’ll see how fu**ed I am then.
Any experiences or comments?

Need4Spd · 28th July 2003, 01:21

Sorry, but it sounds like water got into your engine. If that's the case, it's likely you have valvetrain damage and will need a new top end if not a rebuild of the piston rings, too. Water is not compressible compared to air, and the clearances are tight enough and compression ratio high enough that water inhalation will usually cause bent valves. If you're lucky, it might just be that the engine stopped running quickly enough so that it is just hydro locked and while water inside the engine is preventing it from turning over, there may be no damage. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Steve Morling · 28th July 2003, 02:07

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but an acquaintance with a 330i had a similar experience and the H20 got into the gearbox too - a big mess.
Did any water get into the car itself? If so, strip the carpets asap.
Good luck

trans_lux · 28th July 2003, 02:16

Thanks for the info Need4Spd & Steve Morling I really appreciate it.
By some miracle I don’t think any water got into the interior.
I hoping for the best that it is just hydro locked.
I was only swamped for a couple of seconds at the longest.
It all happend so darn fast!

Bmxbikergtss · 28th July 2003, 02:20

lets hope for the best for the beast
could it be that when the engine is really hot and water gets in will it warp the internals. i dont know what the term for that is.

de Witt · 28th July 2003, 02:52

Water is commonly used to clean engines. However, it is injected into the engine by the same basic part as a fuel injector. However, this is a small volume of water entering the cylinder.

Your engine is sucking air in. Water is easily sucked into the engine, especially when you are foraging a stream. As said by Need4Speed, water is not as compressible as air is because water is approx 770 times denser than air. At high rpms (1000rpms is fast), 10:1 compression ratio, and a high volume of water (10cc is sizeable)....you need to get the enigne checked pronto.

BMX, what you describe is commonly called thermal stressing. That is an interesting idea for the problem here.

trans_lux · 28th July 2003, 03:27

Correction-I do have water in the left rear back seat carpet area.
Used wife’s Bissell Green Machine (BTW great carpet cleaner

) and shop vac to suck everything out.
Will leave carpet out overnight.

EBMCS03 · 28th July 2003, 04:47

Yikes! sorry to hear that... Hope its not too bad.

28th July 2003, 06:23

I am sorry to hear the news, and I really do hope that it all works out for the best. If I were you, I would also look into insurance coverage under the comprehensive side of your policy. Often new cars that get flooded, have their title salvaged just for water damage.

Boston m57777 · 28th July 2003, 06:37

I think its time for you to go and collect your INSURANCE CHECK.. they might total it..