M5 Potential Engine Damage – Need Advice

ghenderson122 · 3rd May 2012, 18:01

Hello Everyone – New here, but need some advice. I bought a 2009 M5 the 1^st week of March. Certified pre-owned with about 35k miles on it. The car looked like it had just come from the factory and was running perfect. After having it 3 weeks (and only a few hundred miles since purchasing), it was stolen from my garage and later found about 2.5 weeks later. The car went to the body shop first and is now at the dealership with engine problems. When found, it was towed to an impound yard. When I picked it up, we started the car. It was idling really rough/eratic, an engine warning light came on, the low oil warning was on, and it within a couple mins, it was spraying anti freeze and the engine overheating warning came on. It was shut down and towed in to the dealership.

The weekend it was stolen, the low oil light had just come on. I didn’t drive after (used my other car) and planned on picking oil up from the dealership on Monday. After being stolen, I know they put at least a couple hundred miles on it. My first question, is what damage could this have caused? What test should I require the dealership/insurance complete?

When found, there was an empty anti-freeze container in the trunk. Because of that, I know they were having problems and could have been driving it while overheating. What damage could this have caused and what tests do I need to require?

I expect to hear from the dealership today with their findings and will find out what tests/inspections they have run so far.

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. It’s a really frustrating situation to say the least. And I want to make sure that nothing is missed, leading me to have problems down the road.

BMWDave · 3rd May 2012, 18:23

Whoa dude!!! That's terrible!!!

I see you are in San Diego also. Would you mind PM'ing which nieghborhood you live in? I'm just really surprised of this happening in San Diego. I can imagine maybe Chula Vista or National City area closer to the border.

Also, I see that you are a new member. You accidentally posted this in the F10 section instead of the E60 section. New person mistake, no biggie.

On a personal note, if I were you I wouldn't even be thinking about keeping the M5 after it got stolen. You have no idea what they did to that car. I would try and get insurance to claim it a total loss if I were you. That's just so terrible, I would have been crying if I were in your shoes.

Let me know if you need any help with anything buddy, least I could do. Or at least buy you a beer after your ordeal, you might need one.

Iand112 · 3rd May 2012, 21:05

I couldnt imagine having my car stolen out of my own garage. like....cmon.

Whatever happens, I hope it is the end result that is best for you

douglas_ngo · 3rd May 2012, 21:58

I agree with Dave's recommendation. I would try to get the insurance to claim it as a total lost and get yourself a new M5. This could end up causing a lot of headaches and $$$ down the road if you keep this car. Running the engine on low oil and overheating is not a good combination. Sorry to hear man.

z33k · 3rd May 2012, 22:03

How did they start the car? Did they have the keys?

SuckaGDog · 3rd May 2012, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by z33k

How did they start the car? Did they have the keys?

Yeah same question as him! ^

mdyaman · 3rd May 2012, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by z33k

How did they start the car? Did they have the keys?

+1

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if they didn't have the keys, they'd have to have some equipment to capture the keys transmission signal to the car, store it, and then transmit it on their own device. Yes, it is possible these days, but haven't seen it reported yet.

BMWDave · 3rd May 2012, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by z33k

How did they start the car? Did they have the keys?

Yes very good question. I didn't consider that. I've never heard of any theif getting the car started without the key. This could be scary if thieves have figured out a way to easily bypass the theft deterrent technology. I also know that the E60 M5 S85 engine is equiped with an engine kill feature, but I don't know the parameters of which it works.

phish_100 · 3rd May 2012, 22:43

This story is BS

Glengary · 3rd May 2012, 22:51

it's a little suspect