OMG Big-end failure :-(

[davegt]

Is it probable the head has been off before & if so i would want to know when , who by & why ?
Unless you have a blank cheque book i would want some cost idea before the dealer set,s about it with a spanner

Its only the rocker cover that has had work, the head is untouched. The rocker has been off before but that was more than likely due the same oil leak that's been bodge repaired with sealer before I bought the car and had it sorted properly but the bolts hadn't been changed which is possibly why the original stretch bolts snapped, when I looked at the car I didn't removed the plastic engine cover (who would) so couldn't see that the bolts had clearly been removed at some point. New engine from BMW is £11000ish

I've authorised the dealer to inspect only, yes it's going to cost me a couple of hours labour (they'll contact me after an hour to confirm what additional time is required) but its the only way I can try for a goodwill repair, if they won't repair under goodwill (I will argue the point of low miles etc) Then I'll know the exact problem and have it repaired/rebuilt elsewhere, I have no plans to sell the car and I want it right. It may just have to sit for a month or two before it gets done, I'll just pop out to the garage a few nights a week and make engine noises and pretend to drive it :rofl:, Wonder how much a M5 V8 conversion or 3.5 twin turbo would cost :lol:

I'll know more on Friday, not sure how long it'll take BMW UK to get back to me but the Z is a garage queen so I can sit it out.

 

[mr wilks]

Is it probable the head has been off before & if so i would want to know when , who by & why ?
Unless you have a blank cheque book i would want some cost idea before the dealer set,s about it with a spanner

Its only the rocker cover that has had work, the head is untouched. The rocker has been off before but that was more than likely due the same oil leak that's been bodge repaired with sealer before I bought the car and had it sorted properly but the bolts hadn't been changed which is possibly why the original stretch bolts snapped, when I looked at the car I didn't removed the plastic engine cover (who would) so couldn't see that the bolts had clearly been removed at some point. New engine from BMW is £11000ish

I've authorised the dealer to inspect only, yes it's going to cost me a couple of hours labour (they'll contact me after an hour to confirm what additional time is required) but its the only way I can try for a goodwill repair, if they won't repair under goodwill (I will argue the point of low miles etc) Then I'll know the exact problem and have it repaired/rebuilt elsewhere, I have no plans to sell the car and I want it right. It may just have to sit for a month or two before it gets done, I'll just pop out to the garage a few nights a week and make engine noises and pretend to drive it :rofl:, Wonder how much a M5 V8 conversion or 3.5 twin turbo would cost :lol:

I'll know more on Friday, not sure how long it'll take BMW UK to get back to me but the Z is a garage queen so I can sit it out.

My thoughts were that if someone had meddled before potentially causing your current issues then BMW may well charge you for telling you they won,t be able to help as the engine is not as it should be from their prospective ?
Good luck on friday & hope it work,s out for you

 

[Vanne]

Mate, it's a 4rth hand car, with 100.000kms plus on the clock. Regardless of any and all dealer service history, your buying used. You have no idea off what the car went through before it got to your hands. Ie could have been trashed/run out of oil etc...
Good luck, but I would not be holding my breath on any 'goodwill' from bmw. If they do, then as said, it's goodwill. : )
That's one of the reasons why on a higher mile car, service history means jack and condition is everything.
Good luck anyways, will be keeping my fingers crossed for ya. : )

 

[davegt]

I certainly wouldn't regard 64k miles as "high' on a BMW just under 8 years old, 'average annual UK mileage is estimated at 12k per year.

Just had some very interesting info passed my way on an N52 engine that had a failed bottom end at 900 miles

 

[TonyP]

Just had some very interesting info passed my way on an N52 engine that had a failed bottom end at 900 miles

Care to share?

 

[Vanne]

64k and 8 years old.. 8 years, that's 6 years after the factory warranty expired. And even though 64k isn't that /high/ mileage, after a car passes 100k kms (around 62k miles) it looses a crap load of worth, and that's why so many cars are sold before the /high/ mileage mark of 62k or so. Probably co-occurs due to any extended warren try expiring at 5 years or 100k kms these days.

 

[davegt]

My brothers 1992 2.5 e34 is on 170k with an extensive history and the engine doesn't even use any oil. 64k on a non serviceable part - personally I expect more from a BMW engine that has been serviced in line with manufacturer guidelines so I'll be arguing my case as such. Nothing ventured nothing gained!

 

[Felix]

Not wishing to tempt fate, my 04 3.0i Zed engine is still going strong at 155,000 miles (and it's second gearbox...)

 

[nightyard]

might be the hydrolic lifters if you've got a tapping noise on an Si engine.

alot of them do it when been on alot of short runs

the tapping isn't rev dependant though, it increases and decreases with the number of revs.

 

[davegt]

Well the car is back from BMW they say its not the bottom end and they can't find a problem with it, the oil was a bit low (not warning light low) so they topped it up, tightened up a few loose clips etc and strangely enough on the drive back I couldn't replicate the noise. For the time being I'm going to consider it solved and just enjoy it unless it comes back in which case it'll back to the drawing board.

On a plus note I had a chat with the sales guy after looking at a 2010 3lt E89, they offered me a decent PX price and talked me though the options and I must say after a test drive I'm quite tempted.

Top service from BMW Northampton, the tech even took the time to come out to the car when I went to collect it to talk me though everything and I wasn't even charged for a full hour!

 

[mr wilks]

Well the car is back from BMW they say its not the bottom end and they can't find a problem with it, the oil was a bit low (not warning light low) so they topped it up, tightened up a few loose clips etc and strangely enough on the drive back I couldn't replicate the noise. For the time being I'm going to consider it solved and just enjoy it unless it comes back in which case it'll back to the drawing board.

On a plus note I had a chat with the sales guy after looking at a 2010 3lt E89, they offered me a decent PX price and talked me though the options and I must say after a test drive I'm quite tempted.

Top service from BMW Northampton, the tech even took the time to come out to the car when I went to collect it to talk me though everything and I wasn't even charged for a full hour!

Sounds like a decent outcome Dave , glad it went well

 

[davegt]

Sounds like a decent outcome Dave , glad it went well

Thanks, I'd still like to know what is was/is but if BMW can't find it I'm at a loss, shouldn't have driven the E89 I'm far to tempted to head back to the dealer and buy it!

 

[Stuart Truman]

Which just leads to the question about how the conversation with the "workshop" that diagnosed a big end bearing failing will go...

 

[davegt]

Which just leads to the question about how the conversation with the "workshop" that diagnosed a big end bearing failing will go...

Will be finding a new local indi!!

 

[paulgs1000]

Pleased to hear the news - hope everything continues to be fine - now enjoy (unless you trade it in!)

Shows how a second opinion is worth getting.

:driving:

 

[davegt]

Defo worth taking it to BMW for something like this. I was ready to have a rebuild if needed but now I'm thinking E89, every cloud and all that!