Z4 e-Drive 2.3 overheating in traffic jam

[shauncoles]

On Friday afternoon we drove down M4 & M5 to go to Plymouth to catch a ferry. The traffic was very heavy south of Bristol and it was Britain's warmest day. We got stuck in a terrible jam, barely moving, the dashboard thermometer registered 32C outside temperature and the oil temp gauge started going past 120C & hit 140C. All of a sudden a big thermometer symbol appeared on the display and the engine slowed and lost all torque. I just managed to steer into onto the hard shoulder and turned it off. I lifted the bonnet & was hit by a wave of heat. I left it like that for 15 minutes; then started the car and the jam cleared and we were on our way. Since then for the last 24 hours the car is running great withe no ill effects on the jam-free French highways. Any comments? I know that heatwave was a one-off but do you think I should have the oil flushed or changed? Anybody else had a similar issue; it was pretty scary to find the complete loss of drive on busy jammed motorway. The car is ten years old with 33,000 miles on clock. I do 2k to 4k a year and it is serviced every two years. Thanks! Shaun

 

[jamie_z4]

Electric water pump failure get it changed ASAP common problem on n52/n53

 

[Mr Tidy]

I'd agree with Jamie. That sounds just like the electric water pump having died - when it gets too hot the car will go into limp mode to protect the engine.

Ideally if you could get the fault code(s) read that would confirm the issue.

 

[flybobbie]

Are the fans operating i have noticed mine running today for the first time, temp outside 29 degrees c.
Run car up to temp and feel the hoses, see if fan kicks in.

 

[Sirrith]

To put your mind at ease, the "heat wave" is nothing the z4 can't handle under normal circumstances. Here in Hong Kong 32C and traffic jams are pretty much the norm from June to September.

 

[step_change]

To put your mind at ease, the "heat wave" is nothing the z4 can't handle under normal circumstances. Here in Hong Kong 32C and traffic jams are pretty much the norm from June to September.

Agreed. What we Brits call a "heat wave" i.e. the one or two days per year where the temp gets above 28C, is everyday weather in many countries and in the Middle East and elsewhere the cars run fine in 45C heat and in traffic too. In Houston, Texas where I lived it regularly was over 38C and 100% humidity.
Something is on the way out mate and probably the water pump.

 

[mcbutler]

If your water pump is failing you will get a permanent yellow fault light on the dash, if it fail you will get a red one and the car will drop into limp mode.
Yours sounds odd to be honest, difficult to diagnose once the snags gone of course.
I am in Plymouth, so you were not too far from help