BMW's in floods, WARNING!!!
Discussion
Do not try to drive through flood water in a BMW, some models have the engine air intake low down next to the fog lights, should it suck water up then your engine is SCRAP!
(Check out your local BMW agent and ask him how many they have in with this problem, it's alarming!)
For everyone else, check out where the engine air intake is so that you don't have the same problem.
(Check out your local BMW agent and ask him how many they have in with this problem, it's alarming!)
For everyone else, check out where the engine air intake is so that you don't have the same problem.
Hardly unique to BMW; quite a few cars have the air intake at the bottom of the engine bay.
It actually makes less difference that you'd think because as soon as the water is deep enough to catch the front splitter it generates a significant "bow wake" driving water up the front of the car, even at relatively low speed. If your car isn't specifically designed for wading, driving through water that comes above the floor-pan is frankly idiotic.
It actually makes less difference that you'd think because as soon as the water is deep enough to catch the front splitter it generates a significant "bow wake" driving water up the front of the car, even at relatively low speed. If your car isn't specifically designed for wading, driving through water that comes above the floor-pan is frankly idiotic.
One vehicle that the dealer mentioned, a lady stopped her car as she entered the water, it wasn't even above the bottom of the tyres, but a vehicle coming the other way made a bow-wave that splashed up against the front of her car, subsequently stopping her engine due to water ingress.
As I've also said, it's an idea for everyone to check just where-abouts the air intake is. I also didn't say that it effected every BMW.
As I've also said, it's an idea for everyone to check just where-abouts the air intake is. I also didn't say that it effected every BMW.
Edited by Gafferjim on Saturday 26th December 11:55
Shouldn't look at wading in anything unless it's been prepared for it.
Back in my off roading days my defender was prepped up for wading.
Extended breathers on the gearbox, front and rear diffs, transfer box. Breathers ran to a junction box at the top of the bulkhead. From there there was a wider single pipe which then ran up the length of the snorkel. Wading plugs in the bottom of the cam and gearbox housing.
After that, checking all pipe work that carried air into the engine were tight, I remember other areas had to be silicone sealed up, but the location(s) escape me.
This is a supposed rufty tufty Landrover defender we're talking about. It's a lot of prep and £££ to make sure it's not going to ingest water. The cheapest items were the wading plugs.
I won't be taking my BMW down any flooded roads anytime soon. It's impossible to tell if it will stay the same depth, and you shouldn't reverse in water.
Back in my off roading days my defender was prepped up for wading.
Extended breathers on the gearbox, front and rear diffs, transfer box. Breathers ran to a junction box at the top of the bulkhead. From there there was a wider single pipe which then ran up the length of the snorkel. Wading plugs in the bottom of the cam and gearbox housing.
After that, checking all pipe work that carried air into the engine were tight, I remember other areas had to be silicone sealed up, but the location(s) escape me.
This is a supposed rufty tufty Landrover defender we're talking about. It's a lot of prep and £££ to make sure it's not going to ingest water. The cheapest items were the wading plugs.
I won't be taking my BMW down any flooded roads anytime soon. It's impossible to tell if it will stay the same depth, and you shouldn't reverse in water.
I don't think this is alarmist at all. My best mate did just this a couple of weeks ago in a new GT, the water got sucked up and caused £13,000 worth of damage. A terrible design by the look of things, and we're not talking a deep flood here either, or driving through at speed.
Edited by RowntreesCabana on Saturday 26th December 12:10
This same topic came up a few weeks ago. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
kambites said:
Hardly unique to BMW; quite a few cars have the air intake at the bottom of the engine bay.
It actually makes less difference that you'd think because as soon as the water is deep enough to catch the front splitter it generates a significant "bow wake" driving water up the front of the car, even at relatively low speed. If your car isn't specifically designed for wading, driving through water that comes above the floor-pan is frankly idiotic.
From the picture in the thread i linked it looks like any such bow wake would go straight into the air intake.It actually makes less difference that you'd think because as soon as the water is deep enough to catch the front splitter it generates a significant "bow wake" driving water up the front of the car, even at relatively low speed. If your car isn't specifically designed for wading, driving through water that comes above the floor-pan is frankly idiotic.
Edited by rodericb on Saturday 26th December 12:54
kambites said:
Matttrakker said:
Good bit of advice though.
I better (and simpler) but of advice would be "don't drive through floods unless you know what you're doing". 
Anyway, I agree with the second part of your sentence. The problem is that people probably only look at the water and think as long as it doesn't come inside they're safe. So they think they know what they're doing.
Hoofy said:
kambites said:
Matttrakker said:
Good bit of advice though.
I better (and simpler) but of advice would be "don't drive through floods unless you know what you're doing". 
I don't think it's too much to ask that a car manage a foot of water if driven consideratly. It would appear the BMW in that linked thread is one with an inlet design crap for that sort of thing, which is exactly what the OP is referring to.
But yeah "omfg don't take teh m5 down the danubes then you roflcopter m7" advice is brilliant.
But yeah "omfg don't take teh m5 down the danubes then you roflcopter m7" advice is brilliant.
RumbleOfThunder said:
I don't think it's too much to ask that a car manage a foot of water if driven consideratly. It would appear the BMW in that linked thread is one with an inlet design crap for that sort of thing, which is exactly what the OP is referring to.
Very few "normal" cars will happily wade 12 inches of water. Even 6 inches is pushing it for many. If nothing else, 12 inches will result in wet carpets. Door seals are not designed for immersion. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff