Urgent! 1 series broke down

[JDR33]

Hi all

Drove my 2.0 116i to my in-laws which is only 3 miles and half way getting here there was a load of white smoke coming from the rear, close to getting to the house the oil light came on and I just rolled it to the driveway because the engine was rattling. Got out and oil was just everywhere on the floor mainly the drivers side in the engine bay, all over my drivers side wheels, doors and rear. I suspected a head gasket in January, took it to a trusted garage for a diagnostic and was told the gasket was fine but doesn't seem like it was now

Could someone try and confirm what the problem might be? I'd really appreciate it. I got AA coming to collect it in the next 2 hours for lock up until the insurance opens at 8 tomorrow morning.

Thanks, Dave.

[Mattiebmw]

No idea on that mate, believe white smoke is burning oil??
Hope you get it sorted.

[JDR33]

It only started 1.5 miles away from our house (white smoke) but I don't know either I can't pin point where the oils splurted from as these engines are too compact.

[motco]

Burning oil is usually blue smoke but oil getting on to a hot exhaust may well be white vapour. It would have to be a damn big head gasket blow to lose a sumpful that quickly.

[JDR33]

I lost an absolute shed load of oil it's caked the drivers side of the car and the rear. The oil light came on yards from the house and the engine was making a knocking sound just tapping on the accelerator slightly just to roll in to the in-laws house. I just don't understand it's came out the blue. Started up perfect and drove perfect for 1.5 miles then loads of white smoke emitting to the rear it was as if like driving through fog (for the drivers behind).

[S100HP]

JDR33 said:

Hi all

Drove my 2.0 116i to my in-laws which is only 3 miles and half way getting here there was a load of white smoke coming from the rear, close to getting to the house the oil light came on and I just rolled it to the driveway because the engine was rattling. Got out and oil was just everywhere on the floor mainly the drivers side in the engine bay, all over my drivers side wheels, doors and rear. I suspected a head gasket in January, took it to a trusted garage for a diagnostic and was told the gasket was fine but doesn't seem like it was now

Could someone try and confirm what the problem might be? I'd really appreciate it. I got AA coming to collect it in the next 2 hours for lock up until the insurance opens at 8 tomorrow morning.

Thanks, Dave.

What do you think your insurance company are going to do?

[JDR33]

S100HP said:

What do you think your insurance company are going to do?

I've got to wait until 8 tomorrow for them to phone then it's probably going to a garage of my choice but if the engines knackered, which it sounded very much like it was, it might as well come home... I'd flog it off as spares if it was not on finance. Still have 3 years on it.

[Mexman]

JDR33 said:

I've got to wait until 8 tomorrow for them to phone then it's probably going to a garage of my choice but if the engines knackered, which it sounded very much like it was, it might as well come home... I'd flog it off as spares if it was not on finance. Still have 3 years on it.

It's nothing to do with your insurers surely?

[S100HP]

JDR33 said:

S100HP said:

What do you think your insurance company are going to do?

I've got to wait until 8 tomorrow for them to phone then it's probably going to a garage of my choice but if the engines knackered, which it sounded very much like it was, it might as well come home... I'd flog it off as spares if it was not on finance. Still have 3 years on it.

Save yourself a phone call, it's nothing to do with your insurance company and they'll probably laugh at you, unless you mean warranty company...

[Heartworm]

Mistaking a warranty firm firm for insurance?

Sounds like the symptoms of a head gasket, what made you think that before?

[JDR33]

Heartworm said:

Mistaking a warranty firm firm for insurance?

Sounds like the symptoms of a head gasket, what made you think that before?

Creamy texture under the oil cap, obviously can't check the dipstick as it's electronic so i took it to the garage like I said and the guy done a diagnostics, engine check and said it was fine he didn't suspect a gasket failure because the coolant level was normal. Took his word on it and now this has happened.

[cuprabob]

JDR33 said:

Creamy texture under the oil cap,

This is common during the winter months on cars that mostly do short journeys. The oil doesn't get warm enough to burn off condensation.

Edited by cuprabob on Sunday 17th February 19:13

[JDR33]

cuprabob said:

This is common during the winter months on cars that mostly due short journeys. The oil doesn't get warm enough to burn off condensation.

That would be true, however I'm not a mechanic and I let my partner use it to get to work with my daughter so I wanted to have peace of mind for them both.

[Elliot2000]

What year is the bmw? It sounds like chain tensioner has worked it’s self loose if the oil is on the drivers side of engine - known to happen on n43, n45 and n46 engines

If your lucky - tighten it up and refill the engine oil, but as you have driven it till it rattles it may be a bit more terminal

[E-bmw]

JDR33 said:

cuprabob said:

This is common during the winter months on cars that mostly due short journeys. The oil doesn't get warm enough to burn off condensation.

That would be true, however I'm not a mechanic and I let my partner use it to get to work with my daughter so I wanted to have peace of mind for them both.

You seem to be misunderstanding what CB is telling you.

He is telling you that what you describe may not be symptomatic of a head gasket.

The white fog you describe could be oil being evaporated off on the exhaust, the oil is unlikely to be from a Head gasket.

It COULD be but it doesn't sound like it from the little info we currently have.

[cuprabob]

JDR33 said:

That would be true, however I'm not a mechanic and I let my partner use it to get to work with my daughter so I wanted to have peace of mind for them both.

What I'm trying to say is that there is a high probability that today's failure is not connected to the cream around the oil cap.

[RSVR101]

Isn’t a 116i and 1.6 litre not 2.0?

If it lost oil that quickly and dramitacally would it be the head gasket? I doubt it myself. I think the previous poster might be right with chain tensioner.

[anonymous-user]

RSVR101 said:

Isn’t a 116i and 1.6 litre not 2.0?

If it lost oil that quickly and dramitacally would it be the head gasket? I doubt it myself. I think the previous poster might be right with chain tensioner.

116,118 are both 2L just restricted.

[bearman68]

Speculating here - chain tensioner has gone, and the chain, or something else has come through part of the engine (chain cover for example).

[anonymous-user]

S100HP said:

JDR33 said:

S100HP said:

What do you think your insurance company are going to do?

I've got to wait until 8 tomorrow for them to phone then it's probably going to a garage of my choice but if the engines knackered, which it sounded very much like it was, it might as well come home... I'd flog it off as spares if it was not on finance. Still have 3 years on it.

Save yourself a phone call, it's nothing to do with your insurance company and they'll probably laugh at you, unless you mean warranty company...

Maybe his insurer provides breakdown cover? Many do.