E60 M5: Can rear end collision damag engine or Gearbox?
Discussion
Any advice or shared experience would be appreciated. I hope I’m not repeating a known topic; I searched but did not find a post related to a rear-end collision causing an engine or transmission issue.
The car was stationary, gear was in Drive, foot on the brake, hand-brake was off (not in use). Hand brake was not in use because traffic was stop-start, but I was completely stationary when all of a sudden, bang, a bus hit the car. The bus weighs 11 Tons/12,000kg/26,455 lb.
Photo attached. On collision, my car was wedged to the bus. I felt the car judder to the side upon impact! No damage to the wheel. I took photos, the bus driver accepted fault. I was on adrenalin, my young son was in the car traumatised, and I wanted to get him off the road asap.
I thought it was just a bumper damage. I was able to drive away but I then heard a rattling noise from underneath the car. I pulled over and after a few seconds the car stopped running. I tried restarting it, wouldn’t start and Transmission Malfunction error was displayed on the dash. Pushed the start button, no engine sound, error is displayed on the dash.
The car was towed away . An engineer from the insurer called me and said looking at the photos, he did not believe the bumper damage would result in a total loss or a write off. I told him I would be glad if the car could be repaired but told him about the rattling sound that made me pull over and the Transmission Fault. He said that may not be related to the accident. I went nuts and told him my car drove perfectly prior to the accident. Something happened after the collision! I told him insurers would try to wriggle out of claims but I would not accept it!
The insurer had the car towed to a BMW dealer for investigation. I was informed that the car did not start because the battery was dead. They charged the battery but the car still does not start. They plan to put it on the ramp next week to remove the under-trays and investigate.
Questions please:
1.
As the battery is located in that position of collision, could the impact have caused an issue with the battery sensor (BST) or something along those lines? The battery obviously feeds power to the modules on the car (including gearbox control unit) and if there is a power supply problem there will be faults on the dash?
2.
Could the rattling noise from underneath the car be a damaged Drive Shaft?
The gearbox was actually rebuilt/re-sealed in March this year under warranty. New SMG Pump, etc. Drives great, there was no issue prior to the accident. Could the collision have caused a transmission fault?
3.
Could this be an engine issue and could such a rear-end collision cause an engine issue?
I think it is already known that front-end collision when the beast is parked/stationary, can result in engine issues. This is a related post here:
https://www.m5board.com/threads/can-catastrophic-e...
I’m realistic that I may be looking at total loss, and age/mileage won’t be to my advantage. But I need to avoid a situation where the insurance company just replaces the bumper and dump the rest on me!
I can’t believe how emotionally connected I am to this car- and my family too! I already had the car when my kids were born and they miss it! It’s just a car- one would say. Most importantly, my son and I are well!
I love the V10, had my beast for almost 8 years and it has driven me for 100k miles so far. Precautionary works such as rod bearings/oil seals, Diff, Actuators, all done, no engine issues. Full merino leather dash and interior in Indianapolis red with that Silverstone blue is rare. Now at 160k miles and was never going to sell, don’t care about re-sale value, I was going (hope to still) to drive it to the last mile with a smile!
Any advice or answers to the questions above would be appreciated. Thanks.
U
The car was stationary, gear was in Drive, foot on the brake, hand-brake was off (not in use). Hand brake was not in use because traffic was stop-start, but I was completely stationary when all of a sudden, bang, a bus hit the car. The bus weighs 11 Tons/12,000kg/26,455 lb.
Photo attached. On collision, my car was wedged to the bus. I felt the car judder to the side upon impact! No damage to the wheel. I took photos, the bus driver accepted fault. I was on adrenalin, my young son was in the car traumatised, and I wanted to get him off the road asap.
I thought it was just a bumper damage. I was able to drive away but I then heard a rattling noise from underneath the car. I pulled over and after a few seconds the car stopped running. I tried restarting it, wouldn’t start and Transmission Malfunction error was displayed on the dash. Pushed the start button, no engine sound, error is displayed on the dash.
The car was towed away . An engineer from the insurer called me and said looking at the photos, he did not believe the bumper damage would result in a total loss or a write off. I told him I would be glad if the car could be repaired but told him about the rattling sound that made me pull over and the Transmission Fault. He said that may not be related to the accident. I went nuts and told him my car drove perfectly prior to the accident. Something happened after the collision! I told him insurers would try to wriggle out of claims but I would not accept it!
The insurer had the car towed to a BMW dealer for investigation. I was informed that the car did not start because the battery was dead. They charged the battery but the car still does not start. They plan to put it on the ramp next week to remove the under-trays and investigate.
Questions please:
1.
As the battery is located in that position of collision, could the impact have caused an issue with the battery sensor (BST) or something along those lines? The battery obviously feeds power to the modules on the car (including gearbox control unit) and if there is a power supply problem there will be faults on the dash?
2.
Could the rattling noise from underneath the car be a damaged Drive Shaft?
The gearbox was actually rebuilt/re-sealed in March this year under warranty. New SMG Pump, etc. Drives great, there was no issue prior to the accident. Could the collision have caused a transmission fault?
3.
Could this be an engine issue and could such a rear-end collision cause an engine issue?
I think it is already known that front-end collision when the beast is parked/stationary, can result in engine issues. This is a related post here:
https://www.m5board.com/threads/can-catastrophic-e...
I’m realistic that I may be looking at total loss, and age/mileage won’t be to my advantage. But I need to avoid a situation where the insurance company just replaces the bumper and dump the rest on me!
I can’t believe how emotionally connected I am to this car- and my family too! I already had the car when my kids were born and they miss it! It’s just a car- one would say. Most importantly, my son and I are well!
I love the V10, had my beast for almost 8 years and it has driven me for 100k miles so far. Precautionary works such as rod bearings/oil seals, Diff, Actuators, all done, no engine issues. Full merino leather dash and interior in Indianapolis red with that Silverstone blue is rare. Now at 160k miles and was never going to sell, don’t care about re-sale value, I was going (hope to still) to drive it to the last mile with a smile!
Any advice or answers to the questions above would be appreciated. Thanks.
U
Sadly Insurance companies do try to wriggle, and with the mileage @ 160K it may well be a write off, sorry but that's how they operate.
Good luck with it. That looks like a glancing blow, not sure how that could cause an engine /gearbox fault but a sensor could show a fault, may be a cheap repair after all.
Good luck with it. That looks like a glancing blow, not sure how that could cause an engine /gearbox fault but a sensor could show a fault, may be a cheap repair after all.
Edited by JMBMWM5 on Sunday 16th May 12:24
Thanks for the response, appreciated!
I drove off thinking it was just a bumper damage. What surprised me was the loud, rattling noise from underneath the car, which made me pull over.
The dealership has had the car for two days and did not mention BST sensor! I'll tell them that.
You're right about insurers! Easy for them to collect premiums, but wriggle when it's time to pay out!
I will be pushing for them to repair the car to pre accident state, if economically repairable. Repair cost has to be 65 o 70% of the current value of the car.
Hopefully it's the BST sensor and bumper!
I drove off thinking it was just a bumper damage. What surprised me was the loud, rattling noise from underneath the car, which made me pull over.
The dealership has had the car for two days and did not mention BST sensor! I'll tell them that.
You're right about insurers! Easy for them to collect premiums, but wriggle when it's time to pay out!
I will be pushing for them to repair the car to pre accident state, if economically repairable. Repair cost has to be 65 o 70% of the current value of the car.
Hopefully it's the BST sensor and bumper!
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